Laying the Foundation
Our group was inspired by the following video we saw in class to explore people's understanding about rainbows.
Questions Anyone?
Our group collaborated using Google Docs, over a period of three days, to come up with an extensive list of probing questions surrounding the broader question of: "How are rainbows formed?" This list of questions was edited through extensive debate and thoughtful planning. Our first objective was to start with a question that would "trigger" the subject's background knowledge regarding rainbows. Once this was accomplished, the ideas was to get the subject visualizing rainbows so that they could answer the rest of the questions. The final question was used to test the subject's true understanding of how rainbows are formed. For this final question, subjects were asked to use various props to visually demonstrate how rainbows are formed: a small representation of a person (lego-type person), a block or small object to simulate a sprinkler and a tennis ball or other yellow object to represent the sun. The final visual representation should have the 'sun' behind the 'person' who is then in front of the 'sprinkler'. At least that is the goal.
The following is the final list of questions used to conduct our inquiry.
The following is the final list of questions used to conduct our inquiry.
Focus Questions:
1. Have you ever seen a rainbow?
2. Describe what a rainbow looks like.
a. What order are the colors of a rainbow?
b. Why did you put it in that order?
3. What is needed to form or make a rainbow in nature (key elements/parts)?
4. How are rainbows formed?
5. Using props, please show me where a person would have to be standing in relation to the sun and a sprinkler (water source)
in order to see a rainbow.
2. Describe what a rainbow looks like.
a. What order are the colors of a rainbow?
b. Why did you put it in that order?
3. What is needed to form or make a rainbow in nature (key elements/parts)?
4. How are rainbows formed?
5. Using props, please show me where a person would have to be standing in relation to the sun and a sprinkler (water source)
in order to see a rainbow.