{"id":1389,"date":"2019-05-31T18:02:32","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T22:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/blog\/waterinquiry\/?p=1389"},"modified":"2020-01-02T09:31:24","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T14:31:24","slug":"april-showers-bring-may-storm-drains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/ducklings\/april-showers-bring-may-storm-drains\/","title":{"rendered":"April showers bring&#8230; May storm drains?!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/Eva.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1394\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/Eva-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/Eva-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/Eva-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/Eva.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>Wonder why first graders were peering intently down storm drains in an April downpour? They were figuring out how to rescue ducklings, prompted by the problem-solving story <em>Inquiry, Inc. and the Case of the Missing Ducklings. <\/em>This spring, Campus School first grade teachers Eva Jaffe and Emma Pascarella piloted the first in a series of interactive science inquiry stories created by Smith student researchers from the Water Inquiry Story Project. Eva Jaffe reflected about the storytelling pedagogy: \u201cIt gave their problem-solving work a purpose. Why bother thinking about storm drains? Because we could come up with a way for Inquiry Inc. to save some lost ducklings!\u201d<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1397\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1-300x228.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1-768x583.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1-1024x778.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Where does water go?<br \/>\n<\/strong>When I sat down with a small group of first graders to hear their reactions to the <em>Case of the Missing<\/em> <em>Ducklings<\/em>, they were eager to share their ideas. After a picture-walk through the book, they lingered on the final page, still wondering about the pencil that fell down the drain earlier in the story. Where <em>did<\/em> it go?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cTo other drains downhill on the Smith campus and neighborhood.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>\u201cMaybe to a filter and the ocean.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>\u201cI think it goes to a river before the ocean.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>\u201cIt\u2019s kind of cool that you think about if it might go to a different country.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1391\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/class-chart-Qs.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Their dialogue captures the spirit of the Water Inquiry project, which works to improve understandings of water as a <em>topic<\/em> that stimulates curiosity, as well as a <em>medium for inquiry<\/em> with which to explore the development of ideas. Classroom tools for making thinking visible help students track evolving ideas, including a collaborative diagram exploring: <em>&#8220;Where does water come from? Where does it go?&#8221;<\/em> Connecting to a classmate&#8217;s idea about rivers, one girl shared excitedly, \u201cI live near the Connecticut River! I fish in it! I went on a long kayak trip all the way down to the ocean and we had to bring a LOT OF STUFF!!.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Inquiry and collaboration<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In the Inquiry, Inc. story series, plucky young characters bring a sense of humor to problem solving, welcoming idea diversity and encouraging imagination. First graders told me their favorite part of the story was when Carlos suggested there might be a \u201clittle pirate ship\u201d in the underground pipes. Brainstorming appreciates all ideas, no matter how far-fetched!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/thought-bubbles.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1398\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/thought-bubbles-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/thought-bubbles-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/thought-bubbles-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/thought-bubbles.jpg 814w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>When I asked first graders, \u201cwhy does it help to talk about ideas?\u201d they built on each other\u2019s responses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>\u201cYou can think about them more to see if they work.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>\u201cYou may not agree, you talk so you can agree.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>\u201cOther people add onto your idea and you can come up with a big idea.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/IMG_2618-e1559084463867.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1400 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/IMG_2618-e1559084463867-300x286.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/IMG_2618-e1559084463867-300x286.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/IMG_2618-e1559084463867-768x733.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/IMG_2618-e1559084463867-1024x977.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Ideas into action<br \/>\n<\/strong>For the story\u2019s culminating challenge &#8212; to design a better storm drain &#8212; students told me they \u201ccopied\u201d each other\u2019s ideas; \u201cchanged them a lot;\u201d and came up with their own \u201cnew\u201d ideas. Design innovations included levers to sweep off leaves, latticework to keep ducklings safe above ground, and a cone-shaped drain to shed debris. Students showcased their innovative storm drain designs at a Family and Friends Friday event in early May.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/cone-drain-e1559074018904.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1402\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/cone-drain-e1559074018904-300x236.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/cone-drain-e1559074018904-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/cone-drain-e1559074018904-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/cone-drain-e1559074018904-1024x805.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Explaining their rationale for an upside-down-ice-cream-cone shaped storm drain, one group elaborated: \u201cIf leaves fall down, the water couldn\u2019t get through, so we used popsicle sticks and screens and made it tall so leaves would fall off.\u201d Eva was right when she told me, &#8220;their storm drain designs are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">&#8220;What suggestions do you have for our story project?&#8221; I asked the first graders, so I could bring their ideas back to the Water Inquiry team. &#8220;More stories!&#8221; they quickly agreed. &#8220;Another mission for Inquiry, Inc.&#8221;\u00a0 Good news for this eager audience:\u00a0 Inquiry Inc. has a new problem that they need help solving. The new story, <em>Inquiry\u00a0 Inc. and\u00a0 the\u00a0 Case\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Flooded\u00a0 Fields, <\/em>is\u00a0 designed as an &#8220;unfinished story box,&#8221; so students will get to create their own solutions, mail them in a Priority Envelope, and\u00a0 hear\u00a0 back\u00a0 from\u00a0 Inquiry, Inc. <em style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/FF1-1-e1559084035329.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1418\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/FF1-1-e1559084035329-300x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/FF1-1-e1559084035329-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/FF1-1-e1559084035329-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/FF1-1-e1559084035329-1024x721.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/em>If you\u2019re curious to learn more about Water Inquiry, or would like to pilot one of our stories in your classroom, please check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/blog\/waterinquiry\/\">website<\/a> or e-mail Carol Berner <a href=\"mailto:cberner@smith.edu\">cberner@smith.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>written by Carol Berner<br \/>\nMay, 2019<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re curious to learn more about Water Inquiry or would like to find out how to participate, please check out our website or e-mail Carol Berner <a href=\"mailto:cberner@smith.edu\">cberner@smith.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wonder why first graders were peering intently down storm drains in an April downpour? They were figuring out how to rescue ducklings, prompted by the problem-solving story Inquiry, Inc. and the Case of the Missing Ducklings. This spring, Campus School first grade teachers Eva Jaffe and Emma Pascarella piloted the first in a series of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/ducklings\/april-showers-bring-may-storm-drains\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">April showers bring&#8230; May storm drains?!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":735,"featured_media":1397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ducklings"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/485\/2019\/05\/smaller-text-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/735"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1389"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1614,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389\/revisions\/1614"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.smith.edu\/waterinquiry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}