Session 2: Wonder Wander
The Wonder Wander: Developing Questions in Science
Overview
The Wonder Wander is a simple strategy to collect observations and develop questions. Your goal in this teacher-colleague activity is to practice doing a Wonder Wander by generating and recording a list of observations and questions. We will then use these questions to discuss scientific vs non-scientific questions and practice how to reword questions into investigable ones.
Materials
- Notebooks for collecting data
- Magnifying glasses (optional)
Teacher-Colleague Activity
Procedure
- In your notebooks, make a T-chart that takes a full page. Label the first column “I notice . . . and the second column “I wonder . . .”
- Form random groups of three. (One or two groups of two is OK if needed.) Each group selects an outdoor domain to explore from the list below or can create its own domain. Use the indoor domains if weather conditions or time are an issue.
Outdoor Domains:
| Sidewalk | Clouds | Angles in nature |
| Leaves | Shadows | Asphalt |
| Tree bark | Fencing | Windows |
| Tree heights | Microclimates | Cars in parking lot |
| Tree diameters | Bricks on building | Stems on plants |
| Snow | Slopes | Branches |
| Grass | Circles | Flowers |
| Erosion | Mulch | Traffic |
| Wind | Gravel | Sounds of nature |
| Exposed soil | Rectangles | Rocks |
| Insects | Puddles | Flowing water |
Indoor Domains:
| School signage | Tile floors | Circles |
| Vending machines | Wooden gym floor | Slopes |
| Lighting | Trophy case | Stairs |
| Wall art/posters | Periodic table | Furniture |
| Carpet | A science poster or model | School kitchen |
| Classroom doors | Cinder blocks | Gym |
| Water fountains | Rectangles | School exercise equipment |
| Main office | Cafeteria | Windows |
- For at least 20 minutes, each group explores its domain, producing a list of 20 or more “I notice” observations and an equal or more number of “I wonder” questions. Use a magnifying glass if you want to expand your observations. Keep talking; help each other generate observations and questions. Have fun with this.
Discussion
- What was it like to do this? What made this activity easy and/or challenging?
- Why groups of three? What is the advantage of three people vs a group of two or four?
- Why 20 observations with at least 20 matching questions? Why not stop at five or 10? Share some of the frustrations and benefits of working in your groups to get to 20.
Take Two minutes for a quick evaluation of today’s session: Module 1 Session 2 Survey
Facilitator Note
If time permits, you may continue with The Deep Dive: Thinking about Student Questions on the next page or wait to continue this activity at your next session.