Mrs. LeBleu Inquiry-Based Sci & S.S.

Lesson Context This week, I observed a 4th-grade social studies lesson focused on the Ranch Wars in Colorado. The lesson examined how Colorado’s environment encouraged ranching and farming to develop and how competition for land and resources led to conflict. The guiding question for the lesson was: How did the environment in Colorado encourage ranching and farming to develop in Colorado? Engage The lesson began with the teacher displaying a photograph of longhorn cattle walking through downtown Denver. Students were given quiet think time before participating in a See / Think / Wonder discussion. The teacher used a random name draw to ensure broad participation and asked students to explain what they saw, what they thought was happening, and what they wondered about the image. After the discussion, the teacher explained that the photograph showed a real annual event connected to the National Western Stock Show. Students were asked if they had attended the Stock Show and what they a...

  Lesson Observed: All Aboard! Racing to Build a Railroad Across Colorado This week in my observation classroom, I observed a social studies lesson that followed the 5E instructional model and focused on how Colorado’s physical environment, particularly mountains and rivers, influenced human activities such as building transportation systems. Through a hands-on railroad activity, students explored how Colorado’s mountainous terrain made it challenging to develop rail and road systems needed to move people and goods across the state. This lesson reflected inquiry-based geography instruction where students actively explored how physical environments place constraints on human activity rather than learning about these ideas through lecture alone (Kopp, 2017; National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS], 2017). The guiding question for the lesson was: How did the geography of Colorado affect the development of railroad lines? Standards G2a: Describe how the physical environment provi...

 Hello everyone! My name is Bailey LeBleu, and I’m currently the in-building substitute at Silver Creek Elementary while completing my practicum hours in a 4th-grade classroom. I’ve been subbing for about four years, including long-term positions in 5th and 3rd grade, and I’ve spent a lot of time in science and social studies classrooms. One of my biggest takeaways from Week 1 is truly understanding and making stronger connections to inquiry-based learning that I have not only been observing, but also teaching. Even though I’ve seen inquiry in action for years, this week’s readings helped me put clear language and purpose behind instructional practices that always felt especially engaging and meaningful for students. I’ve seen inquiry come to life through discussion and hands-on learning in both science and social studies. When students are able to explore ideas, ask questions, and talk through their thinking, engagement naturally increases and learning feels more meaningful. T...