Scientific Inquiry
I am an English and history teacher. I love reading, studying, researching, and writing. However, all middle school and high school students are required to also study math and science. In order to be well-rounded people, we need to know at least a little bit about how the world works and how to use math in a variety of situations.
In one of the mandatory science classes I had to take as a middle school student, we completed a unit on hydroponics. Hydroponics is “the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil” (USDA, n.d.). Essentially, hydroponics for me meant trying to grow potato plants in water
.
I remember that the unit started with lessons that reviewed the basics of photosynthesis. We discussed chlorophyll, light, and how plants use carbon dioxide and water in order to create food. We did worksheets and colored plant cells. I remember labeling the parts of the cell and drawing squiggly lines that represented the sunlight racing toward the plant. We then talked about what was absolutely necessary for plants to produce food. The only elements of the process of photosynthesis that we found to be essential were water, light, and carbon dioxide.
This became our hypothesis: plants are capable of producing their own food and growing if water, light, and carbon dioxide are present. Now, it is highly probable that I am not quoting our hypothesis word for word, but the concept is still there. My group and I thought that we could grow plants with only those three elements.
It is rather astonishing that I remember as much as I do from this science lesson. I was in middle school decades ago, but I can still recall specific details from the plant unit we completed in Mr. Perry’s 8th grade advanced science course. And, that is the beauty of scientific inquiry; we can retain more of what we learn and understand it at a deeper level. Scientific inquiry is “a systematic approach that gives structure to the seemingly boundless landscape of natural phenomena” (Zhu, 2025).
When we use scientific inquiry as teachers or students, we experience the topic, concept, or question rather than just encountering it. “The true essence of scientific inquiry lies in valuing the journey of discovery” (Zhu, 2025). I did not learn the lessons on photosynthesis; I discovered the lessons. I experienced the process. In French, experience and experiment are the same word: expérience. When we conduct an experiment, we experience the process and the exercise. We gain knowledge through the experience.
The Experiment
After we completed the background learning, the teacher posed a question. While I cannot remember the exact question, it was something to the effect of, “Can you grow plants without dirt?” We had already decided that only water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight were needed in order for something to grow, but we needed to put that hypothesis to the test.
The experiment was straightforward. We were to buy 3 potatoes. We were then supposed to fill up 3 glasses of water. These glasses needed to be large enough to hold a potato. We used toothpicks stuck in the sides of the potatoes to hold the top half above the water line. The bottom half of the potato was left in the water in hopes that it would grow roots.
We then placed one glass in a dark spot like a cabinet. One glass was placed in a window that got moderate sun. The final glass was placed in a window that received plenty of sunlight throughout the day. We watched the plants over a month-long period, and we recorded our observations. By the end of the month, the potato in full sun was sprouting, the potato in partial sun was growing roots, and the potato in the dark cabinet had no significant changes.
Therefore, my hypothesis was proven correct. My plants could live with water, light, and carbon dioxide.
Key Takeaways
We learn by doing. Hands-on activities can help students retain information for much longer than if they were to just memorize facts and processes. This method of learning helps our brains hold on to information that might otherwise go unused after a quiz or exam. Honestly, I can’t believe that I still remember hydroponics, but I am convinced that scientific inquiry played a key role in keeping that knowledge in my memory.
This challenge has definitely changed my perspective on how knowledge is acquired. I would love to find ways to incorporate scientific inquiry into my 7th grade English class. My students are very diverse, and it is sometimes difficult to meet all of their needs. I am going to research how to use scientific inquiry in a middle school ELA class.
References
USDA. “Hydroponics | National Agricultural Library.” Www.nal.usda.gov, 2024, www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/hydroponics.
Zhu, Mila. Multimodal Instructional Strategies: Dances with Shackles in Learning Communities. Dubuque, IA, Kendall Hunt, 2025.
No comments:
Post a Comment