[MOSAIC] inferences

[Kukonis at aol.com]

Here is a fun  activity that I did with my kids that they really seemed to 
enjoy... but if I  know you .... probably "you've been there  and done that".... 
but here  goes. 
I keep trying to make  the point that these strategies of comprehension are 
not just for reading text  but are necessary life skills that help everyone  to 
think deeply and  carefully so..... 
I brought in five  unfamiliar kitchen gadgets and asked them to sit at a 
power table so that four  kids looked at the same tool. EAch was given a recording 
sheet where they drew  pictures (visual image), labeled their 
observations,(determined  importance) made connections to other tools that they were reminded 
of, and  listed questions they had about the tool. Then they shared their 
questions and  observations and came up with a power table inference. It was a 
fun project  because although only one group actually  guessed what the gadget  
was really used for....many used their recordings to think creatively and  
critically. Although not correct.... many had wonderful alternate uses.   
Then I asked each  group to make an inference  about their group work.....  
The overwhelming  response was that their own thinking was enhanced by 
sharing not only their  individual inferences but that their questions were the ones 
that drove their  thinking. They also eluded to work habits and body language 
that either made or  broke their power table's initiative. 
Not bad for first  graders!



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