From Our Bookshelves: Supporting the “Observe & Wonder” Thinking Routine
As the saying goes, “Having too many books is not a problem! Not having enough shelving for those books – now that’s a problem!” While I find it hard to let go of any book that I’ve collected, there are a few that I go back to time and again in my teaching and my thinking because they inspire that part of my brain that likes to play with ideas. Here are 2 of my favourites connected to our first Thinking Routine: Observe & Wonder!
A Book for the Teacher
A few years back I stumbled across “On Looking” by Alexandra Horowitz. I was intrigued by the idea that a seemingly simple walk around the block with a professional who has a different background than your own could inspire keen observation and awaken us from our inattention. Horowitz sparked my imagination as she took 12 walks around a NYC block with a geologist, a typographer and an urban sociologist among others. Not to overlook informative walks with her young son and her dog as well! Each time she saw her neighborhood with new eyes. I began to think about how this approach could help students hone their observation skills in science. I wondered … What if we ask students to view an object or event from a variety of subject lenses? What would they see? What would stand out to them? An “On Looking” approach might be just what we need to enhance the richness of scientific observations, providing students with a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world around them.
A Book for the Students
This lovely book is written by Yobi Yamada, author of another favourite trilogy of picture books (What Do You Do With An Idea? What Do You Do With A Problem? And What Do You Do With A Chance?) I enjoyed using in my classroom. I saw this in the bookstore and was immediately drawn in by its title, “Noticing.” I thought about how I might use it to inspire students to observe their world more intentionally. In the book, a young girl meets an accomplished painter who refers to herself as a “noticer” and they begin a journey of looking at the ordinary and the extraordinary in everyday life. My heart smiled when the painter said, “Though we all may look at the same thing, we don’t always see it in the same way,” as she contrasted what a climber might see when looking at a mountain to what a scientist might see! “Noticing” encourages us to “pay attention, make discoveries and explore the unknown.” Use this book to introduce the skill of noticing or observing. I think you’ll also find that this book offers lots of possibilities for returning to its’ story and exploring SEL (Social Emotional Learning) connections too.
Consider using an idea here or the picture book Noticing to help introduce the “Observe & Wonder” Thinking Routine to your class.
Sandra
