Inquiry Learning Redefined: Resource Wishlist(s)

It's always fun to make a list of things you'd love to have in the classroom. But the reality for us was that if we waited to have everything on our list, we would never get started with hands-on learning and exploration.

We knew we needed a variety of materials and a restocked library (see our list below for suggestions), on a very limited budget.

After a scavenger hunt through the the classroom and storage rooms at school as well as our closets, drawers, offices and recyclables at home, this is what our exploration materials consisted of: (We'll call this wish list #1)

lego
k'nex
fisher tecknik building materials
old electronics and tools for taking apart
wooden blocks
recyclables
modeling clay
minds-on games: Qwirkle and Q-bitz by Mindware, Kanoodle(Educational Insights)
fabric and sewing kits/sewing machines
weaving, loom kits
slates and carving tools
various writing tools
newly stocked library: non-fiction titles (Top 10 books), coding books (Scratch), maker project idea books. (My Space Learning Library)
recyclable materials
craft materials- ribbon, duct tape, beads, perler beads, odds and ends
writing tools of various sorts, scissors, hole punch, staples
various assortments of writing materials- coloured, chart and white paper, whiteboards, etc.
chrome books for further exploration (with posted websitesstudents may want to explore)

Wish list #2 includes some of the items we added to our grant proposal (our fingers are crossed):

Dash and Dot - 2 robot friends to introduce students to coding and robotics

Osmo - a hands-on interactive experience with the ipad. Exploring tangrams, numbers, letters and masterpiece art activities

Little Bits Electronics - magnetic snap together circuits for easy inventing

Makedo Cardboard Construction Sets- tools for creative cardboard construction

Makey Makey - an invention kit to connect to your computer and use with the internet

Ozobot- a mini robot that can be programmed to follow mazes paths and playgrounds. Can be used on paper, specific game boards and also, digital screens.

And of course more building materials like:

Lego