Inquiry Project for Health and Wellness

Unit: Health and Wellness

Driving Question: Is recess important?

Grabber

Imagine being a 3rd grader, you walk into class and have a seat thinking it’s any other normal Monday.  When the bell rings, the teacher announces that she has found evidence that recess is not that important and that they would be discontinuing recess.  Shock, anger, even relief if a student has a difficult time at recess.  All of the students will feel one of many high emotions.  Before they get too bent out of shape, the project will be presented to them.

Introducing the Driving Question

 Is recess important?  This is the question we will ask our 3rd graders.  This is a topic that is near and dear to many elementary students heart.  The students will need to choose a position which could be the position that recess is important, recess is not as important as class time, recess is important but could be longer/shorter, or some other position that we have not thought of.  All positions will require research to explain the benefits or drawbacks to recess in regards to education, physical and mental health.  This research will allow the students to successfully argue their position in front of the class.  This research satisfies Indiana standard 3.1.2, give examples of physical and emotional health, and 3.1.3, identify how a safe and healthy school environment promotes personal health.

Culminating Activity

With this presentation students will be provided with the opportunity to explain why they are led to believe it’s important to have recess and what it could do for their mental and physical health. This will give students also the opportunity to collaborate with the other students to see their opinions on it. In order to see the progress of the students and to see what they have learned from it will give them a rubric based on validity of sources, depth of research, creativity, persuasiveness, public speaking, and collaboration.