Asking Questions in Biology

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 26.06.03

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction/rationale:
  2. Student Background And School Demographics:
  3. Rachel Carson And The Sense Of Wonder:
  4. Rachel Carson And The Question That Started A Movement:
  5. Citizen Science:
  6. Migratory Birds In Chicago:
  7. The Endangered Piping Plover:
  8. Teaching Strategies:
  9. Activities
  10. Appendix On Implementing District Standards
  11. Bibliography:
  12. Student Reading List:
  13. List Of Materials For Classroom Use:
  14. Endnotes:

Rachel Carson and the Questions that Helped Save Bird Populations

Nancy V. Ibarra

Published September 2026

Tools for this Unit:

Student Background And School Demographics:

Seward Communication Arts Academy is a pre-K through 8th-grade neighborhood school. Presently, we have 387 students. Ninety-six percent of our students are Latine, mostly of Mexican background, and 97 percent are low-income. Seventeen percent of our students have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The school is in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. It has historically been an immigrant community, dating back to the era of the stockyards, for which it is famously known. It remains an immigrant community today, with 57% of students being English Language Learners.

Seward is an International Baccalaureate school, and this year our IBLT (International Baccalaureate Learning Team), composed of students, parents, and teachers, focused on Inquiry Teaching and Learning. The goal was to encourage students to ask questions, explore, and investigate the world around them. Through inquiry, students practiced critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence as they expressed their ideas and took ownership of their learning, ensuring that they experienced inquiry, action, and reflection in every subject. This was done in hopes that our students will see learning as purposeful. Continuing this thought process, this unit will be written for about 40 brilliantly inquisitive 8th-grade students and will take about five weeks. It will encourage students to ask questions that will guide their learning. In addition to a regular classroom setting, this unit will include outdoor activities: field trips to the Nature Museum, neighborhood walks, and time at our nearby city park.

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