Why Are School Buses Always Yellow?

Teaching for Inquiry, K-8
Second Edition
John F. Barell - Education Consultant
Why Are School Buses Always Yellow?
March 2016 | 288 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781506340050
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781506323657
Available from January 0001

Description

Turn natural curiosity into deep, lasting learnings!

Inquiry is what drives us all toward new knowledge, but how do we transform children’s natural ability to notice and wonder into the full learning cycle of observing, thinking, and critically questioning? 

Through this new edition of the bestselling Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? you’ll find simple, yet systematic ways to develop authentic student inquiry that fosters deep learning. This new edition features:

  • Updates based on the latest research around inquiry-based teaching
  • Emphasis on turning inquiry into critical thinking, assessing students’ inquiry, and involving families in the inquiry process
  • Examples for K–8 across subject areas
  • New emphasis on critical thinking about technologies
  • New and updated activities, checklists, templates, and implementation tools
  • Alignment with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards

With this invaluable resource, help students transform their playful wonderings into deeper questions about content—and develop the higher-level thinking skills they need for success in school and in life. 

"Educators often talk about developing lifelong learners - our team has had great success using Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? to catalyze professional conversations about how we can better cultivate curiosity through an inquiry approach.  I strongly recommend this [new edition] for those who are interested in unlocking the uniquely creative capacity of our youngest learners."
Devin Vodicka, Superintendent
Vista Unified School District, Vista, CA

Contents

Introduction

  • Chapter 1. “What’s Wondering Got to Do With It?”: An Overview of Inquiry
  • Chapter 2. “This Is Better Than Recess!”: Why Inquiry Is Important
  • Chapter 3. “How Do We Begin?”: Modeling Our Inquisitiveness
  • Chapter 4. “How Do We Build Inquiry Into Our Classrooms?”: Initiating Inquiry With Problematic Scenarios
  • Chapter 5. “When Is It Chaos?”: Developing and Refining Units of Instruction
  • Chapter 6. “Why Are Mountains Necessary?”: The Nature of Good Questions
  • Chapter 7. “How Do We Know They Understand?”: Performing Our Understandings
  • Chapter 8. “How Do We Integrate Technology?”: From Crystal Radios to “Explain Everything”
  • Chapter 9. “How Do We Involve Families in Our Inquiries?”: Encouraging All to Help
  • Chapter 10. “We Don’t Learn That Way”: Inquiry and Students With Special Needs
  • Chapter 11. “How Do We Effect Change in Our Classrooms?”: Positive Professional Development

Conclusion

Conclusion

Appendix: Templates

Appendix: Templates

Glossary

Glossary

References

References

Index

Index

Description

Turn natural curiosity into deep, lasting learnings!

Inquiry is what drives us all toward new knowledge, but how do we transform children’s natural ability to notice and wonder into the full learning cycle of observing, thinking, and critically questioning? 

Through this new edition of the bestselling Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? you’ll find simple, yet systematic ways to develop authentic student inquiry that fosters deep learning. This new edition features:

  • Updates based on the latest research around inquiry-based teaching
  • Emphasis on turning inquiry into critical thinking, assessing students’ inquiry, and involving families in the inquiry process
  • Examples for K–8 across subject areas
  • New emphasis on critical thinking about technologies
  • New and updated activities, checklists, templates, and implementation tools
  • Alignment with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards

With this invaluable resource, help students transform their playful wonderings into deeper questions about content—and develop the higher-level thinking skills they need for success in school and in life. 

"Educators often talk about developing lifelong learners - our team has had great success using Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? to catalyze professional conversations about how we can better cultivate curiosity through an inquiry approach.  I strongly recommend this [new edition] for those who are interested in unlocking the uniquely creative capacity of our youngest learners."
Devin Vodicka, Superintendent
Vista Unified School District, Vista, CA

Contents

Introduction

  • Chapter 1. “What’s Wondering Got to Do With It?”: An Overview of Inquiry
  • Chapter 2. “This Is Better Than Recess!”: Why Inquiry Is Important
  • Chapter 3. “How Do We Begin?”: Modeling Our Inquisitiveness
  • Chapter 4. “How Do We Build Inquiry Into Our Classrooms?”: Initiating Inquiry With Problematic Scenarios
  • Chapter 5. “When Is It Chaos?”: Developing and Refining Units of Instruction
  • Chapter 6. “Why Are Mountains Necessary?”: The Nature of Good Questions
  • Chapter 7. “How Do We Know They Understand?”: Performing Our Understandings
  • Chapter 8. “How Do We Integrate Technology?”: From Crystal Radios to “Explain Everything”
  • Chapter 9. “How Do We Involve Families in Our Inquiries?”: Encouraging All to Help
  • Chapter 10. “We Don’t Learn That Way”: Inquiry and Students With Special Needs
  • Chapter 11. “How Do We Effect Change in Our Classrooms?”: Positive Professional Development

Conclusion

Conclusion

Appendix: Templates

Appendix: Templates

Glossary

Glossary

References

References

Index

Index

SAGE Publishing Logo

Why Are School Buses Always Yellow?

Teaching for Inquiry, K-8


March 2016 | 288 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781506323657 $40.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781506340050 $37.00

Turn natural curiosity into deep, lasting learnings!

Inquiry is what drives us all toward new knowledge, but how do we transform children’s natural ability to notice and wonder into the full learning cycle of observing, thinking, and critically questioning? 

Through this new edition of the bestselling Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? you’ll find simple, yet systematic ways to develop authentic student inquiry that fosters deep learning. This new edition features:

  • Updates based on the latest research around inquiry-based teaching
  • Emphasis on turning inquiry into critical thinking, assessing students’ inquiry, and involving families in the inquiry process
  • Examples for K–8 across subject areas
  • New emphasis on critical thinking about technologies
  • New and updated activities, checklists, templates, and implementation tools
  • Alignment with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards

With this invaluable resource, help students transform their playful wonderings into deeper questions about content—and develop the higher-level thinking skills they need for success in school and in life. 

"Educators often talk about developing lifelong learners - our team has had great success using Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? to catalyze professional conversations about how we can better cultivate curiosity through an inquiry approach.  I strongly recommend this [new edition] for those who are interested in unlocking the uniquely creative capacity of our youngest learners."
Devin Vodicka, Superintendent
Vista Unified School District, Vista, CA


Table Of Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. “What’s Wondering Got to Do With It?”: An Overview of Inquiry
  • Chapter 2. “This Is Better Than Recess!”: Why Inquiry Is Important
  • Chapter 3. “How Do We Begin?”: Modeling Our Inquisitiveness
  • Chapter 4. “How Do We Build Inquiry Into Our Classrooms?”: Initiating Inquiry With Problematic Scenarios
  • Chapter 5. “When Is It Chaos?”: Developing and Refining Units of Instruction
  • Chapter 6. “Why Are Mountains Necessary?”: The Nature of Good Questions
  • Chapter 7. “How Do We Know They Understand?”: Performing Our Understandings
  • Chapter 8. “How Do We Integrate Technology?”: From Crystal Radios to “Explain Everything”
  • Chapter 9. “How Do We Involve Families in Our Inquiries?”: Encouraging All to Help
  • Chapter 10. “We Don’t Learn That Way”: Inquiry and Students With Special Needs
  • Chapter 11. “How Do We Effect Change in Our Classrooms?”: Positive Professional Development
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix: Templates
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"Why are School Buses Always Yellow? ignited a fire in our school. With only small tweaks to our units, our teachers saw huge differences. The students were so excited and eager to learn. We have continued to build on that success with a focus on inquiry and Barell’s words of wisdom are often quoted during planning sessions."
Kim Connor, Gifted/Talented Specialist, Parkside Elementary School, Leander, TX
"Educators often talk about developing lifelong learners - our team has had great success using Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? to catalyze professional conversations about how we can better cultivate curiosity through an inquiry approach. I strongly recommend this book for those who are interested in unlocking the uniquely creative capacity of our youngest learners."
Devin Vodicka, Superintendent, Vista Unified School District, Vista, CA
"John discusses simple ways to develop authentic student inquiries using real life examples from teachers around the world illustrating the power of the curious mind in all of us. The new chapter on evaluating sources in the digital age is particularly pertinent for our students. John inspires educators to ensure inquiry drives student learning in the classroom and beyond."
Allyn Raw, Deputy Director and Primary School Principal, Heidelberg International School, Heidelberg, Germany
"Questions give voice to wonderings and provide purpose to learn and broaden horizons. Superbly demonstrated within these covers is the understanding that inquiry is for all – no matter the interest or academic level. How is this possible and achievable? Open this book to discover ideas that can be easily adapted to any learning environment."
Kerry Faber, B.Ed, M.Ed, Ekota Elementary School, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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