Visual/ Inquiry Learning

I have used both visual and inquiry-based learning for several years in my classroom. I am a special education teacher and I have found that this type of alternative teacher/ learning method can sometimes bring the best out of my students, no matter what their learning disability may be. For instance, I displayed the two images posted here on a SlideShow presentation for my 5th grade World History class about a week ago. I used the pictures as part of in introductory lesson, discussing history in general. I verbally asked, as well as posted the following questions (on the SlideShow) to my students: (1) What do you think is happening here?, (2) What is this a picture of? (2), (4) Why are there so many statues (soldiers) together?, (5) Who do the statues represent?, (6) What questions to have about these pictures?, and (7) What do you find interesting?

The responses, follow-up questions, and amount of wonder that came from such a simple lesson plan. For my students, who struggle so much at times attending and believing in themselves as learners, a lesson that uses inquiry-based and visual learning promotes growth and a positive outlook with regard to World History.