Russ Agne, Science Education Professor: An important behavior we look for in a lab is a student manipulating conditions in a systematic and purposeful manner.  Are these students operating in that manner?  In the National Science Standards taxonomy this is termed "controlling variables."

Mentor Teacher: This students are taking their investigation seriously and are not just playing with the equipment.  There is a lot of motion involved with these middle grade level learners and that is expected. What is the teacher's role during this phase of the lesson?

Intern Teacher:  This is probably as good as inquiry science gets.  Students have been given a guided inquiry challenge, divided up responsibility for doing the investigation and are carefully experimenting.  My instructional role is to serve as the "GUIDE ON THE SIDE" as students work--not tell them answers or correct what may appear to be experimental misdirections.  I worry that sometimes student work is not being done efficiently and time is being wasted.  Is that something I should be concerned about?