Questioning and

Essential Questions

PL Term 1

Learning Focus

To understand the

difference between

open and closed

questions

Success

Criteria

I can write examples

of open and closed

questions

I know and use the

appropriate vocabulary

when asking questions

Key Vocabulary

questions

open

closed

who

what

where

when

why

which

whose

how

GKR

What does

the title tell

me?

What do I

predict the

text will be

about?

What can

the pictures

tell me?

What do I

already know

about this

topic?

What

words do

I expect

to see?

What

images come

to mind?

What will I

do as I

read?

Think – Pair – Share

In one minute, brainstorm

and write down what you

know about questions

Discuss your brainstorm

with a partner

Share with another pair

Types of questions

Today we will be

looking at open and

closed questions and

the vocabulary we use

to ask questions.

Add these questioning

words to your glossary

Types of questions

Open Questions

Open questions require a

response with more depth

and a lengthier response.

Closed Questions

Closed questions can be

answered in only one word

or very short phrase.

Open questions

Open questions are ones that require more than one

word answers.

Here are some examples of open-ended questions:

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream and why?

What are some of the things that bring you the most

joy?

Do you like animals and why?

Closed questions

If you can answer a question with only a "yes" or "no"

response, then you are answering a closed type of

question.

Examples of closed questions are:

Are you feeling better today?

May I use the bathroom?

Is the prime rib a special tonight?

Activity

Create two open and two

closed questions.

Writing an essential

question

Learning Focus

To understand what an

essential question is

To create an essential

question for the Term

1 project

Success

Criteria

Create (and agree on)

an essential question

for the Term 1 project

Posing Essential Questions

An essential question frames your project as a problem to

be solved.

Key Vocabulary

essential

hypothetical

provoke

moral

cause/effect

What is an essential

question? In table groups, brainstorm what you think an

essential question is

Post it to Padlet

Find the link on Edmodo

http://padlet.com/wall/8wgl3j950l

What is an essential

question? Essential questions are open ended questions

Essential questions make you think critically

You can not simply look up the answer

You will need to research your topic

Essential Questions …

Provoke deeper thinking

Require information/data gathering

The result will be an original answer

Allows you to produce work that is uniquely yours

May not have a definitive answer

Allows you to think more critically

Types of Essential

Questions Which one …?

How …?

What if …?

Should …?

Why …?

What if?

What if questions are:

• hypothetical

• asking you to use you existing

knowledge

• asking you to pose a hypothesis

• e.g. What if children didn’t have

to go to school?

Should …?

These questions make a moral or

practical decision based on

evidence.

e.g. Should we discontinue the live

exportation of animals?

Why …?

These questions:

• ask you to understand cause

and effect

• help us to understand

relationships

• help us to get to the essence of

an issue

e.g. Why do sports people use

illegal drugs?

How to write an essential

question1 Project focus

What is the main idea and

information you would like to

share with your audience?

What questions would you like

answered at the conclusion of

your project?

2 Ideas

May come from your personal

curiosity or interest

Begin with: who, what, where,

when, why

Use these basic questions to

create your essential question.

Begin with: Which one? How?

What if? Should? Why?

Some essential question

sentence starters How would you …?

What would result if …?

How would you describe …?

How does … compare with …?

What is the relationship between …?

What would happen if …?

How could you change …?

How would you improve …?

How do you feel about …?

Why do you believe …

What is your opinion of …?

Review todays

learning

In your Review Book you need to

write:

• what you have learnt today and;

• how you will use this to help you

in your learning this year.

• How will you use questioning

strategies in your other subjects