Sample Session: Crafting Questions that Matter Pearl Harbor 45-60 minutes Set stage for spurring curiosity using the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a curricular anchor. Provide 10 provocative images on tables, do reader’s theater of events of Pearl Harbor with somber music and listen to FDR’s speech (eyes closed)—A Day that Will Live in Infamy. Tables are covered with butcher-block paper and a set of colored markers—pictures arranged throughout to set mood. Create “question sandbox”. Ask participants to work individually and spend 5 minutes at the table to be curious. Write questions that come naturally: What are you curious about? What questions do you have? What are you wondering about? After 5 minutes, ask participants to share their curiosities at their tables. Mini - direct teach on Dimension 1 questions focusing on compelling questions that drive an inquiry. Compelling questions should have two qualities: 1) They should matter to students—they are kid friendly, will get under their skin, 2) they are intellectually meaty, important and will drive the inquiry. Point out that wording matters and provide clear examples of compelling questions. Revise and rework the Sandbox. Ask participants to return to their questions and begin refining them. Select 1-3 questions to work on as a group. Once they find a question they like, work on wording so that it “sings”—use the compelling question criteria for discussion—does the question meet the criteria of a compelling question. See handout. Engage in a Compelling Question “off”—Ask each table to offer its best question. Facilitators select best question for inquiry. Winning table gets lavish praise. Allow for discussions around next steps. Using Inquiry Practice #3, prompt discussions around determining sources that will assist in answering the question: Did the Pearl Harbor attack create a unified American nation? Resources: Images for tables Butcher Block paper Markers/Pens Readers Theater images and script using the National Geographic: Remember Pearl Harbor interactive: FDR speech Speakers PowerPoint: Crafting Questions that Matter
Sample Session: Crafting Questions that Matter Pearl Harbor 45-60 minutes Set stage for spurring curiosity using the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a curricular anchor. Provide 10 provocative images on tables, do reader’s theater of events of Pearl Harbor with somber music and listen to FDR’s speech (eyes closed)—A Day that Will Live in Infamy. Tables are covered with butcher-block paper and a set of colored markers—pictures arranged throughout to set mood. Create “question sandbox”. Ask participants to work individually and spend 5 minutes at the table to be curious. Write questions that come naturally: What are you curious about? What questions do you have? What are you wondering about? After 5 minutes, ask participants to share their curiosities at their tables. Mini - direct teach on Dimension 1 questions focusing on compelling questions that drive an inquiry. Compelling questions should have two qualities: 1) They should matter to students—they are kid friendly, will get under their skin, 2) they are intellectually meaty, important and will drive the inquiry. Point out that wording matters and provide clear examples of compelling questions. Revise and rework the Sandbox. Ask participants to return to their questions and begin refining them. Select 1-3 questions to work on as a group. Once they find a question they like, work on wording so that it “sings”—use the compelling question criteria for discussion—does the question meet the criteria of a compelling question. See handout. Engage in a Compelling Question “off”—Ask each table to offer its best question. Facilitators select best question for inquiry. Winning table gets lavish praise. Allow for discussions around next steps. Using Inquiry Practice #3, prompt discussions around determining sources that will assist in answering the question: Did the Pearl Harbor attack create a unified American nation? Resources: Images for tables Butcher Block paper Markers/Pens Readers Theater images and script using the National Geographic: Remember Pearl Harbor interactive: FDR speech Speakers PowerPoint: Crafting Questions that Matter