It's in Kindergarten or before that we usually introduce questioning with the words:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
Yet,
those same words often get children in trouble! Have you ever heard an
adult say to a child, "You ask too many questions!"? Those very
children with inquisitive minds / creative mindsets often have their curious
mindsets squashed at an early age. How can teachers foster (and not
squelch) student questioning?
In Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK), these question words begin at DOK-Level 1. In DOK, the use of these question words are so important throughout all levels, with special use of these words in DOK-Level 4 when ELABORATING for .
Whichever grade level, you teach, take the challenge to foster student/learner questioning. A wonderful way to finish the school year strong might be to have a MYSTERY BAG.
Learners
can only learn what is in the mystery bag by asking questions that begin with
the following words:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
CHALLENGE:
I encourage you to have a MYSTERY BAG (or box) daily... OR on certain letter days... OR weekly. Give your learners the opportunity to really question... to think... to inquire... to discover...
A daily MYSTERY OBJECT (hidden in the bag) could connect to the read-aloud of the day, the weather, numbers, dates, individual students, teacher, or any other topic of discussion for THE day.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
