Let's Get Started!
Explore how and why we ask questions
Create a list of questions about a topic that interests you
Paper or notebook
Pencil, pen, or other writing tool
"Asking Questions" handout (optional)
THIS WEEK
We’re thinking about the question: “How can we ask, improve, and plan to investigate questions that are meaningful to us?”
Your challenge this week is to create a “Quest Map” that describes how and why you will explore your inspiring question.
DAY 1 ACTIVITY
Building Questioning Skills
15-20 Minutes
ASKING QUESTIONS INQUIRY
(CLICK TO EXPAND)
Why do we ask questions?
There are many reasons why we ask questions.
Sometimes we need to know the answer so we can use that information to take action.
Other times, we are just curious about the world around us.
Today, we are going to explore how to ask questions and examine different types of questions.
Children Ask Big Questions
As you watch the video of kids answering questions, think about the following:
Would you say that the kinds of questions they are asking kids are easy or hard?
Is it important to ask kids these types of questions? Why?
What would your answer be to one of these questions?
The questions asked by the interviewer above don’t have easy answers, but some questions are easier to answer than those.
Let’s explore two types of questions and think about why each kind of question is important.
Closed-Ended Questions
Sometimes we ask questions that only have one answer. That answer could be “yes,” “no,” or another simple statement. For example:
Can I borrow a pencil?
What color is that?
Who is the president of Brazil?
These are called closed-ended questions. The answers to these questions may be very important, but they don’t inspire us to go on a journey to answer them.
Can you think of times when simple answers can be really important?
Open-Ended Questions
Sometimes we ask questions that have more than one answer.
We might need to investigate and explore to find the answers to these questions.
And sometimes, we might need to ask even more questions to get to the answers!
Examples:
How can I be a good friend?
How do animals talk to each other?
How can I make the world a better place?
These questions are called open-ended questions.
Open-ended questions can send us on a journey, helping us learn about ourselves and imagine new ways to solve problems.
Can you think of a time when you asked an open-ended question that sent you on a journey?
closed-ended questions:
questions that have one answer, sometimes just a simple “yes” or “no”
open-ended questions:
questions that have more than one answer, and make us think and wonder
Now that you’ve explored the different types of questions, you get to focus your questioning power on something you are curious about.
The question you choose will send you on a journey!
Your challenge this week is to create a “Quest Map” that describes how and why you will explore your inspiring question.
Today, you will think about your interests and passions, then create a list of questions to explore.
Think about:
What are your passions? What are your interests?
What have you always wondered about?
On a piece of paper, make a list of at least 3 ideas or topics that you are most curious about. You can also use the “Asking Questions” handout if you like.
Look at your list of the topics and ideas you are most curious about.
Which one of these excites you the most?
On your paper (or the “Asking Questions” handout), complete this sentence with the idea or topic that you selected:
I can follow my heart and mind to learn about ___________________________________.
This statement is called a QFocus (Question Focus). You will use it to help you produce questions.
Now it’s your turn to come up with your own questions!
First: Generate your own questions!
Start the timer when you are ready.
Ask as many questions as you can about your QFocus: I can follow my heart and mind to learn about ____________________________________.
Do not stop to answer the questions or worry if they are “good” or “bad.”
Write down EVERY QUESTION exactly as it comes to mind.
Change any statement into a question.
Once you are done, look back at your questions. Ask yourself:
Does it have a “yes” or “no” answer? Is there only one possible answer? Put a “C” next to it for closed-ended.
Does it have many different answers? Does it have more than one answer? Put an “O” next to it for open-ended.
If you don’t know whether a question is open or closed, don’t worry, just skip it!
Save your questions for Day 2 to start to plan your journey!
Create a list of at least 3 big questions like those asked to the kids in the video above. Once you have your list, interview people in your home, or others by phone.
Explain how the questions are open-ended and don’t have one right answer.