Build on Students' Natural Curiosity
Throughout the fall, you've noticed that when students ask questions during your lessons, the energy level rises and students are engaged. If you're lucky, you have a few reliable question-askers every class. Other students, however, feel threatened to "put it out there." What can you do, then, to promote question-asking, in a non-threatening and personalized way?
Create a Curiosity Wall.
The basics: Ask students to write one thing they wonder about, in your content area, on a 3x5 index card (You could also issue Post-It Notes), in the form of a question. You determine how long students have to find the answers to their own questions (One week is recommended here). Once students find the answers, they record them on their cards, along with appropriate source information.
The procedure:
1. Before starting, help students create criteria for satisfactory answers to their questions. For example, you might determine that
- source information is credible and documented properly (You may have to provide a handout for review).
- the answer contains enough depth and breadth to meet your and your students' needs.
2. Only hold the students accountable for the criteria they generate. The purpose is to generate enthusiasm for your class. Being too restrictive de-motivates.
3. At least once per week, provide time for students to generate their questions.
4. After the allotted time for locating and posting answers, randomly ask five students to present their questions and answers. Use this sharing time as an opportunity to help students extend their thinking and encourage more questions.
5. Each week, start the activity again and slowly build a Curiosity Castle!
Other Options:
- Limit questions to the particular unit or chapter you're on.
- Use the Curiosity Wall to supplement participation grades.
- Use the Curiosity Wall as a way to fill in extra time or provide students who finish early something interesting to do.
- Use the Curiosity Wall as a way to teach students different levels of questioning.
- Provide extra credit for particularly interesting questions and thorough answers.
- Use the Curiosity Wall to help students learn about current topics in your field or current stories in the news.
- Encourage students to draw and label answers, if appropriate.
- Use this activity as a way to practice citing materials properly.
This information has been adapted from Motivation and Learning by Rogers, Ludington and Graham, 1999.
Create a Curiosity Wall.
The basics: Ask students to write one thing they wonder about, in your content area, on a 3x5 index card (You could also issue Post-It Notes), in the form of a question. You determine how long students have to find the answers to their own questions (One week is recommended here). Once students find the answers, they record them on their cards, along with appropriate source information.
The procedure:
1. Before starting, help students create criteria for satisfactory answers to their questions. For example, you might determine that
- source information is credible and documented properly (You may have to provide a handout for review).
- the answer contains enough depth and breadth to meet your and your students' needs.
2. Only hold the students accountable for the criteria they generate. The purpose is to generate enthusiasm for your class. Being too restrictive de-motivates.
3. At least once per week, provide time for students to generate their questions.
4. After the allotted time for locating and posting answers, randomly ask five students to present their questions and answers. Use this sharing time as an opportunity to help students extend their thinking and encourage more questions.
5. Each week, start the activity again and slowly build a Curiosity Castle!
Other Options:
- Limit questions to the particular unit or chapter you're on.
- Use the Curiosity Wall to supplement participation grades.
- Use the Curiosity Wall as a way to fill in extra time or provide students who finish early something interesting to do.
- Use the Curiosity Wall as a way to teach students different levels of questioning.
- Provide extra credit for particularly interesting questions and thorough answers.
- Use the Curiosity Wall to help students learn about current topics in your field or current stories in the news.
- Encourage students to draw and label answers, if appropriate.
- Use this activity as a way to practice citing materials properly.
This information has been adapted from Motivation and Learning by Rogers, Ludington and Graham, 1999.