This is a presentation created to help facilitate a Question Formulation Technique (QFT) activity with students about a new unit on ancient Egypt. The objective was for students to create questions related to each content standard that could then be transformed into learning objectives.

1. Ancient Egypt
QFT
Unit Preview & Goals

2. The Question Formulation Technique
You will work in groups to:
Produce our own questions
Improve our questions
Prioritize our questions

3. Small Group Collaborative Norms
• Be responsible to the group
• Listen actively
• Speak up
• Share the air and encourage others
• Support your views and findings
• Show tolerance and respect
• Reflect and correct

4. The Rules for Producing Questions
• Ask as many questions as you can.
• Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer any
question.
• Write down every question EXACTLY as it is
stated.
• Change any statement to a question.

5. Producing Questions
In your small groups, identify a note-taker.
Note-taker:
You will record all questions from your group EXACTLY as they
are asked.
List and number your questions.
All Group Members:
Adhere to small group collaboration norms.
Generate questions following the rules.

6. QFocus #1

7. QFocus #2

8. QFocus #3

9. QFocus #4

10. Categorize Your Questions
• Closed-ended Questions: can be answered with a “yes” or a “no”
or with a one-word answer.
• Open-ended Questions: require more explanation.
1. Review your list of questions and identify closed and open-ended
questions.
– Mark open-ended questions with an O;
– Mark closed-ended questions with a C.
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of asking each type of
question with your group.
3. Change one of your closed-ended questions to an open-ended and
vice-versa.

11. Prioritizing Questions
Mark with an “X” THREE questions that you think
will help the class learn about ancient Egypt.
• Discuss why you chose those particular questions
as a group.
• Were the questions you identified at the
beginning, middle, or end of your question list?

12. Next Steps - Reflection
Process:
Why is it important to ask questions?
How did you feel about asking questions?
Why would I ask you to practice writing questions?
How can we use your questions?
Content:
Did this process help you think about