This document discusses open and closed questions and essential questions. It explains that open questions require more in-depth answers, while closed questions can be answered with a word or short phrase. Examples of each type of question are provided. The document then defines essential questions as open-ended questions that promote critical thinking and require research to answer. Different types of essential questions are described, such as "what if?" and "why?" questions. The document provides guidance on writing essential questions, including considering the project focus and using basic question words and sentence starters.

1. Questioning and
Essential Questions
PL Term 1

2. Learning Focus
 To understand the
difference between
open and closed
questions
Success
Criteria
 I can write examples
of open and closed
questions
 I know and use the
appropriate vocabulary
when asking questions

3. Key Vocabulary
 questions
 open
 closed
 who
 what
 where
 when
 why
 which
 whose
 how

4. GKR
What does
the title tell
me?
What do I
predict the
text will be
about?
What can
the pictures
tell me?
What do I
already know
about this
topic?
What
words do
I expect
to see?
What
images come
to mind?
What will I
do as I
read?
Think – Pair – Share
 In one minute, brainstorm
and write down what you
know about questions
 Discuss your brainstorm
with a partner
 Share with another pair

5. Types of questions
 Today we will be
looking at open and
closed questions and
the vocabulary we use
to ask questions.
 Add these questioning
words to your glossary

6. Types of questions
Open Questions
 Open questions require a
response with more depth
and a lengthier response.
Closed Questions
 Closed questions can be
answered in only one word
or very short phrase.

7. Open questions
 Open questions are ones that require more than one
word answers.
 Here are some examples of open-ended questions:
 What is your favorite flavor of ice cream and why?
 What are some of the things that bring you the most
joy?
 Do you like animals and why?

8. Closed questions
 If you can answer a question with only a "yes" or "no"
response, then you are answering a closed type of
question.
 Examples of closed questions are:
 Are you feeling better today?
 May I use the bathroom?
 Is the prime rib a special tonight?

9. Activity
Create two open and two
closed questions.

10. Writing an essential
question

11. Learning Focus
 To understand what an
essential question is
 To create an essential
question for the Term
1 project
Success
Criteria
 Create (and agree on)
an essential question
for the Term 1 project

12. Posing Essential Questions
An essential question frames your project as a problem to
be solved.

13. Key Vocabulary
 essential
 hypothetical
 provoke
 moral
 cause/effect

14. What is an essential
question?
 In table groups, brainstorm what you think an
essential question is
 Post it to Padlet
 Find the link on Edmodo
 http://padlet.com/wall/8wgl3j950l

15. What is an essential
question?
 Essential questions are open ended questions
 Essential questions make you think critically
 You can not simply look up the answer
 You will need to research your topic

16. Essential Questions …
 Provoke deeper thinking
 Require information/data gathering
 The result will be an original answer
 Allows you to produce work that is uniquely yours
 May not have a definitive answer
 Allows you to think more critically

17. Types of Essential
Questions
 Which one …?
 How …?
 What if …?
 Should …?
 Why …?

18. What if?
What if questions are:
• hypothetical
• asking you to use you existing
knowledge
• asking you to pose a hypothesis
• e.g. What if children didn’t have
to go to school?

19. Should …?
These questions make a moral or
practical decision based on
evidence.
e.g. Should we discontinue the live
exportation of animals?

20. Why …?
These questions:
• ask you to understand cause
and effect
• help us to understand
relationships
• help us to get to the essence of
an issue
e.g. Why do sports people use
illegal drugs?

21. How to write an essential
question
1 Project focus
 What is the main idea and
information you would like to
share with your audience?
 What questions would you like
answered at the conclusion of
your project?
2 Ideas
 May come from your personal
curiosity or interest
 Begin with: who, what, where,
when, why
 Use these basic questions to
create your essential question.
Begin with: Which one? How?
What if? Should? Why?

22. Some essential question
sentence starters
 How would you …?
 What would result if …?
 How would you describe …?
 How does … compare with …?
 What is the relationship between …?
 What would happen if …?
 How could you change …?
 How would you improve …?
 How do you feel about …?
 Why do you believe …
 What is your opinion of …?

23. Review todays
learning
In your Review Book you need to
write:
• what you have learnt today and;
• how you will use this to help you
in your learning this year.
• How will you use questioning
strategies in your other subjects