Burning Questions

[jsfowler]

I ran across this activity in a book and I wanted to share. It is called Burning Questions and the students are to write down a question that, in middle school language, they really, really, really, really want to know.

I thought I would use this after testing, each kids writes down their burning question and then I get one of our mobile labs (35 lap tops) in our class to allow them to research and find the answer. They can then present their material in a variety of ways - poster, brochure, skit, song, diagram, etc.

I have been studying differentiated instruction this year and have read several books. They have the best ideas!!! I recommend any book on differentiated instruction by Carol Ann Tomlinson - her books are full of ideas, not just words.

[MsCoffeeLover]

JSFowler, if you bring to all of your lessons what you bring to this site, I totally wish you were on my team. We would probably exhaust each other with the energy between us, but we could be a two person team that would totally rock.:D

You have all of these great idea I wish I could get my team members to collaborate on.


No offense to anyone else out there. Individual appreciation is coming.

[busbus]

I do like this idea. It is truly an activity that is differentiated. Students will be working on something that they created, not a prompt from the teacher."

Burning Question"? Great! I will definitely share with my new teachers. Thanks for sharing.

I agree with you, Carol Ann Tomlinson does offer great ideas. I have several of her books and do share information about her and her ideas with my new teachers.

[WVmtnlady]

The book recommended sounds great. It is always nice to have new resources to use. I've never heard of Burning Questions and am interesed in learning more!

[ChocolateNewOrleans]

I ran across this activity in a book and I wanted to share. It is called Burning Questions and the students are to write down a question that, in middle school language, they really, really, really, really want to know.

I thought I would use this after testing, each kids writes down their burning question and then I get one of our mobile labs (35 lap tops) in our class to allow them to research and find the answer. They can then present their material in a variety of ways - poster, brochure, skit, song, diagram, etc.

I have been studying differentiated instruction this year and have read several books. They have the best ideas!!! I recommend any book on differentiated instruction by Carol Ann Tomlinson - her books are full of ideas, not just words.

careful, a lady did this at my last school...she got VERY innapropriate questions

[Humaira Kaleem]

Thankyou jsfowler for such a wonderful idea.

I have tried KWL (Know, Want to Know and Learned ) activity in my class which works very well when my class is planning a project or when I introduce a new topic in class.

I think the purpose of your activity or any other similar activity is to develop students' questioning skills and to make a lesson more real and meaningful for the students.

Working out some rules with the students for writing their Burning Questions may help to overcome the problem of inappropriate questioning.

[mstone]

Last year was my first year teaching and I did not use any tools like KWL. This year I have incorporated many of the concepts learned such as the KWL and listen-think-pair-share, I have seen a vast difference in how my students process the information. I agree giving clear direction and rules to students is extremely important to the way students interpret the information. Good luck!