Power of the Question

Scott Simon

Name of lesson: What do you want to know?

Suggested grade levels: 6-12

Suggested subjects: Social Studies, English, Language Arts, Science

Suggested time allowance: 3-4 class periods, with additional time for student research

Lesson Overview

These lessons introduce students to two kinds of questions, naive and research-based, that can be used to gain information and understanding. In three short videos, veteran NPR journalist Scott Simon explains specific questioning styles, focuses on research-based and naïve questions, and provides tips for asking good questions. Students practice writing research-based and naïve questions and then apply these skills in the broader context for conducting academic research. These lessons culminate with a unique method for doing academic research. The method has the teacher posing a fertile question and students developing research questions to investigate the topic.

Objectives

Students will

• Develop an understanding of naïve and research questions.

• Demonstrate understanding by writing naïve and research questions.

• Pose a research question guided by a central fertile question and work with peers to investigate.

• Present the findings of this investigation to the class.

• Reflect on the role of naive and research questions to gain knowledge and understanding.

Resources/materials

• Y-Press’s Scott Simon video (embedded in the lesson plan)

• Index cards

• Post-it notes

• Relevant material to current unit of study based on the discipline being taught (i.e.: textbook, novel, etc.)

• Harpaz and Leftstein (2000) “Communities of Thinking” article

• Chart paper

Lesson Plan

Power of the Question project from Sygiel Solutions Consulting

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lessons created by Y-Press journalists and Indiana teachers for its power-of-the-question project