Question is one of the media which is frequently used in science class. Both questions by students and by teachers are important. Asking a good question is a key to success of science class. Some questions make students to think deeply, but the other questions make no effect. Then, what is a good question? How can we ask a good question? How can we teach students questioning skills.
Simple but powerful game
Last Tuesday, I joined EDCP 349 class. In this class, Elizabeth was supposed to teach questioning skill. Surely there are many good principles of questionning in the textbook. But, she started with simple game, which was inpired me so much. I don't remember the name of game, but it was so simple to remember how to do it.
How to play
Detail of the game is like following :
- Prepare sheets of paper label
- Write various name of animal on each label
- Put each label on student's back
- Do not let student know the name of animal
- Let students quess animal on their back by asking T/F questions to other students
As the game started, all students move around and asked question about the animal on their back. I also participated in this game, and I asked some questions to guess the animal on my back .
- Do I live in the sea or water? NO
- Do I have four legs? NO
- Can I fly? YES
- Am I big? NO
- (I got some hints it is related with baby)
- Do I have antennas? YES
- Then, I am a butterfly!
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| Name tag which was put on my back |
What does this activity tell us?
In order to get answer, how many questions do we need? That depends on the quality of questions. Some strategies are needed to finish quickly. That is the point. Students get to realize that question is important. If we play this game again, they must ask a question seriously. I found that this was really cool activity to teach how to ask a good question.
