Activity 01
Question Bag
Place a variety of interesting but familiar objects in an opaque 'feely bag'. Pupils take turns pulling out an object and must ask the class a 'who', 'what', 'where', or 'why' question about it.
Explain the difference between a whisper and a 'talking' voice.
Facilitation TipModel a good question yourself first to set the standard for the activity.
What to look forDuring whole-class and group activities, use a checklist to note which pupils are asking questions and the types of questions they are formulating (e.g., simple vs. complex).
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Activity 02
Picture Detectives
In pairs, pupils examine a large, detailed picture (e.g., from a storybook or a busy scene). They work together to come up with three questions about the picture to ask another pair.
Identify how you feel when you share an idea with the class.
Facilitation TipProvide question-starter stems on the board like 'I wonder why...' or 'What is happening here?'.
What to look forListen in on 'Turn and Talk' sessions to hear the questions pupils are developing with their partners. This provides a low-stakes insight into their understanding.
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Activity 03
Hot Seating a Character
After reading a story, a volunteer pupil (or the teacher) sits in the 'hot seat' pretending to be a character. The rest of the class asks the character questions about their feelings, actions, or motivations.
Justify why we should use a clear voice when speaking in a group.
Facilitation TipEnsure the questions are directed to the character, not the pupil playing the role.
What to look forAfter an activity, ask pupils to do a 'thumbs up, middle, or down' to show how confident they feel about asking a question out loud.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Begin by modelling everything. Use a large, engaging picture and think aloud as you form a question, for example, 'I'm looking at the dog and I'm wondering why he has a red ball'. Use question stems on the board and move from whole-class work to 'Turn and Talk' pair work. Always praise the act of asking to build a safe and encouraging environment.
By the end of these activities, your pupils will be able to confidently formulate and answer questions about pictures and stories, seeing their own curiosity as a superpower.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Asking a question means you don't know something, which is embarrassing.
Explain that asking questions is a clever way to find out new things, just like a scientist or a detective. Praise curiosity and celebrate the act of asking, regardless of the question.
Questions only have one correct answer.
Show the difference between a question like 'What colour is the car?' and 'Why do you think the boy looks sad?'. Explain that 'wondering' questions can have many brilliant answers because they are about our ideas.
Only the teacher is supposed to ask questions.
Actively encourage pupils to ask you and their classmates questions. Set up activities where the pupils are the primary question-askers to shift the dynamic and empower them.
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