What you will be able to do
ask a question that matches a topic; use who, what, when, where, why, or how; make a broad question more specific
Asking Strong Questions
How can a strong question help us learn about people, places, and the past?
Activate what you know
Think of something in the classroom that makes you curious. You may name it, point to it, or draw it; you do not need to share anything private
- questionsomething we ask because we want to know or understand
- topicthe main subject we are learning about
- strong questiona clear question that helps us investigate a topic
- cluea detail that can help us find an answer
- sourcea person, object, picture, or text that can provide information
- refineto improve a question by making it clearer or more specific
1
Questions Give an Investigation a Direction
Social studies begins with curiosity about people and communities. A topic such as a park, a school, or an event is a starting place. A question turns that topic into something we can investigate. The words who, what, when, where, why, and how help us ask for useful information. A strong question is clear and connected to the topic. It is not always long. ‘Where is the library on this map?’ is strong because we know what to look for. ‘Why did the town build a library near the school?’ is also strong because it invites us to look for reasons and evidence
2
Make a Question Clearer, Then Choose Sources
Sometimes a first question is too broad, too narrow, or unrelated to the topic. That is normal. We can refine it. If the topic is an old playground photograph, ‘Why is everything different?’ is very broad. ‘What playground equipment in the photograph is different from the equipment there today?’ tells us exactly what to compare. The question also guides the sources we choose. A map can help answer where. A timeline can help answer when. A photograph can show visible details, and a person may explain what they remember. One source may not answer every part, so a careful investigator may need more than one
Strong Question Check
Ask: Does my question match the topic? Is it clear? Could a source give me clues for an answer?
Build the Question Aloud
Say the topic first, choose one question word, and finish the thought. For example: ‘Our topic is the library. Where is the library? Why was it built there?’
A Question Is Not Weak Just Because It Is Short
‘When did the bridge open?’ is short but clear and useful. Strength comes from focus, not from the number of words
Question Workshop
Choose the safe classroom topic ‘getting to school.’ Ask one who, what, when, where, why, or how question. Then add a place, group, or time to make it more specific
A strong social studies question is clear, connected to a topic, and answerable with clues from sources. We can refine a first question and choose sources that fit what we are asking
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. Which question best matches the topic ‘the community park’? A. How do people use the community park? B. What is my favorite color? C. Is lunch soon?
Check answer
How do people use the community park?
- 2. Complete this question with a useful question word: ___ did the town open the new playground? A. When B. Blue C. Because
Check answer
When
- 3. Draw something in a public place that makes you curious. Write or tell one question about it
Check answer
Answers will vary. Accept a labeled drawing and a related question such as ‘Who uses this bus stop?’ An oral response is acceptable
- 4. Refine ‘What changed?’ so it asks about the school playground and a time
Check answer
Accept a clear refinement such as ‘What changed on the school playground during the last five years?’
- 5. Which source would best help answer ‘Where is the fire station?’ A. a town map B. a song C. a lunch menu
Check answer
A town map
- 6. Explain why ‘How do crossing guards help people near the school?’ is a strong question
Check answer
It matches a community topic, clearly names crossing guards and the place, and asks for an explanation of how they help
- 7. The topic is school lunches, but the question is ‘How tall is the library?’ Does the question match? Tell how you know
Check answer
No. The question is about the library, not school lunches. A matching question could be ‘What foods are served for school lunch?’
- 8. Ask one strong question about how people care for a shared classroom space. Name one source that might help answer it
Check answer
Answers will vary. Example: ‘How do students keep our reading corner organized?’ A class chart, observation, or interview with the teacher could help