1. Essential Questions

2. What is an Essential Question? Questions that require you to make a decision or plan a course of action. (Evaluation- highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.) Questions that require you to make a decision or plan a course of action. (Evaluation- highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.) Questions that probe for deeper meaning and set the stage for further questioning. Questions that probe for deeper meaning and set the stage for further questioning. Questions that foster the development of critical thinking skills and higher order capabilities such as problem-solving and understanding complex systems. Questions that foster the development of critical thinking skills and higher order capabilities such as problem-solving and understanding complex systems. A good essential question is the principle component of designing inquiry-based learning. A good essential question is the principle component of designing inquiry-based learning.

3. Avoid "What is" questions "What is" questions "What is AIDS” "What is AIDS” "What is acid rain” "What is acid rain” While these are important questions, they do not require that you make a decision or plan a course of action. While these are important questions, they do not require that you make a decision or plan a course of action.

4. Instead Ask, "How can I reduce the likelihood of contracting AIDS?" (this requires a plan of action). Ask, "How can I reduce the likelihood of contracting AIDS?" (this requires a plan of action). "What is the best strategy for reducing the impact of acid rain in the United States?" (this requires a decision among the various strategies). "What is the best strategy for reducing the impact of acid rain in the United States?" (this requires a decision among the various strategies).

5. Essential Question Samples Is it acceptable to clone humans? Is it acceptable to clone humans? Should animals be genetically altered to produce human proteins? Should animals be genetically altered to produce human proteins? Should the remaining cultures of smallpox be destroyed? Should the remaining cultures of smallpox be destroyed? What are the most effective steps for preventing breast cancer? What are the most effective steps for preventing breast cancer? How can bananas be genetically altered show that they vaccinate the consumer against viral diseases? How can bananas be genetically altered show that they vaccinate the consumer against viral diseases? Should the HIV virus be modified for use in gene therapy? Should the HIV virus be modified for use in gene therapy?

6. A Supporting question is: One whose answer provides the facts used to answer the essential question One whose answer provides the facts used to answer the essential question Essential Question Supporting Question Supporting Question Supporting Question

7. Essential Versus Supporting "Should wetlands in the United States be preserved? (remember: essential questions require that you ask a decision-making or action plan question, this is an example of a decision- making question). "Should wetlands in the United States be preserved? (remember: essential questions require that you ask a decision-making or action plan question, this is an example of a decision- making question).wetlands Here are supporting questions relating to the wetlands essential question: Here are supporting questions relating to the wetlands essential question: What is a wetland? What is a wetland? What are the reasons for saving wetlands? What are the reasons for saving wetlands? Why are wetlands being destroyed? Why are wetlands being destroyed? Who is destroying wetlands? Who is destroying wetlands? How many of acres of wetlands exist in the United States? How many of acres of wetlands exist in the United States? At what rate are wetlands being destroyed? At what rate are wetlands being destroyed? What are the best methods for saving wetlands? What are the best methods for saving wetlands?

8. Activities to Support Essential Questions about Wetlands Persuasive Argument for whether the wetlands should be saved. Persuasive Argument for whether the wetlands should be saved. PowerPoint Presentation PowerPoint Presentation Publisher Brochure Publisher Brochure Inspiration Web Inspiration Web Microsoft Word Document with Pictures Microsoft Word Document with Pictures Each format should have evidence of all supporting questions. Each format should have evidence of all supporting questions.

9. How do I know they learned the Supporting Facts? Check for accuracy in presentation Check for accuracy in presentation Did they persuade you? Did they persuade you? Self assessment Self assessment Create an assessment Create an assessment Test Test

10. More Information…. http://www.biopoint.com/inquiry/ibr.html # http://www.biopoint.com/inquiry/ibr.html # http://www.biopoint.com/inquiry/ibr.html # http://www.biopoint.com/inquiry/ibr.html # http://mathstar.nmsu.edu/exploration1/un it/content_questions.html http://mathstar.nmsu.edu/exploration1/un it/content_questions.html http://mathstar.nmsu.edu/exploration1/un it/content_questions.html http://mathstar.nmsu.edu/exploration1/un it/content_questions.html