Instructional Strategy

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Question Pyramid

Grade:

3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type:

Question & Inquire

20-30

Minutes

When:

Before reading

Materials:

Question Pyramid graphic organizer, whiteboard or display, writing utensils

Description

The Question Pyramid strategy enhances students’ question-formulation skills using the essential interrogatives: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. This strategy enhances critical thinking by guiding students to explore topics from various angles using different types of questions. As they generate questions, students develop their ability to ask diverse and insightful questions, deepening their understanding while encouraging curiosity and analytical thinking.

Procedure

Ask students to choose a topic of interest, or assign them a predetermined topic relevant to your desired learning outcomes.

Distribute the Question Pyramid graphic organizer to each student or pair.

Use a think-aloud technique to demonstrate how to fill out the organizer, focusing on a sample topic. Explain each of the six question words—Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How—and show how to formulate a question for each.

Provide examples of simple questions for each question word, using the sample topic to illustrate how each word helps explore different aspects of the topic.

Sample Topic: Climate Change

Who is affected by climate change?

What is climate change?

When did climate change become a recognized global issue?

Where are the effects of climate change most visible?

Why is climate change happening?

How is climate change measured?

Invite students to work independently or in pairs to fill out their Question Pyramid graphic organizers for their selected topics.

As students work, circulate and confer with students to support them as needed.

Have students share their questions with a partner or present them during a class share-out, identifying which questions are closed-ended and which are open-ended.

Facilitate a discussion on closed-ended and open-ended questions and how these questions differ.

Conclude with a reflective discussion or writing exercise. Ask students:

Which questions were the most challenging to create?

Which question word(s) did they find most useful?

How can these questioning skills be applied to other subjects or real-world issues?

Differentiation

Guided Examples: Provide specific examples of questions for each question word using a common or previously known topic to all students. This could be a historical event, a scientific concept, or a piece of literature they have studied. Guided examples using familiar topics help reduce students’ cognitive load and provide clear, concrete models. They also support students in learning to formulate questions, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Whole-Class Question Pyramid Modeling: Guide students through constructing a Question Pyramid together using a familiar topic. This collaborative approach allows students to see how different types of questions build on each other, moving from basic facts to deeper analysis. It also provides a structured way to differentiate instruction, as more advanced students can tackle the more complex levels of questioning. This scaffolded approach supports all students in understanding the question formation process while allowing for differentiation by assigning more challenging question levels to advanced students.

Peer Review: Encourage students to refine their questions by distinguishing between open-ended and closed-ended questions. Have students practice turning one type into the other and consider the advantages of each type in different contexts. This process supports learners by encouraging critical evaluation and refinement of questions, promoting higher-order thinking and collaborative skills.

Variations

Question Swap: Students swap their Question Pyramid organizers with peers to review and add more complex questions, promoting deeper inquiry and diverse perspectives. This minor modification enhances collaborative learning and critical engagement by exposing students to different approaches to the same topic.

Instructional Strategy

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Question Pyramid

Description

Procedure

Differentiation

Variations

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