Depending upon their age, experience, and background knowledge, children will have various success asking questions. Many early childhood teachers have remarked that their children do not know what a question is nor how to ask questions. This is your opportunity to provide the necessary direct instruction on questioning and allow for the required practice of this skill. Simultaneously teachers have also noted that their children do ask questions when their curiosity is sparked. The task for the project approach teacher is to model a variety of questions and provide enough guided practice so that the children become adept in this skill.
Field work is an ideal vehicle to generate interest and questions.
Characteristics of Good Questions Teachers may find it helpful to examine a variety of questions with students. For example, analyze the following questions and possible answers that may result. In reviewing these questions, think about which questions yield simple and closed answers. Discuss when you might want to use those types of questions in project work. Next examine other types of questions that lead to further understandings and offer additional information.