Characteristics of Good Essential Questions

from Understanding by Design, by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe

Definition

• Doorways to Understanding … Grant Wiggins
• What is the Goal of the Lesson?
• What Knowledge Will the Students Acquire and Integrate?
• The Heart of What Students Should Examine and Know.

Characteristics

• Highlights conceptual priorities
• Provides sharper focus and better direction for inquiry and investigation
• Promotes higher order thinking skills
• No more than 2 to 5 in number
• Fulfills outcomes
• Language for organizing
• Open for investigation
• Logical sequence
• Connects a range of disciplines
• Understood by each student

Examples

• Flight
  • What flies?
  • How does flight impact humans?
  • How and why do things in nature fly?

• Intelligence
  • What is intelligence?
  • How has intelligence evolved?

• Math
  • How will I ever learn to multiply?
  • Where will I ever use multiplication?
  • Are imaginary numbers real?

• Snow
  • What is snow?
  • How does it affect people?

• Basketball
  • How can I be a successful team player?
  • How can I improve my coordination?

• History / Social Studies
  • Why do people immigrate?
  • Is the Civil War still going on?