Essential Question Examples

Essential Questions for 2007
Write one essential question that you will use this year to guide some part of your teaching for a unit/project/semester.

Steve Koelker - How can Web 2.0 resources enrich instruction in every class?

Susanne's essential question for sophomore classes at beginning of year:
What is basic to all human beings? In other words, what do all of us need to feel good about ourselves?

Jennifer- Is any one culture superior over another?

Sara - we study new plants and plant life. I'm thinking of a question for my first graders that goes something like this . . .
How would our world be different without plants? (which would require the students to learn how important plants are
to our everyday lives, and then discuss what the lack of plants would be like for the world)
or How do our lives depend on plants? (which may not be broad enough, but could be for 6-7 year olds) To be honest I'm thinking of proposing creating essential questions to my first grade colleagues on the 30th when we get together for the full day inservice. We have 3-4 science/social studies units throughout the year, and if we could collaborate on creating essential questions used by each of us, that would be pretty cool.

Jeanette- Are you what you eat? 7th grade nutrition , food pyramid, food intake, nutrients, healthy snacks


Andee -How can technology enhance learning in the modern language classroom? (personal essential question)
Something like...Is learning another language necessary in the 21st century? (needs some refinement, but an overall essential question for my classroom)

Sandy How can I apply Big 6 process to short terms visual art projects as well as longer term tech oriented projects? (I know this is 2 questions in one: I'm inclined to be overly complex and wordy.)

Deborah - How do literary themes enrich the reading experience?

Carol - How does the novela we are reading apply to this quote by Francis Bacon? “Some books are to be tasted; others swallowed; and some to be chewed and digested.”

Scott - How can learning about America's past help us prepare for its future?

Dan - What reliable information can you learn from a survey? What reliable information can't you learn?

Kevin Farrell- How has the world's average temperature changed over the last 100 years?