ESSENTIAL QUESTION

TOOLKIT MATH & SCIENCE

HEATHER RHODES, ELIZABETH MURRAY, JESSICA

HIGGINS

What is an Essential Question

•THE FOUNDATION OF A UNIT PLAN IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.

•THEY ARE THE FRAMEWORK FOR LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM

•THEY DETERMINE THE SUBSIDIARY NEEDS IN A UNIT PLAN

Purpose for using Essential Question in Math and Science Curriculum• ENCOURAGE. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATIONS

•HELPS GUIDE LEARNING INSTEAD OF DICTATING WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

• ENGAGES STUDENTS TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION

•ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SEEK A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING FOR THE TOPIC.

• THEY RAISE IMPORTANT QUESTION ACROSS CONTENT AREAS. ( MATH AND SCIENCE, ECT.)

• THEY CENTER AROUND MAJOR ISSUES, PROBLEMS, CONCERNS, INTERESTS, OR THEMES THAT ALSO OCCUR IN OTHER LESSONS.

How EQs are connected to the Common Core State Standards

•BOTH REQUIRE STUDENTS TO THINK MORE IN DEPTH

•THEY BOTH HAVE A SPECIFIC GOAL.

•BOTH COVER MORE BROAD A SUBJECT AREA AND QUESTION

Examples of Essential Questions

4th Grade Science Common Core Standard (California)

Students will know that plate tectonics account for important features of Earth’s surface and major geologic events.

Sample objectiveStudents will demonstrate and explain how volcanoes and different types of mountains result from plate motions.

Essential Question How does the earth change?

Examples of Essential Questions

Kindergarten Math Standard (California)

Count to tell the number of objects.

K.CC.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality

Sample objectiveStudents will be able to count objects recognizing the last number represents the total amount

Essential QuestionWhy do we count?

Examples of Essential Questions

2nd Grade Math Standard (California)

Work with time and money.

2.MD.8 Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and

3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

Sample objectiveStudents will understand that coins have different values and are counted according to their values.

Essential QuestionHow is money counted

REFERENCES

• ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS. (2012). RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://GREENVILLE.K12.SC.US/LEAGUE/ESQUES.HTML

• ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING. (2013). RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://OZPK.TRIPOD.COM/0000000EQ