Question-Only Strategy

This is a way to teach a lesson only through student questions. This is the way it works.

The teacher tell the students the topic. Example: The teacher says, "The topic today is the Nile. You can find out about it by asking me questions. When you are finished asking questions, there will be a short test, so try to ask good questions."

The teacher will answer each question fully, but not give any more information than what is asked of him or her. The purpose is to challenge the students to think of good questions using higher thinking skills.

Example:
Student: You said, "the Nile." Does that mean Nile is a thing?
Teacher: Yes
Student: This is geography, so is it a country?
Teacher: No.
Student: A mountain?
Teacher: No
Student: A river?
Teacher: Yes
Student: It sounds foreign. Is it in Thailand?

The discussion will continue in this way for approximately 10 minutes.

Sample Test questions:
What is the Nile?
What does it divide?

Then teacher should point out other questions that should have been asked and add information to the ones that were.

Then the students should hear teaching or read text about what they should have learned, but did not in their initial questioning.

Portions of this post were taken and/or quoted from the following source:
Manzo, A.V. & Manzo, U.C. (1995). Teaching children to be literate: A reflective approach. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace, (pp. 382-383).