Big Ideas Essential Questions Process Description

Big ideas are broad and universal; they apply to multiple situations and products simultaneously.

Essential questions address learning goals and frame the Big Idea. Good essential questions elicit an elaborate response:

They are open ended and engaging

They expose the heart of a topic

They are designed to reveal content, which leads to understanding

They do not involve direct instruction

They direct focus on what learners need and want to know, not compulsory coverage

They represent authentic experience(s) by revealing personal experiences, knowledge and interests

Example 1

Math - Fractions.

Big Idea: Distribution

Essential Questions:

Does accuracy matter?

When is close good enough?

How much is almost?

When is enough, enough?

Example 2

History/ Affective Learning/Social Emotional Component - American Revolution

Topic: The American Revolutionary War brought great hardship on families. There were problems financing the war,

inflation and terrible loss of life; families lost fathers, mothers and children. Laws against hoarding goods and profiteering

were instituted.

Big Idea: Victory

Essential Questions

Why war?

What does victory look like?

How does failure and victory compare

How might greed help an economy?

Learning Goals

Learning Activities, Tasks, and assessments etc need to be aligned around learning goals.

Online Sources:

Terms & Conditions

Login