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Teaching Children Science Book Cover
Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach, 2/e
Joe Krajcik, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Charlene Czerniak, University of Toledo
Carl Berger, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

What Is a Driving Question?

GENERATING DRIVING QUESTIONS FROM TOPICS

Materials Needed:

  • Paper and pencil or a computer
  • A variety of curriculum materials (such as from GEMS, AIMS, FOSS, STC, and National Geographic)





1

Use the following topics to create teacher-developed driving questions. Write an explanation of why you think they make good driving questions.
K-4 topics from the National Science Education -Standards (NRC, 1996):
  • Changes in the earth and sky
  • Light
  • Electricity
  • Magnetism
  • Life cycles
  • Organisms and environments
  • Properties of earth materials
  • Objects in the sky
Grades 5-8 topics from the National Science -Education Standards (NRC, 1996):
  • Changes and properties of matter
  • Motions and forces
  • Transfer of energy
  • Heredity
  • Reproduction
  • Structure of the earth
  • Solar system
  • Environmental hazards
  • Personal health
2

Examine a variety of commercially published curriculum materials. Match available materials to the topics listed from the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996). Write about how the commercially published materials could support the driving question.
3

How could the driving questions you developed -provide opportunities for students to ask their own questions and explore solutions to them?
4

Record your responses in your portfolio.