Questions Across the Curriculum

Let's look at some questions that could be jumping-off points for inquiry lessons. You can use them as is, or modify them to suit your particular work. I just find it easier to improvise from models than to stare at a blank sheet.

History/Social Science

• Why do you think people invented language? What problems do you think they encountered?
• How do you think people invented the wheel?
• Why do you think people leave their homeland?
• Why do people go exploring?
• What does it take to sustain people in a city?
• What systems need to be invented to make a city work?
• How is city life different from county life? What are the advantages and challenges of each?
• Why do you think some colonists preferred having a king to independence?
• What are the first things you would need to do if you were setting up a new country?
• Who should be allowed to lead our country? Who should be allowed to vote?
• Why might the United States make reparations to Native Americans for treaty violations?
• When might the invasion of another country be justified?
• How is your life different from life during the Civil War?
• What is your reaction to the fact that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves?
• Is slavery ever justified?
• What do you think the government should do about homelessness in our city?

Science

• What do you think computers will be like in the year 2050?
• Why do you think certain birds don't migrate?
• What do you think is the explanation for crop circles?
• What do you think people can do to reduce pollution?
• Do you think product testing on animals is ever justified? Why?
• What problems should science tackle in the next fifty years?
• What would be an effective way to prevent the extinction of certain African mammals?
• What can be done to protect homes from annual flooding?
• What would be a way to reduce traffic accidents during snowstorms?
• What do you know about trees?
• What is similar about ants and bees?
• What kind of shelter could you invent for people living in the desert to protect them from extreme heat and cold?
• oWhat ideas do you have for reducing famine?
• What are some uses for buildings that are going to be demolished?

Literature

• Which poem do you think captured the feeling of being in a battle best? Why?
• What experiences have you had that are similar to the main character?
• If you could meet any character in this book, who would it be and why?
• If you could be any character in this book, who would you be and why?
• How would it change this story if it had been set in the mountains?
• Why do you think the author set this story at sea?
• How does the author let you know what the characters are feeling?
• If you were in this story, how would you have handled the conflict?
• What do you think will happen to the characters after the story ends?
• How would the story be different if the author told it from the bully's point of view?
• If the main character enrolled in our school, do you think you'd become friends?
• What advice would you give the underdog?
• How could you improve this story?

The Arts

• What does that music remind you of in your own life?
• What feelings do you think the composer was trying to convey?
• How would this composition be different if it was played on a piano instead of a violin?
• What images do you see in your mind when you listen to this music?
• What kind of tools might an artist use to make a painting like this?
• Why do artists take photographs?
• Describe what's happening in this painting.
• How are buildings and sculptures similar? Different?
• How is a sculpture different from a painting?
• What textures do you see in this sculpture?
• How would you describe the lines in this painting?
• Why do you think artists paint portraits—pictures of people?
• What patterns can you find in this painting?
• How would you describe what the colors are doing in this painting?
• What do you think gave this artist the idea for this sculpture?
• What story do you think the artist is trying to tell?
• If this sculpture could make sounds, what would you hear?