If you need a starting place for an engaging student discussion start with: “What do you think?” and “Why do you think that?” These two questions allow students to have an opinion and then give them a chance to clarify their answer with a strong reason behind their thinking.
With these questions, make sure that the emphasis is on the discussions that the questions evoke and also that students understand that there are not any right or wrong answers. However, also make clear that their “why” has to have substance and logic. An answer of “because that’s what I think” won’t cut it.
Too, they will need time to think about both questions so don’t be afraid of silence in the room while they are thinking. Instead, embrace it. Pause. Wait. Don’t feel you have to fill the silence by teacher talk. Just wait for it. Someone will jump in first.
To make it a bit easier to use these questions with primary students and those you may need to differentiate for, you can give one question at a time to help chunk the discussions and then move to the next one. You can also give them easy sentence starters for each question so they are practicing using complete sentences like, ” I think…” and then move them to the “why” by have them start by saying, “I think that because…” Don’t be afraid to experiment with how you use these questions as they will work both in whole group and in small groups.
Kids always love to tell you what they think. Give them the time to do so. And, then listen and help guide their thought processes into logical steps. I think you will find that you will have rich and engaging discussions as the students learn to start asking themselves, “what do I think” and “why do I think that?” And, watch the magic begin…
About the author
I am an elementary teacher who loves history and I want to share this love of history with other teachers by providing easy access to primary sources, artifacts, and video clips that can be used in classrooms.The goal of History Bug is to help both teachers and students powerfully and authentically grasp how important it is to experience the knowledge, understanding, and the differing perspectives of the past, in order to be well informed and thoughtful human beings.
My name is Cyndy Tatum and I am the Admin of this page. I am a Teacher and Learning Coach (TLC) at the elementary level in a school in Colorado. I have been in education for 19 yrs. as a substitute teacher, interventionist, 5th grade teacher, and currently as a TLC, grades K-5. During these years I have seen the need for teachers to have easy access to history and social studies resources and ideas that can be implemented, not only into History and Social Studies, but also into all other content areas.
I sincerely hope that you catch the history bug and are able to pass the love of history on to your students! History and Social Studies lessons do not need to be boring and dry but can be hands-on and engaging with our students. I do hope that History Bug for Teachers will help you bring alive the historical stories of people and events of the famous and not so famous in your classrooms.