Developing Curriculum-Framing Questions

Step 1: Defining Curriculum-Framing Questions

Learners are more likely to become self-directed learners if they are interested in the answers. When learners are able to see the connections between the subjects being taught and their own world, that relevance helps them to build upon their knowledge for deeper understanding. Curriculum-Framing Questions are used to promote interest, relevance, and understanding. 

Curriculum-Framing Questions guide a unit of study and include:

Critical Questions

• The overarching, foundational, "big idea" question (open-ended)
• Can help focus several units or be used over the course of a year
• Example: What does it take to change the world?

Focus Questions

• Project-specific, open-ended questions that help build understanding for the Critical Question
• Examples:
• Unit 1: Why leave one's home to make a new life in a strange and?
• Unit 2: How did the _______ Revolution change their world and ours?
• Unit 3: Why do we still read Shakespeare?

Content Questions

• Supporting, fact-based questions (closed questions)
• Rich subject matter content to help strengthen and develop learners' understanding of the larger questions
• Examples:
  • Unit 1: What route did the early explorers take? What were they looking for?
• Unit 2: Who were the key figures in the _______ Revolution?
• Unit 3: What is a tragedy?

Reading resources

• Click here to read a summary of the the curriculum-framing questions.
• Take a few minutes to view additional examples of curriculum-framing questions.

Next: Proceed to Step 2 of Activty 3.3