Lesson Title: Lesson 3: The Power of Asking Why
Starter Kit WHY + HOW to begin living the life you want + being the person you want to be.
Curriculum & Grade Level: Future Proof, 7th Grade
Objective:
Students will engage in a hands-on project that allows them to explore the power of curiosity and practice asking effective "why" questions, ultimately producing a digital infographic or Google Slides presentation to showcase their findings.
Materials Needed:
Computers or tablets with internet access (for Canva or Google Slides)
Access to reference materials (books, articles, etc.) for examples of curiosity in action (optional)
Sticky notes or index cards for brainstorming "why" questions
Activity Outline
1. Introduction to the Project (5 minutes)
Begin with a brief recap of the importance of curiosity and how it can enhance our thinking and problem-solving skills.
Explain that students will create a "Curiosity Infographic" or a Google Slides presentation that visually represents a specific topic of their choice, guided by "why" questions.
2. Choosing a Topic and Brainstorming "Why" Questions (10 minutes)
Ask students to choose a topic they are curious about (e.g., space, animals, technology, historical events, etc.).
Have students work individually or in pairs to brainstorm at least three open-ended "why" questions related to their topic. Examples of open-ended "why" questions might include:
Why do certain animals adapt to their environments in specific ways?
Why is technology changing the way we communicate?
Why do historical events shape our society today?\
Direct students to use Bloom's Question Cues Chart to help develop their questions
Encourage them to think about real-life examples and how curiosity has led to discoveries in that area.
Provide sticky notes for students to write down their "why" questions.
3. Creating the Curiosity Infographic or Google Slides Presentation (10 minutes)
Once students have their "why" questions, instruct them to create their infographic using Canva or their presentation using Google Slides.
They should include:
Their chosen topic and a central title.
At least three open-ended "why" questions are prominently displayed.
A section that challenges them to reflect on how answering their "why" questions could lead to new insights or further questions. For example:
What new ideas or concepts did I discover while exploring this question?
How could this understanding change my perspective or actions in the future?
Visual elements such as images, icons, and charts that represent their topic and questions.
Encourage creativity; students can explore different templates and design features to make their projects visually appealing.
4. Presentation and Reflection (5 minutes)
Once the infographics or presentations are complete, invite students to share their work with the class.
Each student or pair can briefly explain their topic, their "why" questions, and what they learned during the activity.
Conclude by reflecting on the process:
Ask students: “How did asking 'why' help you think deeper about your topic? What new insights did you gain?”
Wrap-Up:
Encourage students to share their infographics or presentations digitally or print them out for display in the classroom or hallways, reinforcing the idea that curiosity leads to learning and exploration. Remind students to continue asking "why" questions in their everyday lives!
Rubric:
Criteria | Excellent (4 points) | Good (3 points) | Satisfactory (2 points) | Needs Improvement (1 point) | Total Points |
Content | - Topic is clear and relevant - At least three insightful open-ended "why" questions that demonstrate deep thinking - Includes a reflection on insights gained and further questions. | - Topic is mostly clear and relevant - At least three relevant open-ended "why" questions - Includes some reflection on insights gained. | - Topic is somewhat clear - Less than three open-ended "why" questions, or questions lack depth - Minimal reflection included. | - Topic is unclear or irrelevant - Fewer than three questions or all are closed-ended - No reflection on insights. | /4 |
Creativity and Design | -Infographic/Slides is visually appealing and well-organized - Effective use of images, icons, and charts that enhance understanding. | -Infographic/Slides is mostly visually appealing - Some use of images and design elements, but could be more effective. | -Infographic/Slides is somewhat cluttered or lacks organization - Limited use of images and design elements. | -Infographic/Slides is disorganized and visually unappealing - No images or design elements used. | /4 |
Engagement and Presentation | - Student confidently presents and engages the audience - Clear and articulate explanation of content and insights gained. | - Student presents with some confidence and engages the audience - Mostly clear explanation of content. | - Student presents but lacks confidence - Explanation is unclear or lacks detail. | - Student does not present or shows little effort to engage the audience - Explanation is disorganized or incomplete. | /4 |
Collaboration and Effort | - Demonstrated outstanding effort and collaboration if working with a partner - Actively contributed ideas and engaged with the project. | - Demonstrated good effort and collaboration - Contributed ideas but could have engaged more. | - Demonstrated minimal effort or collaboration - Limited contribution to the project. | - Did not demonstrate effort or collaboration, or only contributed a small part of the work. | /4 |
Total Score: /16
Grading Scale:
Excellent: 13-16 points
Good: 9-12 points
Satisfactory: 5-8 points
Needs Improvement: 1-4 points