The Question Table

One important feature of the first phase of a project is the development of the questions that the investigation will try to answer. Many teachers have found it helpful to make a question table during a discussion with the children about what they want to find out.

Once the topic of the investigation has been agreed upon, the teacher can begin to create a three-column question table as follows:

Questions	Predictions	Findings

The teacher can then ask the group, “What do you want to find out about (the topic)?” For example, if the class is beginning a study of trees near the school, the teacher might ask, “What do you want to find out about the trees outside the school?” The teacher can then write the questions in the first column.

Questions	Predictions	Findings
Do they have flowers on them?

As the children become involved in fieldwork, the teacher may invite them to formulate additional questions related to fieldwork experiences:

• When the arborist comes to talk to us, what do you want her to talk about?
• When we go to the nursery, what do you want them to show us?
• When we take our walk around the school (or the park, etc.) what are some things you want to measure?

After writing a child’s question on the chart, the teacher can ask, “What do you think the answer will be?” Occasionally, when a child makes a reasonably clear prediction, the teacher can ask in a positive and curious tone, “What makes you think so?” Provoking children to examine and offer the bases for predictions should become part of the culture of the classroom and may foster a lifelong disposition. However, like just about everything else, putting this question to the young investigators could become annoying if it occurs too often! (Note: It is all right for a child to say, “I don’t know!”)

As the teacher encourages the group to make predictions, children may even argue with each other as they support their own ideas. Their conversation may reveal the range of experience and knowledge represented in the group.

Predictions can be listed in the middle column, as follows.

Questions	Predictions	Findings
Do they have flowers on them?	Yes No Some do, etc.

As the children return from various site visits and talks with visiting experts, the teacher can help them complete the third column of the findings.

Questions	Predictions	Findings
Do they have flowers on them?	Yes No Some do, etc.	Some do, others do not

When the children become familiar with using this kind of question table, the teacher could add another column, calling it something like “Source,” to note where they got answers to their questions. With older children, a column titled “How can you find the answers to this question?” or “What did you do to get the answers to this question?” could also be added.

A chart for older children who are more experienced with project work might look something like this:

Questions	Predictions	Basis for prediction	Strategy	Findings	Source of information
Do they have flowers on them?	Yes No Some do, etc.	Yes, Jane saw some. No, flowers don’t grow on trees.	Ask the master gardener.	Some do, others do not	The master gardener and the arborist.

Much depends on the ages and the experience of the children involved in the project.

I recommend experimenting with the range of possibilities for the question table. It is generally a good idea to post the question table where children can easily see it and to return to it whenever it seems appropriate to support the progress of the project.