An Essential Question...

Causes genuine and relevant inquiry into the big ideas and core content.

Provokes deep thought, lively discussion, sustained inquiry, and new understanding as well as more questions.

Requires students to consider alternatives, weigh evidence, support their ideas, and justify their answers.

Stimulates vital, on-going rethinking of big ideas, assumptions, and prior lessons.

Sparks meaningful connections with prior learning and personal experiences.

Naturally recurs, creating opportunities for transfer to other situations and subjects.