The "Research Cycle Begins with an "Essential Question"
The Bellingham School
District's "Essential Learning Skills" emphasize problem-solving and
decision-making as important critical thinking skills. We need to teach students
to go beyond the gathering of facts and information about a topic. We need to
teach them to use the information they find in order to solve a problem or make
an informed decision.
The Research Cycle
(exits site)
"Essential Questions" are
curriculum-based research questions that require students to make a decision or
solve a problem. An "essential question" provides the scenario
whereby the student structures his/her research, culminating in a solution to a
problem or a decision, based upon the data gathered.
Detailed explanation
of "Essential Questions"
Examples of Essential Questions by Grade Level
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