Developed by Angelika Foerst
Sample questions to promote awareness about the steps students take and skills they learn.
Purpose: Reflective questions can help students evaluate their process of completing an assignment, identify areas of improvement, and gain insights into their learning and growth throughout the assignment/lesson/unit/project. *Questions are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy.*
Note: The grade levels suggested are not fixed. Every student is different and every classroom community is different. Inevitably the questions you select to incorporate into your lesson/unit/project will be dependent upon the cognitive level of your students.
Sample questions for students to consider:
- What was the initial topic or task assigned for the project? Did you understand the requirements clearly? (Grades: K-College)
- How did you plan and organize your time to work on the assignment? Did you set specific goals and deadlines for each stage of the project?
(Grades: K-College)
- What research methods did you use to gather information and resources for the assignment? Were they effective in helping you achieve your goals?
(Grades: 9-College)
- How did you approach the process of brainstorming and generating ideas for the assignment? Did you explore different perspectives and creative solutions?
(Grades: 6-College)
- What challenges or obstacles did you encounter during the assignment? How did you overcome them, and what did you learn from these experiences?
(Grades: 6-College)
- Reflect on your collaboration and communication with peers or group members during the assignment. How did teamwork contribute to the project’s success?
(Grades: K-College)
- How did you incorporate feedback from teachers, peers, or mentors into your work? Did you make revisions based on the feedback received?
(Grades: 6-College)
- Reflect on the final outcome of the assignment. Do you feel satisfied with your work, and do you think you met the objectives and requirements set for the project?
(Grades: K-College)
- What new skills or knowledge did you acquire while working on this assignment? How will these learning experiences benefit you in future projects?
(Grades: 6-College)
- Looking back, what would you do differently if you were to tackle a similar assignment in the future? What are the key lessons you will take away from this experience?
(Grades: 6-College)
- In what ways were your perspectives (prior knowledge) challenged? What surprised you during this assignment? (Grades: 6-College)
- Having completed this assignment, how would you coach or mentor someone else in its completion? What advice would you give him/her/them?
(Grades: 6-College)
- How would you describe the connection between experience and knowledge as they relate to this assignment? What was gained upon its completion?
(Grades: 9-College)
- How did you determine who would be responsible for each component/stage of this project/assignment? Did you stick to your initial delegations or did they evolve as you went along? Explain your reasoning.
(Grades: 6-College)
- Given that you approached this project/assignment within the context of your selected subject matter, how might someone outside of your subject matter analyze/evaluate _______ from their subject matter. Provide a clear example and justify your response.
(Grades: 9-College)
Sample Knowledge Questions:
Grades K-5:
- What do you remember about _____?
- How would you define or describe ____?
- How/Where/What is/are/was/were _____?
Grades 6-8:
- What would you choose? Why? Explain.
- Describe what happens when _____?
- How would you outline this ______?
Grades 9-12:
- Are there areas in your essay where your arguments need further support? Locate and highlight them yellow.
- Which resources did you find to be the most useful? Explain your answer.
- Where is your voice heard? Identify and underline those areas that are unequivocally you.
Sample Application Questions:
Grades K-5:
- What did you do to complete this _____?
- What actions would you take to _____?
- What other way would you choose to ____?
Grades 6-8:
- How would you change/modify _____?
- What would the result be if ______?
- How would you determine/organize ____?
Grades 9-12:
- How would you employ ______ in your learning given what you’ve learned from your investigation? Justify your response.
- In what ways would you alter this assignment? Why? Be sure to elaborate and give concrete examples.
- Produce an illustration of your poem/book that conveys the general theme/plot to a non-native speaker.
Sample comprehension questions:
Grades K-5:
- How would you compare/contrast _____?
- What did you observe?
- How can you describe ____?
Grades 6-8:
- How would you clarify the meaning of ______?
- How would you express _______ within the context of this story/poem/song?
- How would you restate (insert quote/verse/lyrics) in your own words?
Grades 9-12:
- How would you differentiate between ______ and ______ within the context of the reading?
- What can you infer from _______ as it relates to ________?
- What would happen if _______?
To do list:
Sample evaluation questions:
Grades K-5:
- What is your opinion of ________?
- What is the most important theme/element/scene, etc. of _____?
- What choice would you have made? Why?
Grades 6-8:
- How would you grade your assignment/paper/project? What criteria would you use?
- What would you suggest that each of your group mates do to improve their portion of the assignment/paper/project? Identify an area for improvement and give 2-3 suggestions on how to improve it.
- How could you verify that the information you gathered is accurate?
Grades 9-12:
- What criteria would you use to assess the trustworthiness of your data? Pick 2-3 of your citations and walk me through how you know they are solid sources.
- What data was used to evaluate and support your position?
- Identify an area of your study that is of interest that you were not able to explore. Where would you suggest other students take up your study for further research/inquiry?
Sample Analysis Questions:
Grades K-5:
- Discuss the pros and cons of _______?
- What can you point out about (insert character name/author/setting, etc.)?
- What can you infer (guess) about (insert character name/author/setting)?
Grades 6-8:
- How can you compare the different parts of ______ music?
- What explanation do you have for _____ actions/thoughts/behaviors?
- What can you point out about (insert character name/author/setting/painting, etc.)? Explain.
Grades 9-12:
- How can you classify _____ according to ______? Justify your thinking.
- How is ______ connected to ______? Justify your answer.
- What is your analysis of (insert character name/author/setting/painting, etc.)?
Sample Synthesis Questions:
Grades K-5:
- How would you explain (insert character name/author/artist, etc.) reason for ____?
- How would you portray (describe) _____?
- What facts can you gather about _____?
Grades 6-8:
- What alternate actions would you suggest for (insert character name)? Explain your thinking.
- What would happen if ______?
- What changes would you make to the story/painting? Why?
Grades 9-12:
- What changes would you make to revise or improve your (argument/poem/illustrustration/song lyrics, etc.)?
- Predict the outcome if ____? Justify your answer.
- Devise a way to ________?