National geographic questions and activities

National geographic questions and activities

“Without imagination thinking is impossible”

See - Think - Wonder.

Use the following three starters when looking at a picture.

• I see…
• I think…
• I wonder…

Interview the picture

What questions would you like to ask the person/people in the picture?

The 3 whys

Use an article or picture and answer the three questions on paper/verbally:
1.    Why does this topic matter to me?
2.    Why might it matter to the people around me?
3.    Why might it matter to the world?

Question starters

Pick one topic and let students ask each other these questions:

• Why....
• What if....
• Supposed that....
• What is the purpose of....
• What would change if....

The 4 ifs

Pick a topic, preferably using an article and let students answer these questions written/verbally:
-    If I take this situation seriously?
-    If my community takes this ideal seriously?
-    If our nation/world takes this ideal seriously?
-    If we did nothing?

GOGO: Give one, Get one

• An initial statement (example): What do you think are the three best ways to live a healthier life?

Each student writes down three answers and then they will talk to each other about these ideas -->

Listen – share – elaborate – record

Think, puzzle, explore

Share topics and let the students pick one. Then they will first answer these two questions:
-    What do you think you already know about this topic?

-    What questions or puzzles do you have?

Then, they will explore and share their findings about this topic.

3-2-1

You read an article to your liking and answer the following questions:

• Name 3 things you found interesting/shocking/funny/horrifying/difficult etc.
• Write down 2 things you would like to ask the author.
• Perform 1 fact check.

+1 routine

If you want your students to practice summary writing, use this method.

- Note taking, write down as much as you can remember.

+ 1 routine: recall – review – share

Student writes down what they recall from the article, then the same student builds up on his notes, then the student lets somebody else write down what he or she recalls, and this makes a summary.

The 4 C’s

Use an article/picture and let the students discuss the four C’s:
-    Connections (what connections can you make)
-    Challenge (what ideas, positions = own opinion)
-    Concepts (what key concepts are important)
-    Changes (what changes in attitude, thinking)

Reflection and conclusion

You can use this activity after a lesson. Introduce the short activity at the start of the lesson, so students are aware.
-    I used to think ...
-    Now I think ...