Yes - No - Why?
This is a basic structure for prompting students to consider a question or statement, develop an idea, and justify it.
- Prompt all students with a question or statement that can be answered with a "yes" or "no" and explanation. For review purposes, use a question based on previously learned information. For preview and to increase engagement, choose a prompt that doesn't have a clear answer.
- (optional) Provide various perspective and ask students to consider each. Consider building in partner or small group discussion, whole group brainstorming sessions, quick writes, and others opportunities for students to gather ideas.
- Prompt students to consider all of their reasons and determine their best answer. (Note: Students are adept at the "subjective" perspective--how they feel--and often, they struggle to go beyond it to develop sound reasoning. Allow kids to consider the subjective and be sure to acknowledge it. Then, ask them to build their argument around the other perspectives.)
See an example here: Yes-No-Why.docx
Why It's Good!
- easily differentiated and adapted
- an exercise in critical thinking because students must consider different perspectives, apply what they know, and defend an answer
- effective for previewing new content and practicing and deepening previously learned content
