Activity 12: Problem Solving Strategies

I find this activity very useful for Social Studies as Social Studies involves students working on the causes, effects and ways to lessen or eliminate social issues. As a matter of fact all Social Studies students must be able to identify a social issue in their community and investigate it for their final exam in Form 5 so I was very happy to receive information on problem solving strategies which can be used to help my students.

Activity 11: Encoraging Learners to ask questions

Most of times the teacher is the one who ask the students questions in class but it is always good when the students are asking questions. We do not want students who just accept the material given to them but who would also question the material. Sometimes we are not comfortable with this aspect of the lesson. I realize that teachers should prepare their lessons in such a way as to encourage students to ask questions. I believe this will help to develop critical thinkers.

Activity 10: Promoting Discussion

It was good to know about different activities that can be used to promote discussion and to read about the benefits of using them in lessons.

Activity 9: What questions do I ask and why

I have always tried to include different types of questions in my lessons to encourage students to think beyond simply recalling facts. I work at a school where the students struggle to answer higher order questions. I have found that when I start out my sessions with lower order questions students tend to feel a sense of accomplishment when they get them correct and are more ready to attempt higher order questions. I also find that I might have to break down higher order questions into simpler questions sometimes to get these students to understand what higher questions are asking of them.