ABSTRACT

This module is concerned with the role of questions in learning and teaching through enquiry. It concerns both the questions that teachers ask and the questions that children ask. In relation to the former we are concerned with the questions that help children to express their ideas, so that teachers can take these into account, and with the questions that promote children to use and develop enquiry skills. In relation to children’s questions, we consider their value in learning and thus the importance of encouraging questioning and, conversely, not discouraging it by the kind of response, or non-response, given. Primary teachers often find difficulty in knowing how to answer questions that require scientific understanding that is beyond the children and so particular attention is given to how to deal with this type of question.