Asking Preschoolers HOT Questions: Using Higher Order Thinking Questions in the Preschool Classroom
As Anna and the Mission Friends leader look at the Sign Language Poster in the Homeliving area, the leader asks, “What is this word in sign language?” The leader also asks, “Why do some people use their hands to make words in sign language?” She then follows up with the question, “Do you think it would be easier or harder to communicate with people using your hands for sign language?”
These questions represent a step from asking preschoolers basic questions to asking more complex questions that require a higher level of thinking.
Higher level questions are also known as HOT (Higher Order Thinking) questions. HOT questions are good for preschoolers as these bring about meaningful discussions, increased language development, and deeper understanding.
As we teach preschoolers about missions, we can use higher level questions in our Mission Friends classroom to help preschoolers learn more about missions.
Basic vs. HOT Questions
Ask preschoolers a variety of questions. Use basic questions with younger preschoolers. As they develop and grow older, ask HOT questions that are appropriate for the preschooler’s level of development.
Basic questions require preschoolers to identify, recall, or repeat something. A basic question asks for certain information. Basic questions include:
- What is the name of the special workers this month?
- How many people are in the Hawthorne family?
- What colors do you see in the picture?
HOT questions are more complicated questions to help preschoolers think through things at a deeper level. HOT questions encourage preschoolers to share more details, think about what happened, and show more understanding. HOT questions help preschoolers compare and contrast, explain, and think of why something happens. HOT questions include:
- What happened when you ____?
- Why do you think ____?
- How are these the same? How are these different?
- What was your favorite part of making this?
HOT questions help preschoolers think creatively, share their ideas, and show their understanding. As you use HOT questions with preschoolers, you will find that they give you some pretty cool answers!
Tips for Asking HOT Questions
- Ask open-ended questions that require more than a one-word answer.
- Ask questions about activities preschoolers do in the various interest areas.
- Ask questions about materials preschoolers use, such as, “How did you use the paintbrush to make the sky?”
- Ask questions about pictures. Use the Question Box when discussing pictures each month from Mission Friends Leader Kit.
- Ask questions about books to stretch preschoolers’ thinking.
- Ask questions about the mission story included in Group Time for each session in Mission Friends Leader.
Joye Smith is the WMU preschool ministry consultant.
