Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Log in
  • Sign up free Sign up
  • Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Login
How to use Explorify

Top tips: Big Question activities

Working together to plan an investigation will really get your class thinking like scientists!  

How long does it take for a leaf to rot? Is an example of a The Big Question activity

How long does it take for a leaf to rot? Is an example of a The Big Question activity

Share

  • Share via email

How to run Big Question activities

  1. Planning an investigation will really get your class thinking like scientists. Explain that you will be working as a class to answer a big question. Present it to the class. Ask what the pupils already know, or think they know, about the question you’ve presented. Here’s an example from the activity How long does it take for a leaf to rot?

  2. Discuss as a class the different ways you can approach the question. To help the class break down the question, here are some prompts:

  • Does it matter where the leaf has fallen?
  • Do animals affect how long it takes a leaf to rot?
  • How will temperature affect how long it takes a leaf to rot?
  • Does the type of leaf matter or the tree that the leaf comes from?
  1. How will they – as a group – explore the question? Prompt pupils to explain their ideas, qualify them with what they already know and refine them based on views expressed by other people. Which type of scientific enquiry would lend itself best to the investigation:

  • Observation over time
  • Pattern seeking
  • Identifying, classifying and grouping
  • Comparative and fair testing
  • Research using secondary sources
  1. Ask the class to imagine they had to present their investigation at your school assembly or to their family, how would they show their action plan? Discuss as a class the various ways this could work. Why not let the pupils carry out their investigation?

Image credit: marydoll1952 via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Last updated 5th August 2022

Share

  • Share via email

Did you find this article useful?

More from How to use Explorify

View all
Top tips: Listen, What Can You Hear? activities

Our Listen What Can You Hear activities are great for encouraging children to explain their thinking and apply their knowledge in...

Read now
Top tips: Mission Survive activities

Mission Survive activities put your class's creativity to the test through fun, imaginative, hands on challenges. They ca...

Read now

Other Teacher support:

Science teaching support Helpful reads What's new Science leader toolkit Downloads

Join Explorify today to take your class on an exciting science adventure!

We use cookies to make Explorify even more awesome for you. Find out more.

Explorify logo

About Explorify

  • How to use Explorify
  • Our story
  • Partners
  • Why Explorify?

Teacher support

  • Downloads
  • Helpful reads
  • Science leader toolkit
  • Science teaching support

Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy and Terms of Use
  • What’s new?
Wellcome Trust Wellcome Trust Funded by Wellcome

Stem Learning logo Primary Science Teaching Trust logo

Explorify Staffroom on Facebook Explorify on Twitter Explorify on Instagram Explorify on Linkedin Explorify on Tiktok

Grant number 223594/Z/21/Z

Managed by STEM Learning and the Primary Science Teaching Trust