5. The roles of questions: what, when and how to ask to be able to develop children’s practical and thinking skills

Thinking questions

• Why should young learners be taught to ask questions?
• Can they be taught to raise questions in English?
• Do questioning skills develop critical thinking?
• What other social skills can they be equipped with by enquiry?

When children engage in learning activities built on inquiry we will be able to follow their thinking and analyse the knowledge they have brought to bear on their activities. As soon as we have direct contact with children’s questions we can gain valuable information about their developmental stages.