Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating
Can the student recall Can the student Can the student use Can the student Can the student justify Can the student create
the information? explain ideas or the information in a examine, compare, a stand/opinion or a new product or point
concepts? new way? and contrast? decision? of view?
Define, list, Describe, explain, Demonstrate, Compare, contrast, Appraise, argue, Assemble,
memorize, recall, rephrase, identify, illustrate, interpret, criticize, examine, defend, judge, construct, create,
Verbs repeat, state, match, locate, recognize, solve, use, write, experiment, select, support, design, develop,
name, recite paraphrase calculate, modify question value, evaluate, formulate, write
decide
Essential Outcome: State the main Rephrase the main Use the details to Compare details Argue which Create a new title
Determine Main Idea idea of the text you idea into your own support the main and determine details are for the text you
and Supporting read. words. idea. which details are significant and read.
Details the most relevant which are
to the main idea. insignificant.
Essential Outcome: List logical Identify text or Modify your Compare your Evaluate the Imagine what
Make and Confirm predictions you prior knowledge predictions based prediction with a accuracy of your could have
Predictions have about what that support the on what you have partner, how are main idea and happened in the
will happen in the predictions you read. they similar or support with story to change
story. made. different? textual evidence. your prediction.
Essential Outcome: Name the Rephrase what the Change one Examine the Judge which is the Develop a new
Retell/Summarize important events in text was about in aspect of the text similarities and best summary of ending to a story.
the Text the story in sequence. to significantly differences the text.
sequence. affect the outcome between two texts. Develop a new title
of the story. for informational
text.
Essential Outcome: State the Identify the most Modify the setting Compare the Evaluate how the Develop a new
Identify the characters, setting, significant of the story and tell elements of this story would be problem to the
Elements of the problem and character in the how if may affect story to another different if- story, how would
Story you read solution of the story. the outcome. story you have this effect the
story you read. read. solution?
Essential Outcome: Recall something Identify areas of Demonstrate Compare and Decide what Formulate an
Make and Support in the text that the text that you support for your contrast your justifies the opinion of the text
Inferences gave you a new have a new idea inference based inferences with a author’s purpose based on your
idea. about. on evidence from partner. for writing this text. inference.
the text.
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)

Level of Description Verbs Question Stems

Thinking

Can recall or calculate, choose,  Describe what happens when…

Level 1 recognize circle, count, define,  How much/many?
information, ideas draw, find, how, identify,  How would you define…?
and principles in the label, list, locate, match,  Who was it that…?
Knowledge approximate form in memorize, name, pick,  Can you name the …?
or which they are quote, recall, recite,  Who spoke to…?
Remembering learned. record, repeat, select,  Can you tell why…?
show, spell, state, tell,
 Find the meaning of…?
underline, what, when,
 What is…?
where, which, who, why,
write  Which is true or false…?
 What is…?
 Where is…?
 How did ____happen?
 Why did…?
 When did…?
 How would you show...?
 Who were the main...?
 Which one...?
 How is...?
 When did _____happen?
 How would you explain...?
 How would you describe...?
 Can you recall...?
 Can you select...?
 Can you list the three...?
 Who was...?
 What can you tell me about…?
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)
Level of Description Verbs Question Stems
Thinking

Can understand the approximate, articulate,  Can you write in your own words…?
Level 2 main idea of material calculate, characterize,  What do you predict could happened
heard, viewed or read. clarify, compare, next…?
Is able to interpret or communicate,  Who do you think…?
Comprehension summarize the ideas in comprehend, conclude,  What was the main idea…?
or their own words. contrast, define,  What differences exist between…?
Understanding describe, demonstrate,  Can you provide an example of what
discuss, distinguish, you mean...?
elaborate, estimate,  How would you classify the type of...?
example, explain,
 How would you compare...? contrast...?
express, extend,
 State or interpret in your own words...?
generalize, give,
identify, illustrate, infer,  What can you infer from…?
interact, interpret,  How would you rephrase the
recognize, rephrase, meaning...?
paraphrase, predict,  Which statements support...?
relate, retell, review,  Can you explain what is happening...?
rewrite, summarize, or what is meant...?
 What can you say about...?
 Which is the best answer...and why?
 What can you conclude from…?
 How would you summarize...?
 What characteristics identify…?
 What patterns exist…?
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)
Level of Description Verbs Question Stems
Thinking

Level 3 Is able to apply an acquire, action, alter,  Do you know another instance where…?
abstract idea in a apply, ask, build,  Could this have happened in…?
concrete situation to catalog, change, chart,  Can you group by characteristics such
Application solve a problem or classify, conduct, as…?
or relate it to prior control, complete,  What factors would you change if…?
Applying experience. construct, correlate,  Can you apply the method used to some
deliver, demonstrate, experience/experiment?
determine, develop,  What questions would you ask of…?
document, dramatize,  From the information given, can you
examine, experiment develop a set of instructions about...?
with, group, interpret,
 Would this information be useful if you
investigate, manipulate,
had a ,,,?
organize, perform,
 How would you use...?
produce, reason,
respond, review, sort,  How would you solve ___using what
transform, use, utilize you've learned...?
 How would you organize ___to show...?
 How would you show your understanding
of...?
 What approach would you use to...?
 How would you apply what you learned to
develop...?
 What other way would you plan to ...?
 What elements would you choose to
change...?
 What facts would you select to show...?
 Identify the results if….?
 Under what conditions would you…?
 Why does _____ work?
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)
Level of Description Verbs Question Stems
Thinking

Can break down a advertise, analyze,  Which events could have happened…?
Level 4 concept or idea into assumption, categorize,  If … happened, what might the ending have
parts and show characterize, compare, been?
Analysis relationships among contrast, criticize,  How was this similar to…?
or parts. debate, deduce,  What was the underlying theme of…?
Analyzing diagram, differentiate,  What do you see as other possible
discriminate, dissect, outcomes?
 Why did…change occur?
draw conclusion,
 Can you compare… with that presented in
explain, inference,
...?
inspect, investigate,
 Can you explain what must have happened
motive, outline, relate, when...?
relationships, research,  How is ...similar to ...?
separate, simplify,  What are some of the problems of ...?
survey, theme  Can you distinguish between ...?
 What were some of the motives behind ...?
 What was the turning point...?
 What was the problem with...?
 What are the parts or features of…?
 How is ___related to…?
 Why do you think…?
 What is the theme…?
 What motive is there…?
 What inference can you make…?
 What conclusions can you draw?
 How would you classify…?
 How would you categorize…?
 Can you identify the different parts…?
 What evidence can you find…?
 What is the relationship between…?
 Can you make a distinction between…?
 What ideas justify…?
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)
Level of Description Verbs Question Stems
Thinking

Brings together parts agree, appraise,  Is there a better solution to…

Level 5 (elements, appreciate, argue, assess,  Can you defend your position about …?
compounds) of choose, conclude,  Do you think … is a good or a bad thing?
Evaluation knowledge to form a consider, contrast, criteria,  How would you have handled… ?
or whole and build criticize, critic, debate,  What changes to … would you recommend?
Evaluating relationships for new decide, defend, disprove,  Do you believe?
situations. dispute, estimate, explain,  How would you feel if ...?
evaluate, importance,  How effective are ...?
influence, interpret, justify,  What do you think about ...?
opinion, perceive,  Do you agree with the actions…? outcome?
prioritize, prove, rate,  What is your opinion of…?
 How would you prove… disprove…?
recommend, support, test,
 Can you assess the value or importance of?
verify
 Why did they (the character) choose…?
 How would you rate the…?
 What would you cite to defend the actions…?
 How could you determine…?
 What choice would you have made…?
 How would you prioritize…?
 What judgment would you make about…?
 Based on what you know, how would you
explain…?
 What information would you use to support the
view…?
 How would you justify…? test? verify?
 What data was used to make the conclusion…?
 How would you compare the ideas…?
 How would you compare the people…?
 Developing Higher Level Questions (Kindergarten- 2nd Grade)
Level of Description Verbs Question Stems
Thinking
 Can you design a … to…?
Makes informed adapt, arrange, assemble,  Why not compose a song about…?
Level 6 judgments about the build, change, combine,  Can you see a possible solution to…?
value of ideas or compile, compose,  If you had access to all resources how would
Synthesis materials. Uses construct, create, cultivate, you deal with …?
or standards and criteria design, devise, develop,  Why don't you devise your own way to deal with
Creating to support opinions elaborate, establish, form, …?
and views. formulate, generate, glean,  What would happen if …?
hypothesize, imagine,  How many ways can you …?
incorporate, improve,  Can you create new and unusual use/s for...?
 Can you develop a proposal which would...?
invent, maximize, modify,
 What changes would you make to solve…?
plan, propose, rearrange,
 How would you improve…?
refine, suppose,
 Can you elaborate on the reason…?
synthesize, theorize
 Can you propose an alternative…?
 Can you invent…?
 How would you adapt __ to create a different
__...?
 How could you change (modify) the plot
(plan)…?
 What could be done to minimize (maximize)…?
 What way would you design…?
 What could be combined to improve
(change)…?
 Suppose you could ___What could you do…?
 Can you formulate a theory for…?
 Can you predict an outcome if…?
 How would you estimate the results for…?
 What facts can you compile…?
 Can you construct a model that would
change…?
 Can you think of an original way for the…?