Process:

• Teacher introduces children to the concept of searching questions (e.g. they seek information; they are open-ended; they require thought; have a person in mind (optional); profile the person (what is their influence etc.)
   
• Develop the characteristics of searching questions (they elicit a response yielding lots of information; they are specific to the person being questioned; they do not seek or give opportunity for a yes/no answer; they may be unexpected; they are not easy to answer) Taken from: Case and Daniels 1996
   
• Allocate groups and areas of questions (e.g. biodiversity, indigenous people, deforestation, palm oil and meat production, carbon footprints / climate change, conservation)
   
• Set the time frame

Product:
3 searching questions per group

Conclusion:
Select 10 searching questions from the whole class

Development:
Q:  How can we take this further?
A: Think about asking the questions to a relevant person.  Invite someone into the school who may be able to answer the questions.  Check out your local botanic garden to see if they have anyone appropriate, or perhaps you could find a rainforest expert’s website and post them there. 

You can use this lesson to work towards an Eco-Schools award Click here to learn more