Phases of inquiry
Visible Thinking Toolbox
Resources from Making Thinking Visible
Phase of Inquiry Questions to Ask Thinking Routines to Try
*From Kath Murdoch *From Visible Thinking
Framing the Inquiry ● Think, Puzzle, Explore
● What ideas,
questions, or ● See Think Wonder
• establishing a worthwhile suggestions do you
context and compelling question have? ● Question Starts
• Identifying conceptual ● What do you already
underpinnings know about this topic?
● Think, Pair, Share
• making links with the ● What might you want
system/school curriculum to learn more about?
● 3,2,1, Bridge
• identifying understanding goals ● How does our
• identifying key skills and learning fit into the
dispositions bigger picture? ● Generate, Sort,
• identifying possible indicators of Collaborate, Extend
understanding
*Clip Art from The Noun Project
Phase of Inquiry Questions to Ask Thinking Routines to Try
*From Kath Murdoch *From Visible Thinking
Tuning in
● Compass Points
• provoking interest, curiosity,
tension or ● How does this learning ● Creative Hunt
uncertainty connect to your life and
prior learning? ● See Think Wonder
• gathering data about students’
existing ● What theories might
you have about this? ● Question Starts
thinking, knowledge, feeling and
understanding ● What skills or
• helping students make knowledge might you ● Think, Pair, Share
connections with like to develop?
the key concept/s ● What do you think you ● 3,2,1, Bridge
• providing purpose, the big know?
picture and ● Generate, Sort,
authenticity Collaborate, Extend
• motivating, exciting, engaging
*Clip Art from The Noun Project
Phase of Inquiry Thinking Routines
*From Kath Murdoch Questions to Ask to Try
*From Visible
Thinking
Finding Out
● What questions do ● Peel the Fruit
● gathering new information to you have? ● Connect Extend
address the compelling question ● What would be the Challenge
● developing the required research best way to research
skills (MISO)? ● Color, Symbol,
● learning how to organize and ● Who could you talk to? Image
manage the process of finding out What could you try?
● having some shared experiences How else could you ● Think, Puzzle,
that will allow us to talk and share find out? Explore
our thinking with others ● How can you record
● stimulating curiosity through new your information in a ● Question Starts
experiences and information way that makes
sense? ● What Makes You
● learning how to record information
● What do you wonder? Say That?
gathered in efficient ways
*Clip Art from The Noun Project
Phase of Inquiry Questions to Ask Thinking Routines to Try
*From Kath Murdoch *From Visible Thinking
Sorting Out
● What do you ● Headlines
• comprehending – making understand now? ● What Makes You Say
meaning of the ● How could you share That
information gathered the information you
• revealing new thinking and have found? ● 3-2-1 Bridge
deeper understanding ● Who thinks similarly
about this? ● Generate, Sort,
• answering questions
● What patterns do you Connect, Extend
• reviewing/revising early
thinking and synthesizing see?
● Reporter’s Notebook
• interpreting the information and ● What do you wonder
communicating with others now?
*Clip Art from The Noun Project
Phase of Inquiry Questions to Ask Thinking Routines to Try
*From Kath Murdoch *From Visible Thinking
Going Further
● What tools do you ● Circle of Viewpoints
● opportunities for students to need to be successful? ● Peel the Fruit
pursue questions and interests ● What deeply interests
you? ● GSCE Map
arising from the journey so far
● learners work more ● How could you ● I used to think…
independently on investigate that
further? ● Perceive, Know, Care
investigations
● Which additional
perspectives could you
consider?
*Clip Art from The Noun Project
Phase of Inquiry Questions to Ask Thinking Routines to Try
*From Kath Murdoch *From Visible Thinking
Reflecting and ● How might you take
Acting action based on what
● Creative Hunt
you have learned?
● helping students apply their ● Who could you work ● Does It Fit?
learning to other contexts – to with to make a
● I used to think…
put the learning to use change?
● enabling students to reflect on ● What are the big ● Options Diamond
what and how they have takeaways from this
● 3-2-1 Bridge
learned and set goals for the learning experience?
future ● How could you have ● What Makes You Say
● assessing final understanding improved your learning That
and growth in skills process?
● How could you share
your understanding
with others?
*Clip Art from The Noun Project