Skill Building: Asking Good Questions
Asking Good Questions Lesson Plan
In this civics skill-building lesson, students explore how legislators use effective questioning to understand public problems, identify stakeholders, and begin developing solutions. The lesson is designed for middle or high school civics students studying state and local government, civic responsibility, legislative investigations, and public problem-solving.
Students begin with familiar school-based scenarios before analyzing real-world case studies involving the Flint Water Crisis, Michigan’s road infrastructure challenges, and Michigan state funding for invasive species management. Most notably, the Flint Water Crisis showcases a worst-case scenario where multiple levels of government failed to communicate and protect citizens. While these environmental policy examples are engaging, teachers could choose three different current events that fit the interests of their students and still use this lesson plan as a framework. Guided by the Compelling Question “How do legislators use questions to solve problems?” students practice distinguishing between open-ended and closed-ended questions, participate in a feedback protocol called a Charrette, and consider how public officials gather information before taking action.
At the end of this lesson, students are asked to attend a local commission or board meeting and observe how elected officials use questions to gather the information they need to make decisions.
This free download includes:
- Lesson plan
- In this inquiry-based lesson, students use case studies of current events to begin considering the steps necessary in a legislative investigation, followed by a Charette Protocol to help students generate questions and next steps around a selection of state-based issues.
- Primary and Secondary sources
- A selection of case studies (Flint Water Crisis, MI’s failing infrastructure, and invasive species in the Great Lakes) provide students with real-world civic issues to investigate from the perspective of a state legislator.
- Student Worksheets
- Staging the Question worksheet: Students analyze school-based scenarios, identify stakeholders, and draft questions that could help clarify the problem and guide decision-making.
- Charrette Protocol worksheet: Students summarize a public issue, identify affected stakeholders, propose next steps, and receive structured peer feedback.
- Compelling Question worksheet: Students reflect on their strongest investigative question and explain how legislators use questions to solve problems.
- Taking Informed Action worksheet: Students attend or watch a local public meeting and analyze how questions are used by boards, commissions, or elected officials.
- Answer Key
- Teacher support materials that provide guidance for student responses. Includes a completed key that contains evidence-based sample answers, and suggested responses for the sorting activity.
Through the lesson, students will investigate questions such as:
- Who is affected by a public problem?
- What information does a legislator need before acting?
- How can strong questions help public officials understand causes, consequences, and possible solutions?
- How do legislators use questions to solve problems?
Through these questions, students connect civic inquiry to real-world government decision-making.
How Legislative Questions Drive Public Problem-solving
This lesson helps students understand how state and local governments respond to public issues through legislative inquiry, oversight, and civic participation. Rather than beginning with a predetermined solution, students learn that legislators must ask purposeful questions, gather evidence, listen to stakeholders, and evaluate possible actions.
The featured case studies show how civic problems often involve multiple levels of government and many affected communities. The Flint Water Crisis raises questions about public health, infrastructure, accountability, and state decision-making. Michigan potholes and road funding introduce students to infrastructure responsibilities and budget priorities. The invasive species case study highlights environmental policy, public funding, and the role of state agencies. Together, these examples help students see how asking the right questions is central to legislative investigations and public problem-solving.
Content Standards
This lesson aligns with Michigan social studies content standards and supports civics instruction by allowing students to better explain the role of questions and inquiry in the legislative process.
MI Civics – 3.2.3 Describe how state, local, and tribal governments are organized, their major responsibilities, and how they affect the lives of people residing in their jurisdiction(s).
MI Civics – 6.2.1 Using examples, explain the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens as well all people living in the United States.
Examples for all persons living in the United States include but are not limited to:
- participating in public life.
- participating in political life.
- being informed about laws that govern society.
- respecting and obeying just laws.
- stay informed and attentive about public issues.
- monitoring political leaders and governmental agencies.
- assuming community leadership when appropriate.
- performing public service.
- assuming leadership when appropriate.
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