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How to Create Open-Ended Math Questions for K-2 Students

Math assessments typically include closed-ended questions---that is, questions that have a specific correct answer, with any other answer marked as wrong. However, you can develop open-ended math questions. These types of questions will challenge your Kindergarten through second grade students to dig deeper into their skill set to provide the reasoning behind the answer. Open-ended questions ask students to answer "how" and "why," as well as "what."

Instructions

    • 1

      Review the state math curriculum standards for the Kindergarten, first or second grade class that you are teaching. Open-ended questions are appropriate for these grades, but you still need to make sure that you adhere to the standards.

    • 2

      Create your lesson plan as you normally would and deliver it. Using open-ended questions does not change what and how you teach.

    • 3

      Create a set of closed-ended questions for the lesson. By doing this, you are giving yourself reference material from which to develop the open-ended versions. For example, you may be teaching students to add money. A closed-ended question for this skill would be: "You have three quarters, two dimes and a nickel. How much money do you have?"

    • 4

      Review the closed-ended questions that you developed. Use these to develop the open-ended versions. For example, if you previously asked for all of the prime numbers between 0 and 20 (a closed-ended question), now ask the students to list three prime numbers in the same range and then explain what makes them prime. With open-ended questions, you are asking students to explain their thought processes instead of simply providing a correct response.

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