For a 21st century learner to be successful, he/she needs to be a critical and creative thinker. Our role as teachers is to be able to train our students to think that way. So how do we foster an environment that stimulate critical thinking? Ask "WHY?" Stimulate their divergent thinking by asking them questions that would make them think deeper, let them analyze and connect their current schema of things to the question at hand and find various possibilities. Asking why questions also motivates the students to be more empowered to think creatively especially if they are assured that there is no really one correct way of answering or solving a problem. Anything is possible.
Here is my first attempt to ask my students a why question in a short test for Grade 2 students. (Lesson on landforms).
And here are the things that I LEARNED from my little ones.
WHY do you think God created volcanoes?
God created them for our protection.
You just have to choose which natural calamity you want - typhoon or volcanic eruption.
God created them for our benefit.
I am not sure how this child got the idea that we get hot water from volcanoes but it is good to know that she can relate two concepts - volcanoes are hot and they have water, ergo we can get hot water from it. Who knows this might or could be true. Any scientific facts?
God created them to discipline and punish us.
This might sound so punitive but there is truth that God uses His creation both for our benefit and our punishment. And see, volcanoes are fierce when they erupt. This might be this child's picture of God's wrath, just like how I feel when it thunders.
God created them....just because..
Of all answer, I think that this is the nearest to the biblical truth that "all things were made by Him and for Him..". We may not know now why God created volcanoes but whatever God's reason is, we are sure that His reasons are important.
And since there is no one definite answer to this, everyone got a big check for the attempt to think "critically and creatively. It is the thought process that should count. When there is no one certain and absolute answer to a question and you ask a child's view about it, you will get surprising answers. Try this and ask your students why. Anyway, they are used to asking adults this question. Why not try it to them? Why not?!