What are beginning questions and how do they fit into the process of the SWH?

• After reading preliminary laboratory materials, students draft one or more BQs prior to arrival at the laboratory
• Researchable questions—what will I investigate?
• Often of the form:  (how) does one variable depend on a second variable?
• e.g., “Does the empirical formula for the product of the reaction between copper metal and elemental sulfur depend on the length of copper wire that is reacted?”
• Must be able to be answered by doing an experiment
• Help students focus their thoughts, organize their work
• Before the start of class, students write their questions on the chalkboard.
• The entire class discusses which one(s) should be selected for study