What Makes You Say That?

Look at the artwork or object and answer:

What’s going on?

What do you see that makes you say that?

WHAT KIND OF THINKING DOES THIS ROUTINE ENCOURAGE? This routine helps students answer: describe what they see or know and asks them to build explanations. It promotes evidence- based reasoning, and, because it invites students to share their interpretations, it encourages students to understand alternatives and multiple perspectives.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN IT BE USED? Because the basic questions in this routine are flexible, it is useful when looking at objects such as works of art or historical artifacts, but it can also be used to explore a poem, make scientific observations and hypothesis, or investigate concepts (i.e., democracy). The routine can be adapted for use with almost any subject and may also be useful for gathering information on students’ general concepts when introducing a new topic.