See / Think / Wonder

Look at the artwork or object for a moment.

What do you see?

What do you think about what you see?

What do you wonder about?

WHAT KIND OF THINKING DOES THIS ROUTINE ENCOURAGE? This routine helps students make careful observations and develop their own ideas and interpretations based on what they see. By separating the two questions, What do you see? and What do you think about what you see?, the routine helps students distinguish between observations and interpretations. By encouraging students to wonder and ask questions, the routine stimulates curiosity and helps students reach for new connections.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN IT BE USED? This widely- used routine works well with almost any artwork or object. It is versatile, easy to use, and almost never fails to deepen students’ interest in the topic at hand, whether students have lots of background knowledge or none at all. Many teachers like to use this routine at the start of a lesson, or as a first step in a more extended activity.