I used a Depth and Complexity Frame like this with my math students. Let’s look at how we could improve this. Some problems: It asks four unrelated questions. I want to build a sequence of questions that climbs Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most of the questions are naturally answered with “yes” or “no” or a list. Questions […]
All AboutDepth And Complexity
This framework for differentiation will give your students practical ways to think more deeply about a topic.
Details Should Lead To A Big Idea
Here are two questions I’d ask students about a story What are three important 🌼 details about the main character? What is the story’s 🏛️ moral? Now, details naturally lead to big ideas. But in this case, I switched topics from “main character” to “big idea, ” which broke the natural movement. If I ask […]
Perspectives on Friendship in Charlotte’s Web
Asking students to “explain the importance” wasn’t as high-level as I thought.
Language of the Discipline Gone Wrong
A teacher sent this one in. They had a ring of pre-written Depth and Complexity questions. They suspected something was wrong. They were right!!
Picture Books and Stories for Introducing Depth and Complexity
Three picture books that I’ve used (or would use) to introduce Depth and Complexity to students of any age.
Introducing Ourselves With Depth and Complexity and Frames
A go-to activity to introduce the prompts of depth and complexity to students while they also introduce themselves to their new classmates.
The Problem with Depth and Complexity Handouts
These common Depth and Complexity handouts are packed with questions that don’t even make sense!
Pop Quiz! Rock Cycle Depth and Complexity
Here are a set of questions someone sent in. What do you think?
Universal Themes in Math? With Fractions!?
What if we used a universal theme to guide our study of fractions? These very big ideas get students thinking about fractions in a new way.
Combining Depth and Complexity Prompts into a Generalization
Let’s start with a puzzlement, ask kids to generate an abstract statement, and then find evidence that their statement works across several different areas.