Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Harder · about 30 min

🕸️ Build a Question Web

Pupils practise curiosity and creativity through "Build a Question Web": Branch out from one topic into five.

Lesson guide

  1. 1. Hook · 5 min

    Show the 🕸️ mission title and read the opening: "Pick a topic and write it down.". Take three quick guesses.

  2. 2. Model · 5 min

    Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."

  3. 3. Do · 10 min

    Pairs work through the 3 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

  4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

    Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

  5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

    Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.

Discussion questions

  • What was the hardest choice in "Build a Question Web", and why?
  • Pick a topic and write it down — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Write five questions about it — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Which question would take the longest to answer — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
  • If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

  • National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
  • National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
  • PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information

Pupil sheet

🕸️ Build a Question Web

Name: ____________________   Date: __________

  1. 1. Pick a topic and write it down.

  2. 2. Write five questions about it.

  3. 3. Which question would take the longest to answer?

    ☐ Question 1

    ☐ Question 2

    ☐ Question 3

    ☐ Question 4 or 5