📖

What Would Socrates Say?

Oral Language: Socratic Discussions

Day 16of 180
Week 4of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the Socratic discussion method

2

Learn how Jesus used questions to teach

3

Recognize the power of asking thoughtful questions

📖 Scripture Connection

Matthew 16:15

“He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'”

— Matthew 16:15 (WEB)

Jesus often used questions to help people think deeply and discover truth

📦 Materials Needed

  • Chart paper
  • Markers
  • Notebooks
  • Pencils
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle. Explain that today we'll learn about a special way of learning called the Socratic method, which Jesus often used in His teaching.

💭 Review Question: What do you know about asking good questions?
2Teaching (10 min)

Introduce Socratic discussion as a way of learning by asking thoughtful questions. Highlight how Jesus used questions to help people think deeply about spiritual truths.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Questions help us explore ideas
  • Good questions have no single right answer
  • Questions can help us understand deeper meanings
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How did Jesus use questions in His teaching?
  • Why are questions important for learning?
  • What makes a question interesting?
3Activity: Question Exploration (10 min)
hands-on

Students work in pairs to create a mind map of questions about a short Bible passage

📝 Instructions:
  1. Read a short passage together
  2. Write the main idea in the center of the paper
  3. Branch out with questions that start with Who, What, Why, How
  4. Share questions with the class
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher provides starter questions

Challenge: Students create progressively deeper questions

4Closing (5 min)

Recap the importance of asking good questions in learning and understanding

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about asking questions today?
  • How can questions help us understand God's word better?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to be curious learners who seek understanding through thoughtful questions.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn how to prepare for great discussions

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 18:15

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

— Proverbs 18:15 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Question Detective Game

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Socratic method encourages critical thinking through questioning

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage open-ended questions at home
  • Model curiosity in your own learning
  • Ask your child about their questions
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might feel unsure about asking 'open' questions

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Willingness to ask thoughtful, exploratory questions

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a family discussion night using Socratic questions
  • Keep a 'question journal' to record interesting questions
  • Practice asking follow-up questions during family conversations

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 17 →Back to Language Arts