A Single Question

The Power of a Single Question in Preschool Lesson Planning – By Cameo Bodey

Some of my best preschool lesson plans start with a question.

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time planning elaborate, play-based lesson plans—ones I was sure my preschoolers would love. But in practice, they often felt like too much: too much information, too much expectation, and too much structure. These plans didn’t leave enough room for free exploration or for the children to guide their own learning.

I’ve discovered that preschool lessons don’t need to be fancy. They just need to be curious. The children I teach love exploring the answer to a single question during a lesson. And that one question often opens the door to a multitude of adjoining questions—sparking writing activities, new vocabulary, teamwork, and open-ended creativity.

A Space-Themed Lesson, Sparked by a Question

During our space unit last month, I asked the kids, “What do we need to live?”

We imagined ourselves traveling into space, where Earth wouldn’t be there to support us. What would we need to survive? This led to a rich discussion—not just about basic survival, but about thriving. The kids’ answers ranged from food, water, and air to vitamins, yoga, and love!

They drew pictures, created numbered lists, and collaborated to find the best solutions. They weren’t just absorbing information; they were leading the lesson, fully engaged in their own learning. This type of inquiry-based lesson fosters autonomy, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning—something worksheets just can’t replicate.

Questions That Led to Meaningful Learning

Here are a few of the questions we explored during our space unit, each sparking engaging discussions and hands-on activities:

What is gravity? (Vocabulary: gravity, mass, density.)

Why do the planets orbit the sun and the moon orbit the Earth? (We played orbit games with our bodies!)

How does Earth support life?

What are some examples of living and nonliving things?

What kinds of foods keep us healthy? Why?

What is an atmosphere?

What is your favorite constellation?

Why isn’t Mercury the hottest planet, even though it’s closest to the sun?

Why is Mars red?

Could you stand on Jupiter?

What are Saturn’s rings made of, and why do they exist?

Why is Neptune the coldest planet even though it’s not the farthest from the sun? (Revisiting the concept of atmosphere.)

Each of these questions led to a 20-minute lesson (which is about the maximum amount of time that a preschooler can sustain continued attention) that naturally incorporated social-emotional learning, writing, counting, new vocabulary, and critical thinking!

Looking Ahead: Our Garden Unit

This month, we’re starting our garden unit as we prepare to plant peppers and cool-weather veggies. As I jot down curriculum ideas, my brain is overflowing with single-question lesson plans. I love this approach—not only does it simplify planning, but it also allows flexibility. If a question doesn’t spark engagement, there’s no time wasted.

Stay tuned for the questions we’ll explore in our garden unit and how they evolve into full lessons filled with hands-on learning!