Cantu - Using Questions to Make Thinking Visible

9th grade students reflected on an essential question, “Did the Republican Era of the 1920’s bring peace and prosperity to all Americans?”  Students worked in small groups to generate ideas on events that did or did not contribute to peace and prosperity.  Groups noticed events could fall in both categories.  Students were able to build on each other’s ideas and considered different viewpoints.  We reconnected as a whole group and I wrote responses on the board.  Finally, using a claim and evidence, students reflected on the essential question and generated their own individual thoughts.