Do you want to help your students make a strong connection to the subject material? Make sure you are using all six levels of cognitive thinking. This means asking low-order thinking questions as well as higher-order thinking questions. Learn more about them here and find many examples of each.
Also get a printable sheet containing all the high-order and low-order thinking questions featured below.
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Low-dimensional thinking ability questions
Higher-order thinking skills questions
What are low-level and high-level thinking questions?
![12What are low-order and high-order thinking questions? What are low-level and high-level thinking questions?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/12-74.jpg)
Bloom's taxonomy is a way to classify cognitive thinking skills. The six main categories are divided into lower-order thinking skills (LOTS) and higher-order thinking skills (HOTS): remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create. LOTS include remembering, understanding, and applying. HOTS covers analysis, evaluation, and creation.
Both LOTS and HOTS are valuable, but higher-order thinking questions challenge students to develop deeper connections with the information. It also encourages children to think critically and develop problem-solving skills. That's why teachers want to emphasize this in their classrooms.
Are you new to higher-level thinking? Find out all about it here. Then use these lower- and higher-order thinking questions to inspire your students to examine topic material at different levels.
Low-dimensional thinking ability questions
![Higher-Order Thinking Questions Sheet](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Higher-Order-Thinking-Questions-1-1-800x450.jpg)
Remember (there are a lot)
- Who are the main characters?
- When was the event held?
- What is the setting of the story?
![What is the setting of the story? What is the setting of the story?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/1-85.jpg)
- Where can I find __________?
- How do I do this?
- What is it __________?
- How do you define _________?
- How is ________ spelled?
- What are the characteristics of ________?
- List the __________ in the correct order.
- Name all ____________.
- Explain __________.
- Who was involved in the incident or situation?
![Who was involved in the incident or situation? Who was involved in the incident or situation?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/2-81.jpg)
- How many __________ are there?
- What happened first? next? last?
understand (a lot)
- Can you explain why ____________?
- What is the difference between __________ and __________?
- How would you like to change __________?
- What is the main idea?
- Why did the character/person ____________?
![Why did the character/person ____________? Why did the character/person ____________?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/3-84.jpg)
- What is happening in this picture?
- Retell the story in your own words.
- Describe the event from start to finish.
- What is the climax of the story?
- Who are the protagonists and antagonists?
![Who are the protagonists and antagonists? Who are the protagonists and antagonists?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/4-77.jpg)
- What does ____________ mean?
- What is the relationship between __________ and ___________?
- Please provide detailed information about ____________.
- Why is __________ the same as ___________?
- Explain why __________ causes __________.
Application (many)
- How do I resolve ____________?
- What methods can you use to __________?
- What methods or approaches won't work?
![What methods or approaches won't work? What methods or approaches won't work?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/5-74.jpg)
- Provide an example of ______________.
- __________ How can you demonstrate your abilities?
- How would you like to use ____________?
- Use what you know to __________.
- How many ways to solve this problem?
- What can we learn from ____________?
- How can we use ________ in our daily lives?
- Please provide facts to prove __________.
- Organize the information to show __________.
![Organize the information to show __________. Organize the information to show __________.](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/6-74.jpg)
- How would this person/character react if ________?
- Predict what will happen if you __________.
- How do you know __________?
Higher-order thinking skills questions
![Higher-Order Thinking Questions Sheet](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Higher-Order-Thinking-Questions-2-1-800x450.jpg)
Analysis (HOTS)
- What facts does the author present to support his opinion?
- What's wrong with the author's perspective?
- How does the author use symbolism in this text?
- What common characteristics do these characters share?
- How does the setting affect the characters and plot?
- What was the character’s motivation for a particular action?
![What was the character’s motivation for a particular action? What was the character’s motivation for a particular action?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/7-76.jpg)
- Compare and contrast the two main characters or points of view.
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of __________.
- How would you classify or sort ____________?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of ________?
- How is ________ connected to __________?
- What causes __________?
- What are the effects of ____________?
- How would you prioritize these facts or tasks?
- How do you describe ________?
- What patterns can you identify in your data, and what do they mean?
- What is the most efficient way to solve this equation?
- What conclusions can you draw using the information in the chart/graph?
- What does the data show or fail to show?
- What was the character’s motivation for a particular action?
- What is the topic of __________?
- Why do you think ________?
- What is the purpose of __________?
- What was the turning point?
Evaluation (HOTS)
- Is __________ better or worse than _________?
- What is the best thing about __________?
- How do I know if __________ was successful?
- Are the stated facts supported by evidence?
- What are the potential downsides?
- Were ______________’s actions and choices justified?
- How does historical context affect your view of that person's actions?
- Are the sources trustworthy?
![Are the sources trustworthy? Are the sources trustworthy?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/8-72.jpg)
- What makes a perspective valid?
- Am I missing a point of view or perspective?
- Did the character/character make good decisions? Why?
- Which ________ is best and why?
- What biases do you see in this article?
- How effective has the law or policy been in achieving your goals?
- What are the biases or assumptions in the argument?
- What is the value of _________?
- Is __________ morally and ethically permissible?
- Does __________ apply equally to everyone?
- How can you refute __________?
- Does __________ meet the specified criteria?
![Does __________ meet the specified criteria? Does __________ meet the specified criteria?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/9-73.jpg)
- What could be improved about __________?
- Do you agree with ____________?
- Does the conclusion include all relevant data?
- Does ________ actually mean ________?
Create(HOTS)
- How can I check ____________?
- Design an experiment for __________.
- Defend your opinion on ____________.
- How can I solve this problem?
- Create a new character for your story, then describe their background and influences.
- How would you make this story into a movie? What changes would you make to the plot and why?
- Rewrite the story with a better ending.
![Rewrite the story with a better ending. Rewrite the story with a better ending.](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/10-72.jpg)
- How can you persuade someone to __________?
- Make a plan to complete your task or project.
- How would you improve __________?
- What changes would you make to ____________ and why?
- How would you teach someone to _________?
- What happens if you __________?
- What alternatives can you suggest for __________?
- Write new policies to solve social problems.
- How would you handle an emergency situation like ____________?
- Which solution do you recommend?
- How would you do things differently?
![How would you do things differently? How would you do things differently?](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/11-71.jpg)
- What are the next steps?
- How can we improve the efficiency of this process?
- What elements need to change to __________?
- Invent from __________ to __________.
- What is your theory about __________?
Get a free printable with higher- and lower-order thinking skills questions.
![Higher-Order-Thinking-Questions gif](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Higher-Order-Thinking-Questions.gif)
Enter your email address into the form on this landing page to get a copy of a printable sheet containing both the higher-order and lower-order thinking questions featured above. Perfect to store for use during lesson planning and teaching.