The document discusses using "essential questions" and "big ideas" to organize curriculum and guide student learning. It provides examples of essential questions from various subjects and recommends identifying 3-5 overarching questions for each course that students should be able to answer after finishing. The document encourages teachers to make these questions cross-curricular and relate to issues students may encounter throughout their lives, rather than focusing solely on factual content. It also provides resources for developing essential questions, including guides from the Ontario ministry and education organizations.

1. Essential Questions what’s the “big idea”? M. Sutherland, R. Guetter OCSTA Convention, 2009