Question Box - Puberty Curriculum

This post on the question box is the fifth in a series of nine topics requested by puberty educators.

What is a question box?

It is a strategy for collecting anonymous student questions. It can be a physical container, such as a box or basket, for collecting questions written on slips of paper. Or it can be a digital tool, such as a Google form or Padlet, that allows students to submit questions anonymously. It is most often used during a series of lessons about puberty or relationship and sexuality education (RSE).

Why use one?

Using a question box has many benefits for both students and educators. These are a few:

Assures anonymity
Reduces embarrassment
Gives educator time to compose answers
Encourages student participation
Reduces distraction from instruction by giving students a task
Provides a record of student questions

How is a question box used?

First, prepare a physical container that is large enough to hold a small slip of paper from each student. A shoebox with a slit cut in the top works well. Decorate it with wrapping paper or shelf paper or stickers to make it more fun and visually appealing to students. Next, prepare small slips of paper, enough for every student to have one for every puberty class. Three by five cards also work well.

Some educators prefer to create a digital question box to collect student questions. If a digital tool is used, be sure the settings are adjusted to make the questions anonymous. If the questions will not be truly anonymous, be sure to let the students know up front.

During the first puberty class, tell students how the question box will be used. Include these instructions:

During each puberty class, we will use a question box to allow students to ask anonymous questions that you don’t want to ask out loud.
You will submit your anonymous questions to the question box at the end of each puberty lesson.
I (educator) will answer the questions in the question box during the following lesson.
Each student must submit a question on a slip of paper (or describe digital submission method).
If you don’t have a question, you can write something you liked or learned during that day’s puberty lesson.
Everyone will put a slip of paper in the box each time.
Do not put your names on your paper.

At the end of each lesson, ask the students to place their slips of paper in the question box. This can be done by passing the box around or by having students file by the box. Make sure all students participate to provide complete anonymity.

After class, the educator can go through the questions that were submitted and prepare to answer them during the next puberty class.