Understanding Blank’s Levels of Questioning

Blank’s Levels of Questioning is a structured framework developed by Marion Blank that categorizes questions into four levels of complexity based on the cognitive and language skills required to answer them. This framework is widely used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), teachers, and caregivers to support children’s language development by tailoring questions to their comprehension abilities while gradually increasing the difficulty level.

The Four Levels of Blank’s Questioning

1. Matching Perception - Concrete Questions

At this level, questions are direct and focus on things that are present or visually obvious. Children are encouraged to recognize and label objects based on their immediate perception.

Examples:

• “What is this?” (Naming objects)

• “Find the dog.” (Identifying an object)

• “What colour is it?” (Describing visible attributes)

Other Prompts:

• “Find one like this.”

• “Show me the…”

• “What is it?”

• “Point to…”

• “Give me the…”

Skill Required: Basic observation and labelling.

2. Selective Analysis of Perception - Classifying & Describing

This level requires children to describe, categorize, or identify features and relationships of objects and actions.

Examples:

• “What is happening in this picture?” (Describing)

• “Where is the ball?” (Identifying location)

• “What is he holding?” (Detail-focused questions)

Skill Required: Understanding relationships between objects and actions.

3. Reordering Perception - Inferential Questions

Questions at this level involve making inferences, predicting, and understanding information that is not explicitly stated.

Examples:

• “What will happen next?” (Predicting outcomes)

• “Why is she crying?” (Identifying reasons or motives)

• “What else can you use this for?” (Exploring alternative uses)

Other Prompts:

• “How are these the same?”

• “Tell me something else you could use…”

• “Find me one to use with this…”

• “Tell me a story…”

• “Tell me the beginning, middle, and end…”

Skill Required: Connecting actions, events, and reasons.

4. Reasoning about Perception - Abstract and Reflective Questions

This level involves abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and explaining concepts beyond the present moment.

Examples:

• “Why do you think she is sad?” (Explaining emotions)

• “What would you do if…?” (Problem-solving scenarios)

• “Why is it important to do that?” (Reflective reasoning)

Other Prompts:

• “What will happen if…?”

• “Why?”

• “Why is… made of…?”

• “How can we tell…?”

• “What can we use that for…?”

Skill Required: Abstract thinking, reasoning, and perspective-taking.

How is Blank’s Levels of Questioning Used in Speech Therapy?

Blank’s framework is an essential tool in speech therapy as it helps:

• Assess and support a child’s language comprehension and cognitive abilities.

• Structure questioning to gradually build understanding from concrete to abstract reasoning.

• Match therapy activities and goals to a child’s developmental stage.

This approach is particularly beneficial for children with language delays, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or learning difficulties. By targeting specific levels, speech therapists can scaffold tasks to support both receptive (understanding) and expressive (verbal response) language growth.

Practical Applications in Therapy and Learning

• For caregivers and educators: Using this framework in everyday conversations can support language development in a structured way.

• For SLPs: Designing therapy sessions with Blank’s questioning levels ensures individualized and progressive language intervention.

• For children with ASD or language delays: This structured approach reduces frustration and enhances communication skills by providing appropriate challenges at each level.

By integrating Blank’s Levels of Questioning into speech therapy and educational settings, professionals can effectively foster language comprehension and cognitive development, setting children up for stronger communication skills in the future.

Applying Blank’s Levels of Questioning in Outdoor Activities with Adventure Caretakers

Adventure Caretakers integrates Blank’s Levels of Questioning into outdoor play and exploration to foster language development in natural settings. Outdoor activities such as nature walks, scavenger hunts, and team challenges provide rich opportunities to use structured questioning at different levels.

For example:

• Level 1: “Find a leaf.” (Matching Perception)

• Level 2: “What colour is the rock?” (Describing features)

• Level 3: “What might happen if we step in the mud?” (Predicting outcomes)

• Level 4: “Why is it important to stay on the trail?” (Abstract reasoning)

By embedding questioning into real-world experiences, Adventure Caretakers helps children build language skills in a dynamic and engaging way. This approach is particularly beneficial for children with ASD or communication difficulties, as it encourages spontaneous language use, social interaction, and problem-solving in a supportive and stimulating environment.