The Answer Key

The Answer Key is one of Tony Ryan’s Thinker’s Keys, a collection of 20 creative thinking strategies designed to stretch students beyond surface-level responses. 

How It Works

The idea is very simple: give the students an answer and challenge them to come up with as many possible questions as they can.

For Example

Let’s say the answer is 100.

Your students might come up with:

• What is 10 × 10?

• How many centimetres are in a metre?

• How many years are in a century?

The best thing? There is space for everyone, whether it’s an easy thought or clever twist. 

$Why\; It\text{'}s\; so\; Good$

• Works with any number or maths concepts like shapes, fractions, units of measure, and more  
• Supports every student, letting some start simple and others aim higher
• Helps students think creatively, turning maths into something flexible and fun
• The best part? No preparation is needed

Next time you need a quick warm-up or a challenge, try the Thinker’s Keys. Just a grab a marker, write a number on the board, and watch the magic happen!