In an attempt to deal with the problem of generating the thinking skills needed for the 21st century, this article discusses how a statewide of 30 teachers developed Grade Level Foundations. The core component of the Grade Level Foundations for Social Studies consists of a set of questions that are designed to stimulate higher level thinking about each social studies discipline. These questions include both "fundamental questions" and "focusing questions." For students to attain mastery of their subjects, and to develop the mindset and perspective that allow them to achieve a better overview of their subjects, they need to focus on higher level questions. These enable them better to understand the continuities and changes of history, the working of economic cycles, the constants and variables of our political system, and the structure, patterns and disruptive forces of international relations. (Contains 2 notes.)