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3rd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 12 of 13

Wonder & Find Out

What you know, good questions, choosing facts and stories that include everyone.

What your child practices

Practices using what you already know, asking focused questions, choosing information from sources, deciding what to include, and noticing diversity and inclusion in stories.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 3.39 · asking research questions and choosing sources

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Start with what you already know, then ask a clear, focused question.
  2. Look in books, websites written by experts, and people who know.
  3. Pick only facts that answer your question, and share what you found.

Example: You want to learn how fast snow melts. Which question fits: “Is snow nice?” or “Does snow melt faster in sun or shade?” A good question can be tested or looked up. The second question can be checked. Answer: Does snow melt faster in sun or shade?

Wonder & Find Out in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 12 of 13 in 3rd grade English Language Arts, after Tales, Poems & Hyperbole and before Media Messages.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which is a source of knowledge for a project about bees?

    • A random guess
    • A beekeeper who visits the class
    • A game you made up

  2. Question 2

    Inclusion in a story means…

    • only some belong
    • everyone is welcomed and belongs
    • nobody speaks

  3. Question 3

    Which source is likely to have accurate facts about volcanoes?

    • A nonfiction book from the library
    • A silly cartoon
    • A rumor

  4. Question 4

    An Elder shares a story with your class. This is a way to…

    • end the topic
    • skip reading
    • learn from people in the community

  5. Question 5

    You find five facts about wolves. Two are about dogs. You should…

    • leave out the facts that don't fit your topic
    • throw all the facts away
    • keep every fact

  6. Question 6

    Telling a friend what a story says about being fair is…

    • spelling
    • sharing how an idea is presented
    • copying

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