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3rd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 12 of 21

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.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 3W6; 3W7 · 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 New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 12 of 21 in 3rd grade English Language Arts, after Reading Patterns 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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

    What do you do when you activate prior knowledge?

    • Think about what you already know
    • Close the book
    • Draw a rocket

  2. Question 2

    A book shows a child using a wheelchair joining a game. The book shows…

    • a bad ending
    • a recipe
    • inclusion

  3. Question 3

    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

  4. Question 4

    A mentor in writing is…

    • a type of pencil
    • an author or expert whose work you learn from
    • a spelling mistake

  5. Question 5

    Which source can be audio?

    • A poster
    • A podcast
    • A pencil case

  6. Question 6

    Which question would NOT help a group investigate worms?

    • What is on TV tonight?
    • Where do worms live?
    • What do worms eat?

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