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3rd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 13 of 15

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.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 3.13(A); 3.13(C) · 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 Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 13 of 15 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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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 book shows diversity?

    • A story with characters from many cultures
    • A phone book
    • A book of blank pages

  2. Question 2

    Before you read about whales, it helps to think about…

    • the weather in July
    • what you already know about whales
    • what you ate

  3. Question 3

    A focused question starts from…

    • nothing
    • something you noticed
    • something you ate

  4. Question 4

    What do you do when you activate prior knowledge?

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

  5. Question 5

    Inclusion in a story means…

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

  6. Question 6

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

    • copying
    • sharing how an idea is presented
    • spelling

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