Answering Key Questions

Grade Level

3rd Grade

Duration

2 minutes

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this 2-minute mini-lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify and answer who, what, where, why, and how questions from a short text.
• Demonstrate understanding of key details in a reading passage aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1.

Common Core Standards

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

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Materials Needed

• Printed sentence strip or projected sentence on the board (short passage of 3-4 sentences)
• Five colorful question cards labeled: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, HOW
• Whiteboard and marker / dry erase boards for students (differentiated for motor needs)
• Visual cues for each question word (picture symbols for autism/dyslexia support)

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Procedure

Time	Activity Description	Differentiation Tips
0:00 - 0:30	Engage: Display or read aloud a 3-4 sentence passage about a familiar scenario (e.g., a trip to the zoo).	Use large font and clear graphics. Use auditory + visual input.
0:30 - 1:00	Model: Teacher picks a question card (e.g., WHO) and models answering a WHO question aloud using the passage.	Highlight or underline the part of the text answering the question. Use multisensory approach.
1:00 - 1:40	Guided Practice: Teacher asks the class: "Who is in the story?" "What happened?", etc., encouraging choral response.	Provide sentence starters visually: "The ___" / "They went to ___"
1:40 - 2:00	Quick Check: Call on 2-3 students to answer 1-2 questions each orally or write brief answers on their boards.	Accept drawing, oral, or written answers per student ability. Use visual aids to scaffold.

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Assessment

• Informal formative assessment through student responses during the quick check.
• Teacher notes who can correctly identify key question answers with textual support.

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Notes for Teachers

• This mini-lesson can be a daily warm-up to build comprehension skills.
• Using colorful question cards and visual cues supports students with attention and processing challenges.
• Encourage students to refer back to the text explicitly, which is valuable for dyslexic learners who benefit from repeated practice and multisensory strategies.
• For autism support, pair verbal questioning with visuals and allow alternative communication modes (e.g., pointing, drawing).

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This focused, rapid lesson creates a strong foundation for asking and answering key questions in reading comprehension aligned to Common Core for 3rd grade, with multi-sensory support that benefits diverse learners.