Exploring QAR Strategy

Overview

• Curriculum Area: English Language Arts
• Grade Level: 4th Grade
• US Educational Standards: Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1 - Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.)

Lesson Duration: 30 minutes per day
Topic: Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) Strategy using a nonfiction book

Objective for Day 1: Students will understand the four types of QAR questions (Right There, Think & Search, Author & Me, and On My Own) by exploring a nonfiction text.

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Materials Needed

1. Nonfiction storybook aligned to 4th-grade reading level (e.g., The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson or another nonfiction book relevant to the school curriculum).
2. Chart paper and markers.
3. Individual whiteboards and markers for students.
4. QAR anchor chart (visual graphic for each type of question).
5. Printed copies of a short nonfiction excerpt for students.
6. Sticky notes.

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Day 1: Introducing QAR

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Greet the class with enthusiasm and display the QAR anchor chart. Begin by asking:
  • “Have you ever had a question about something you’ve read?”
  • “What makes some questions harder to answer than others?”
• Briefly explain to students that today they’ll learn a strategy to tackle questions more easily by identifying where the answers are found.

Instruction (10 minutes)

1. Introduce QAR Strategy: Use the anchor chart to explain the four types of questions:

   • Right There: Answer is directly stated in the text.
   • Think & Search: Answer is in the text but needs putting together from different parts.
   • Author & Me: Answer requires combining what the author says with your own understanding.
   • On My Own: Answer is based on your own experience, not the text.

2. Model QAR Questions:

   • Read aloud a short paragraph from the chosen nonfiction text and use think-aloud to model 1-2 examples of each QAR type.
   • Example from The Youngest Marcher:
     • Right There: “What was Audrey Faye Hendricks’ nickname?”
     • Think & Search: “What effects did Audrey’s protest have on others?”
     • Author & Me: “Why do you think Audrey was so brave even though she was young?”
     • On My Own: “What would you have done in Audrey’s situation?”

3. Visual Engagement: Next to the anchor chart, add sticky notes with examples of QAR questions for quick reference throughout the lesson series.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

• Group Sorting Activity: Divide students into four groups and give each group a printed paragraph excerpt along with a mix of pre-written questions (1-2 of each QAR type).

• Students will work as a team to identify which types of QAR questions they have and stick them under the correct category on the anchor chart.

• Rotate between groups to check for understanding and encourage teamwork.

Wrap-Up & Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

• Bring the class back together. Ask each group to share one example of a question they sorted and explain why it fits its type.
• Distribute sticky notes and ask students to write their own "Author & Me" question based on the day's reading. Collect these as exit tickets.

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Day 2: Applying QAR to Nonfiction

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Review the QAR chart and examples from Day 1. Pose a warm-up question:
  • “How can understanding where answers come from help us with tough questions?”

Instruction (10 minutes)

• Select a new nonfiction excerpt, ideally related to social studies or science topics covered in the curriculum.
• Model how to break the text into chunks for deeper understanding.
• Read aloud and pose two questions of differing QAR types. Highlight process again to reinforce Day 1 learning.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

• Pair students up to answer two "Right There" and "Think & Search" questions. Encourage them to underline the parts of the text where they find their answers.
• Rotate pairs and challenge a new set of partners to create their own “Author & Me” question for the same passage.

Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)

• Ask several students to share their “Author & Me” questions with the class. Offer gentle corrections and praise as needed.

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Day 3: Independent QAR Practice

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Review all four types of QAR questions and take 2 minutes to let students review their notes.

Instruction (10 minutes)

• Provide students a slightly longer nonfiction passage and encourage them to annotate it as they read.
• Challenge students to find one QAR question for each type based on the passage.

Independent Practice (10 minutes)

• Students will work solo to answer Right There and Think & Search questions first.
• Once complete, they will exchange their “Author & Me” and “On My Own” questions with a partner for peer answering.

Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

• Collect work from students and provide reflective feedback for improvement in the next lesson.

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Day 4: QAR Mastery and Review

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Play a quick "QAR Bingo" game where students call out the type of QAR questions they hear based on teacher prompts.

Review Activity (15 minutes)

• Distribute a previously unseen nonfiction passage to students.
• In small groups, students will craft two questions per QAR category, as if they were mini teachers creating a quiz. They will swap questions with another group to answer and defend their responses.

Conclusion & Celebration (10 minutes)

• Congratulate students on mastering the strategy. Provide small certificates or bookmarks labeled "QAR Question Champion." Reflect with students on how this strategy can be useful in other subjects like Science or History.

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Evaluation

• Use worksheets, group activity results, and exit tickets to gauge comprehension each day.
• Provide actionable, tailored feedback for students needing further guidance.

Differentiation

• For struggling readers: Pair with a peer and choose simpler passages from the same book.
• For advanced students: Challenge them to write higher-order thinking questions for “Author & Me” and “On My Own.”

By the end of this series, students will have a deeper understanding of how to categorize and answer questions effectively using nonfiction texts!