Mini-Lesson

Asking Questions

Mini-Lesson: Grades 2-3

Objective: Students will ask questions-and search for answers-as they read.

Pass out the latest timeforkids.com news story, Saturn's Super-Sized Ring. Have students read the headline and subhead. Encourage students to share questions these may have sparked. Explain that asking questions—and searching for answers—helps readers to stay focused and remember information from a story.

2. Demonstrate asking yourself questions based on the first paragraph of the article. For example: It says here that scientists have known about Saturn's other main rings for years. I wonder: Why wasn't this giant new ring discovered until now? I'm going to jot down this question and look for an answer as I read.

3. Encourage students to write down their own questions and to underline the answers they find as they read the rest of the article.

4. Have students share their questions and answers. Ask: Did anyone find answers to my question? Did any of your questions have more than one answer? Which questions were not answered in the article?

Extend Learning: Teach students about the planets in our solar system. Use the worksheet Our Solar System.