April Question of the Day Ideas for 1st to 3rd Grade
April brings rain, new plants, and Earth Day on April 22. It is the perfect month for students to ask big questions about the world around them.
An April question of the day helps students explore those questions one at a time. Here are some of my favorite April questions, ways to connect them to spring, and a plan for Earth Day week.
New to question of the day? Try four questions free, with booklet pages for recording answers. Get the free sample.
What Are Good Inquiry Questions for April?
Good April questions connect to Earth Day, growing plants, and spring weather. Add a few animal questions for students who love creatures.
Here are some questions from my April set.
Earth Day
What is Earth Day?
Why is Earth Day important?
Why are lakes important?
Why do we need insects?
Spring growing
How does a bulb grow?
Why do plants have roots?
Does all fruit grow on trees?
Weather and sky
How is hail made?
Where does the sun never set?
What is the hottest planet in our solar system?
Animals
How do butterflies taste food?
How fast can chameleons change colors?
Can jellyfish sting when they are dead?
How Can You Connect These Questions to April?
Use the Earth Day questions the week of April 22, the plant questions during a plant unit, and the weather questions on rainy days.
Plant bean seeds or bulbs, then ask "Why do plants have roots?" Students can check their own plants.
Ask "How is hail made?" during a spring storm or weather unit.
If your class raises butterflies in spring, use "How do butterflies taste food?" The answer will surprise them.
Use the Earth Day questions to plan a class cleanup or recycling project.
An Earth Day Week Plan
Spend the week of Earth Day on questions about our planet. On Friday, students use what they learned to write one way they can help.
Monday: What is Earth Day? Research it together as a class.
Tuesday: Why is Earth Day important? Students work with a partner.
Wednesday: Why are lakes important? Students work with a partner again.
Thursday: Why do we need insects? Students try it on their own.
Friday: Why do plants have roots? Students research on their own. Then each student writes one way they can help the Earth.
Teacher Tip for April
Turn your Earth Day week into a class book. Each student adds one page with a question, the answer, and a picture. Read it together and keep it in your class library.
Looking for more topics to explore? Read Explore These Inquiry-Based Learning Topics With Your Class.
Where Can You Get All 25 April Questions?
My April set has 25 inquiry questions, one for each school day of the month. It comes in four formats: question cards, questions on rings, cut and paste, and no prep booklets. Booklet covers come in color and black and white, with regular lines and primary lines.
Not sure which format fits your class? Read Which Question of the Day Format Is Right for Your Class?
Planning ahead? Here are my May inquiry questions.
Try four questions free. Get a free question of the day sample in all four formats, ready to print.
