August Back to School Question of the Day Ideas for 1st to 3rd Grade
The first weeks of school are all about routines. Students are learning where things go, what comes next, and how your classroom works.
A question of the day is a routine worth teaching early. Once students know it, they can start their morning on their own while you take attendance or greet families. Here are some of my favorite August questions and a plan for your first 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 August?
Good back to school question of the day questions are curious and easy to answer, so students feel successful right away. Questions about hot summer days, animals, and silly sayings work well.
Here are some questions from my August set.
Hot summer days
Can you fry an egg on the sidewalk?
How long can a cactus go without water?
Why do plants need sunlight?
Why do trees grow tall in the rainforest?
Animals
Why do sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand?
How does a spider spin a web?
What is the smallest reptile in the world?
Why is a dog's nose wet?
Curious questions
How do holes get in donuts?
Where does the saying "It's raining cats and dogs" come from?
How many planet Earths can fit in the sun?
Can a magician really make a rabbit disappear?
How Can You Use These Questions in the First Weeks of School?
Use them to teach the routine. Start with curious questions that hook students, then move to science questions once students know what to do.
Start with the donut or dog's nose question. Students will want to know the answer.
Teach where answers live: the classroom library, nonfiction books, and two or three bookmarked websites.
Use "Where does the saying 'It's raining cats and dogs' come from?" to talk about sayings and what they mean.
Watch how students research. You will quickly see who needs more support.
A First Week Plan
In the first week, do every question together. You are teaching the routine as much as the answer.
Monday: How do holes get in donuts? Research it together and show students how to record the answer.
Tuesday: Why is a dog's nose wet? Research it together again. Let students help find the answer.
Wednesday: How does a spider spin a web? Students work with a partner while you help.
Thursday: Can you fry an egg on the sidewalk? Students work with a partner.
Friday: How many planet Earths can fit in the sun? Students work with a partner, then share with the class.
Teacher Tip for August
Set up your research basket before the first day. Add nonfiction books, a few magazines like National Geographic Kids, and bookmark two or three kid-safe websites. When everything is ready, the routine runs smoothly from day one.
For the full routine, read How to Use a Question of the Day to Build Research Skills.
Where Can You Get All 25 August Back to School Question of the Day Questions?
My August 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 September inquiry questions.
Try four questions free. Get a free question of the day sample in all four formats, ready to print.
