March Question of the Day Ideas for 1st to 3rd Grade
March is a busy month. There is St. Patrick's Day, Read Across America, and the first signs of spring. Students are excited, and you need a way to channel that energy.
A March question of the day turns all that excitement into curiosity. Students research one quick question, write what they find, and share it with the class. Here are some of my favorite March questions and a 5-day plan to try.
New to questions of the day? Try four questions free, with booklet pages for recording answers. Get the free sample.
What Are Good Inquiry Questions for March?
Good March questions connect to spring, weather, and St. Patrick's Day. A few big science questions about volcanoes and space keep students thinking.
Here are some questions from my March set.
Spring and St. Patrick's Day
Are leprechauns real?
Why do bees make honey?
Why is the sky blue?
How does the water cycle work?
Animals
What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
How many hearts does an earthworm have?
Why do pigs roll in the mud?
How did the clownfish get its name?
Earth and space
Why do volcanoes erupt?
What planet spins backwards?
How old is the Earth?
Can waterfalls flow upwards?
As you might guess from my name, "Why do bees make honey?" is one of my favorites!
How Can You Connect These Questions to March?
Use "Are leprechauns real?" near St. Patrick's Day, the water cycle question during a weather unit, and the volcano question during an Earth science unit.
Ask "Are leprechauns real?" the week of St. Patrick's Day. Students learn the difference between a legend and a fact.
Pair "How does the water cycle work?" with a spring weather unit.
Use "What is oobleck?" during Read Across America week, then make some together.
Ask the earthworm question when the ground thaws and worms start to appear.
A 5-Day Plan for March
Mix one holiday question with spring and animal questions. Start as a class, then let students work with partners and on their own.
Monday: Are leprechauns real? Research it together as a class.
Tuesday: What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Students work with a partner.
Wednesday: How does the water cycle work? Students work with a partner again.
Thursday: How many hearts does an earthworm have? Students try it on their own.
Friday: Why do volcanoes erupt? Students research on their own, then share with the class.
Teacher Tip for March
"Is it real?" questions are perfect for teaching students to check their sources. A storybook about leprechauns and a nonfiction book about Irish legends will say very different things. Talk about which source answers the question.
Some students need more support with this. Read How to Differentiate Inquiry-Based Learning for Every Kind of Learner for ideas.
Where Can You Get All 25 March Question of the Day Questions?
My March 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 April inquiry questions.
Try four questions free. Get a free question of the day sample in all four formats, ready to print.
