October Question of the Day Ideas for 1st to 3rd Grade
October is full of pumpkins, falling leaves, and Halloween excitement. Students are buzzing, and it can be hard to settle them in the morning.
An October question of the day gives that excitement a focus. Students research one fall or Halloween question, record the answer, and share what they found. Here are some of my favorite October questions and a plan for Halloween 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 October?
Good October questions connect to fall leaves, pumpkins, and Halloween. Ocean and magnet questions are great for science units this month.
Here are some questions from my October set.
Fall and Halloween
Why do leaves fall off of trees?
How do leaves change color?
How much did the largest pumpkin in the world weigh?
Who invented scarecrows?
When will the next full moon on Halloween be?
Oceans
Why is the ocean salty?
What causes ocean tides?
Does it rain in the middle of the ocean?
How do stingrays swim?
Magnets and more
How do magnets work?
How do you know which end of the magnet is north?
Why do ladybugs hibernate?
Why do my knuckles crack?
How Can You Connect These Questions to October?
Use the leaf questions on a fall walk, the pumpkin question during a pumpkin unit, and the Halloween questions the week of October 31.
Take a fall walk and collect leaves, then ask "How do leaves change color?"
Weigh a class pumpkin, then ask "How much did the largest pumpkin in the world weigh?" Compare the two.
Use the scarecrow question with a fall harvest or farm unit.
Pair the magnet questions with a magnets science unit.
A Halloween Week Plan
Spend Halloween week on fall and holiday questions. By October, most students can work with a partner or on their own.
Monday: How much did the largest pumpkin in the world weigh? Students work with a partner.
Tuesday: Who invented scarecrows? Students work with a partner.
Wednesday: How do leaves change color? Students try it on their own.
Thursday: Why do leaves fall off of trees? Students try it on their own.
Friday: When will the next full moon on Halloween be? Students research on their own, then share with the class.
Teacher Tip for October
The largest pumpkin record is broken often, so different sources may give different answers. That is a perfect chance to teach students to check when a source was written. Newer sources usually have the newest record.
Supporting different learners this month? Read How to Differentiate Inquiry-Based Learning for Every Kind of Learner.
Where Can You Get All 25 October Question of the Day Questions?
My October 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 November inquiry questions.
Try four questions free. Get a free question of the day sample in all four formats, ready to print.
