Unit Plan 17 (Grade K ELA): Mini-Research – Ask & Answer
Kindergarten research writing unit: students ask wonder questions, find answers from one shared source, point to supporting details, and record facts through drawings, labels, or dictated sentences to build early inquiry skills.
Focus: Wonder questions; gather facts from one source; note/dictate
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing • Informational Reading • Speaking/Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This week launches mini-research: students will generate wonder questions, use one shared source (teacher-selected informational book or article page) to find answers, and note/dictate facts with drawings and labels. We’ll practice asking and answering about key details, pointing to text features or illustrations that support our answers.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Ask and answer questions about key details in a text, using picture and word clues (RI.K.1).
- Participate in a shared research routine by gathering information on a class topic from one source (W.K.7).
- Recall or record facts by drawing/dictating/writing simple notes (W.K.8).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Kindergarten
- W.K.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects.
- W.K.8 With guidance and support, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- RI.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can ask a wonder question about our topic.
- I can point to where I found the answer in the book page/picture.
- I can note a fact by drawing/labeling or dictating one sentence.
- I can tell my partner one fact I learned.