Texas TEKS 3.1.A

Science3rd GradeScientific and engineering practices

The Standard

ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students notice details in a demonstration, model, investigation, picture, or reading. They use those details to ask focused questions and describe problems that could be solved.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can ask a question that could be answered with evidence from an investigation. The student can name a specific problem and explain which observation revealed it.
Common Misconceptions: Students may ask questions that are too broad, based on opinion, or unrelated to the evidence. They may state a solution instead of clearly naming the problem.
How to Assess It: Show a photo of a wilted classroom plant. Ask students to write one observation, one question they could investigate, and one problem that needs solving.

Lesson moves

Place ice cubes in sun and shade, record observations, then have students write one question they could investigate.
Read a short animal habitat paragraph, then ask students to write a question supported by one fact from the text.
Sort cards into four groups: observation, investigable question, opinion question, and problem statement.
Tally cafeteria trash for one lunch period, then have students define a specific waste problem the school could address.

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