Content Questions Curriculum

The Content Questions Curriculum contains about 100 mini units (scroll down for a list) centered around a content question such as what do seeds need to grow? There is also a board game that teachers can download for reviewing the units in this curriculum: The Content Questions Board Game. All of the materials found here can also be found in the young learners section: Young Learners.

Each unit consists of a reading packet puzzle, a few worksheets and a reading selection. The order that I present the materials to students is as follows:

(1) Day 1 in Class: I go over the reading packet puzzles with the kids and then I have the kids do the reading packet puzzles twice on their own. When they finish, they read them to me and I correct pronunciation and make sure they have solved them correctly. Finally, they try to answer the content question on their own without the aid of the reading packet puzzles.

(2) Day 1 Homework: Kids take the reading packet puzzles home and do them 4 times at home (preferably with a parent present). I also send the worksheets home, especially the sentence writing worksheet.

(3) Day 2 in Class: Kids solve the reading packet puzzle in front of me one more time so I can confirm they have it down pat. I take the puzzles away and then ask the question again and they answer it unaided. I hand out the reading selection for the unit. We go over the reading selection with the kids reading it and I check comprehension to make sure they understand it. Hopefully, the reading packet puzzle will have prepared the students for the reading selection. The kids read it in class once and if I have time they read it to me.

(4) Day 2 Homework: Kids take the reading selection home and read it three times alone and then they read it one more time in front of a parent and get the parent to sign.

(5) Day 3 in Class: I check that parents have signed and I get the kids to read the reading selection one more time.

Doing the content questions units takes about a quarter to half of the one hour class for each of the three days. The rest of the time is spent focusing on other things such as reviewing past lessons, playing language games, or learning something else.

Content Question Units

(New units will be made available as they are written)