Grade 3, Monday Oct 19: the overview version 3

Social Studies Fair, day 2 of 7. A plan in mockup form: what each of the four pieces holds at the level of the whole day. Each block gets its own step later.

The day

Pickup7:45 · 10
Goal and Words7:55 · 15
Block 1: Browse the books, a better question8:10 · 60
Snack9:10 · 10
Block 2: More sources, and the library9:20 · 60
Specials10:20 · 50
Block 2, more11:10 · 15
Lunch and recess11:25 · 65
Block 3: My introduction12:30 · 60
Hand in1:30 · 10
Choice time1:40 · 20
Closing circle2:00 · 10
Width follows the minutes. Blue = project block (195 min of project work). A child who finishes a block early goes to the pages at the back of the packet.

From last week's work

On the question tests, 5 children ticked none. 3 wrote only "Economics" on the topic line, and 1 wrote neither a topic nor a question. → Block 1 opens with every child browsing the homework help books, even those with a topic. Then each child gets their own question back with one next step.
9 of 14 left sheet 5, My four sources, blank. Of the 20 rows that came back, 13 name Epic, 6 name Research Assistant and 4 name Google. The Library of Congress was down last week, so its zero is not a finding. → Block 2 adds to last week's list, not a new one: the Research Assistant, which now returns primary sources, and a book checked out from the school library.
Of the 13 who wrote paragraph text, 5 filled all three parts of the frame and 5 stated their research question. 5 children wrote the "one fact a visitor should know" line. → The introduction is the day's piece. Block 3 fills in a graphic organizer beside a filled-in one before anyone writes.
Sheets 10 and 12 came back blank from all 14, and sheet 11 from 12. → The packet drops from 12 sheets to 9 pages. The back holds one critical-thinking page and the Beast Academy page.
Sheet 8, the Reflection, came back blank from 13 of 14. → The Reflection moves to the bottom of the introduction page, circles only, and the class does it before block 3 ends.

The four pieces, block by block

Block
Lesson plan
Slideshow
Work packet
Classroom post
The whole day
Title: Browse, more sources, my introduction
Goal: I can sharpen my question after browsing, add different kinds of sources to my list, and write my introduction from a graphic organizer.
Day question: Why did I choose my topic, and what is it mostly about?
Prep: the homework help books on the tables; a library visit for block 2; print the named class set. List the children for Beast check-ins.
Ian's words win over the fair's day-2 order: notes, Source Reflection #1 and the survey move later
Slide 1, title: the day's title and the day question.
Slide 2, the plan: every block in order with its time, breaks and closing circle included.
Slide 3, seats: where each block sits.
Then one opening slide per block, below.
Named per child. Each copy prints that child's own question, last week's sources and next Beast lesson.
Stapled once. A page not finished goes home and is due next Monday.
Paper only this week.open: the online organizer is not built yet
Title: Browse, more sources, my introduction (Oct 19–23)
Text: Slides, work packet, and readings for this week. Nothing here is turned in.
Posted: as a draft; Ian publishes Monday morning.
Goal and Words7:55 · 15 min
Children circle a goal, fill the word sentences, then the table-by-table review.
Standard: 3.L.V.1
"Our words" slide: the 8 words.
1 page. Page 1: a tick for each block, three goals to circle, the word box and 8 sentences.
Child: circles 1, fills 8 blanks.
Slides. Work packet (PDF).
Block 18:10 · 60 minBrowse the books, a better question
1. Every child browses the homework help books (geography, world history, American history), including those with a topic, and jots topics that catch their eye.
2. Show how a question gets better, on the model's film question. 3. Practice and the short check. 4. Each child sharpens their own question, or picks a topic and writes one. 5. Tick block 1.
Standard: SSIPS14 research questions
Block 1 opening slide: "I can find topics in the books and make my question better."
Two questions that won past fairs: "Fast Food: Is the Convenience Worth the Risk?" (state fair 2024, grades 5-6) and "How Does Cutting Down the Amazon Affect Us?" (state fair 2025, grades 5-6).
No grade 3-4 winners exist yet: grades 3-4 became their own class only this year.
2 pages. Practice: fix 2 questions, check item at the bottom. Then My better question: 2 blanks for topics spotted while browsing, their own question printed back with one next step, room to rewrite, the three tests to tick.
Child: 2 topic blanks, 3 questions, ticks 3 tests.
Model: the early-film question, view only.
Snack 9:10 · 10
Chromebooks close.
Snack slide.
none
Block 29:20 · 60 min + 11:10 · 15More sources, and the library
1. Show the source mix on the model's list: one primary, one from Epic, one real book, one other (an online article or another primary). More than four is fine. 2. Practice and the short check. 3. Research Assistant: each child adds to last week's list. 4. The library: each child checks out a book for their topic.open: library time not booked
5. After specials: finish the list; a partner checks the mix.
Standards: SSIPS6 primary and secondary, SSIPS15 useful information
Block 2 opening slide: "I can add different kinds of sources to my list."
Block 2, more: one slide, "Finish your list, then a partner checks your mix."
2 pages. Practice: six sources, write which kind each one is in the mix; check item at the bottom. Then My sources: last week's rows printed in, 4 mix rows, 3 extra rows for more.
Child: 6 marks, then 2 to 7 source rows.
Research Assistant link. Epic link.
Specials, lunch 10:20 · 11:25
Walk the class.
Break slides.
none
Block 312:30 · 60 minMy introduction
1. Show the filled-in graphic organizer and the introduction written from it, on the model's film topic. 2. Each child fills in the organizer: why I chose the topic, why I chose the question, the main idea. The check: circle the main idea in the example. 3. Each child writes the introduction from their organizer. The day's piece. 4. Rubric rows, the Reflection, tick block 3.
Standards: SSIPS5 main idea, 3.P.EICC.4 writing
Block 3 opening slide: "I can plan my introduction, then write it."
The filled-in organizer beside the model introduction.
2 pages. The organizer: the filled-in example on the left, the child's organizer on the right, check item at the bottom. Then My introduction: lines for the paragraph. At the bottom: rubric rows, glow and grow, the Reflection to circle.
Child: 3 organizer boxes, a paragraph of 4 to 6 sentences, circles 4.
Model: the early-film organizer and introduction, view only.
Hand in, choice, closing1:30 · 40 min
Packet on Ian's desk; unfinished pages go home. Choice time with its written goal. Closing circle: both word methods, three speakers, what comes next Monday.
Hand-in slide, choice slide, closing slide.
The two choice-time lines sit under the Reflection on the introduction page.
Choice Time Hub link.
Back of the packetearly finishers, any block
A child who finishes a block early goes to the back. Beast check-ins: the children listed in prep, during Beast.open: Beast documents no per-child question sets and no edits from the report tab; sample problems come from the repo's Beast problem file
none
2 pages. One critical-thinking page and the Beast Academy page with the child's next lesson.
The standing back of the packet for the whole fair project.
Beast Academy link.
Later, not this day
The survey or interview: built only after the background research is done, so each child knows what to ask. Ian checks every set before any goes out.open: which day; the fair's later days shift
As much of the fair as possible gets done in class. From winter break, the children finish the rest at home; they and their families get notice in early December.
none today
none today
none today
Totals
3 project blocks, 1 piece: the introduction
14 slides at this level; each block adds its own
9 pages (1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 back)
7 attachments; next week, each child's scanned packet