60-Minute Activity: QAR Question Creation Workshop

Title: 60-Minute Activity: QAR Question Creation Workshop

Objective:

Enhance students' comprehension and critical thinking skills by teaching them how to formulate different types of QAR (Question-Answer Relationship) questions for fiction texts.

Activity Name: QAR Question Creation Workshop
Materials Needed:

  • Whiteboard or chart paper

  • Markers

  • Paper and pencils for each student

  • A selection of fiction texts (short stories or excerpts)

  • QAR Question Types Handout (includes Right There, Think and Search, Author and You, On Your Own questions)

  • Timer or stopwatch

Instructions:

  1. Introduction (10 minutes):

    • Begin by introducing the concept of QAR questions and the four types: Right There (literal), Think and Search (inferential), Author and You (interpretive), and On Your Own (personal response).

    • Distribute the QAR Question Types Handout and briefly explain each type with examples.

  2. Group Activity (30 minutes):

    • Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.

    • Assign each group a different fiction text (or allow them to choose from provided selections).

    • Text Reading (10 minutes): Each group reads the assigned text together, discussing key themes, characters, and plot points.

    • Question Creation (20 minutes): Each group collaborates to create at least 2 of each type of QAR question related to their text, aiming for a total of 8 questions per group. Encourage creativity and depth in their questions.

  3. Sharing and Discussion (15 minutes):

    • After the question creation phase, each group presents one question of each type to the class.

    • Facilitate a discussion about the different strategies used to create questions and the thought processes behind them.

  4. Wrap-Up (5 minutes):

    • Summarize the importance of understanding how to formulate questions and how this skill aids in comprehension and engagement with texts.

    • Encourage students to use these skills in their independent reading.

Differentiation Options:

  • For advanced students: Challenge them to formulate more complex questions or relate the text to broader themes or real-world issues.

  • For students needing support: Provide sentence starters or templates for crafting questions based on specific components of the texts.

Follow-up Suggestions:

  • Have students apply their QAR questioning skills in their independent reading assignments, creating a QAR question sheet for their book of choice.

  • Conduct peer review sessions where students answer each other’s questions to reinforce comprehension and discussion skills.

Description of Activity:

  • Grade Level: 8th Grade

  • Estimated Setup Time: 10 minutes

  • Duration: 60 minutes

  • Standards Attached/Achieved: Aligns with reading comprehension standards that focus on questioning strategies and critical thinking.

  • Subject/Topic: English Language Arts - Fiction Reading and Comprehension

  • Possible Extensions:

    • Extend the activity by having students write a reflective essay on how different types of questions impact their understanding of a text or character motivations.