Teacher Script: QAR Introduction

Introduction (2 minutes)

(Teacher): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to become amazing answer detectives. Have you ever read something and then had trouble finding the answer to a question about it?

Well, today we're going to learn a super helpful trick called QAR, which stands for Question-Answer Relationship. It's all about figuring out where the answer to a question is hiding in a story or text. This will help you find answers faster and understand what you read even better!"

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 1 & 2)

"We're going to learn about two main types of QAR today: Right There questions and Think and Search questions."

Introduce 'Right There' Questions (4 minutes)

(Teacher): "Let's start with the easiest one: Right There questions.

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"Just like it sounds, the answer to a 'Right There' question is... well, RIGHT THERE in the story! You can usually find the words for the answer in just one sentence. The words in the question often look a lot like the words in the answer sentence."

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Let's look at an example. I'll read a short passage and a question. Listen carefully!"

"(Read passage aloud): 'The small, brown dog wagged its tail happily. It loved to play fetch with its owner, Lily.'"

"(Read question aloud): 'What color was the dog?'"

"(Teacher): "Who can tell me, where is the answer to 'What color was the dog?' Is it right there in one sentence? Yes! The sentence says, 'The small, brown dog...' So, the dog was brown. The words 'color' and 'dog' from the question are right there with the answer!"

Introduce 'Think and Search' Questions (4 minutes)

(Teacher): "Now, let's look at another type: Think and Search questions.

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"For these questions, the answer is still in the story, but it's not all in one spot. You have to be a bit more of a detective! You might need to think about clues from different sentences and search throughout the text to put the pieces together. The answer might be in two or even more sentences."

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"Let's try an example. Listen again!"

"(Read passage aloud): 'Maria picked a red apple from the tree. She washed it under the cold water. Then, she took a big bite.'"

"(Read question aloud): 'What did Maria do before she ate the apple?'"

"(Teacher): "Is the answer to 'What did Maria do before she ate the apple?' all in one sentence? No, it's not. We know she picked the apple, she washed it, and then she ate it. To know what she did before she ate it, we need to think about the order of events from a couple of sentences. She washed the apple before she ate it. We had to think about two different ideas to get the full answer!"

Guided Practice with Worksheet (4 minutes)

(Teacher): "You all are doing great! Now it's your turn to be QAR detectives. I'm going to hand out this QAR Practice Worksheet."

(Distribute QAR Practice Worksheet)

"We will work on the first couple of questions together. For each question, I want you to try and decide if the answer is 'Right There' in one sentence, or if you need to 'Think and Search' and put clues from different sentences together."

"(Guide students through the first 1-2 questions on the worksheet, prompting them to identify the QAR type and find the answer. Provide support as needed.)"

Wrap-up (1 minute)

(Teacher): "Excellent work today, QAR detectives!

(Show QAR Introduction Slide Deck - Slide 7)

"Remember, when you read and answer questions, ask yourself: Is the answer 'Right There' in one sentence, or do I need to 'Think and Search' across a few sentences? Keeping these two types in mind will make you super readers! We will practice more of this soon."

"(Collect worksheets or assign completion as homework if time allows, depending on class needs.)"

QAR Practice Worksheet: Right There or Think and Search?

Name: ____________________________

Directions: Read each short story. Then read the question and decide if the answer is "Right There" in one sentence, or if you need to "Think and Search" to find the answer in different sentences. Write your answer on the line.

Story 1

The big, red ball rolled down the hill. A little girl named Mia ran after it, giggling.

1. What color was the ball?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

2. Who ran after the ball?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

Story 2

Tom loved to draw. He used his blue crayon to make a picture of a tall tree. Then he used a green crayon to color the leaves.

3. What did Tom love to do?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

4. What did Tom draw, and what colors did he use for it?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Story 3

The sun was shining brightly. Birds sang sweet songs in the trees. It was a perfect day for a picnic.

5. What were the birds doing?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

6. Why was it a perfect day for a picnic?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

Story 4

Max built a tall tower with his blocks. His little sister, Ruby, watched him carefully. She clapped her hands when he finished.

7. What did Max build?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer:
   
   
   

8. How did Ruby show she was happy when Max finished his tower?
   Type of Question: ____________________
   Answer: