Focus Lesson Planning Sheet
Focus Lesson Good readers know the difference between
thick and thin questions.
Topic
Materials
Connection
Explicit
Instruction
Guided
Practice
Send Off
(for Independent
Practice)
Group Share
Book, Chart Paper, sticky notes
Yesterday, we learned about questions and how readers ask
questions as they read. Today we’re going to learn about asking
thick and thin questions.
A thin question is a question that can be answered with a number,
one word answer, or a simple yes or no answer. These questions are
usually short and are easy to find within the text that you are
reading. (Teacher models this with a familiar text recently read and
begins an anchor chart of thin questions).
Sample Thin Questions:
1. What is the main character’s name?
2. Is the story fiction?
3. What is the setting of the story?
4. Are there other characters in the book?
Other questions are thick, meaning that they often begin with
“Why?’ “How come?” “I wonder...” and the answers to these
questions are often long and involved and may require further
discussion. These questions are harder to answer and require more
thinking than thin questions. Good readers ask thick questions while
reading to better understand what’s going on in the story.
Sample Thick Questions:
1. I wonder…
2. Why was that event so important?
3. How did the character change from the beginning of the
story?
4. What do you think is the author’s message from the story?
Now listen to me ask both thin and thick questions as I read the
first few pages from this book. (Read and stop to ask both thin and
thick questions.) Turn and talk to your partner about whether these
are thick or thin questions. How do you know?
During independent reading, I want all of you practice asking both
thin and thick questions using sticky notes in your books. As you
record your questions on sticky notes and place them in the text,
think about whether they are thin or thick.
Allow students to share and discuss their questions.