Grade: Kindergarten Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Explain Your Thinking Lesson: 6 of 6 SAT: Craft+Structure ACT: Reading

Mixed Practice

Put it all together! Practice all types of explain-your-answer questions. 🤔💭💡✅

📖 Learn

You've learned so much about explaining your thinking! Let's review everything before we practice.

💭 Quick Review

  • Start with "because" - This word shows you're giving a reason
  • Use evidence - Tell what you SAW, HEARD, or NOTICED
  • Give ONE good reason - You don't need to say everything
  • Don't say "I don't know" - Even "maybe because..." is better!
  • Don't just repeat - Add NEW information

💡 Types of Questions You'll See

  • "Why...?" - Give a reason
  • "How do you know...?" - Share your evidence
  • "What makes you think...?" - Explain your idea
  • "What tells you...?" - Point to clues

💡 Examples

Here are examples of great explanations for different question types!

Example 1: "Why" Question

🖼️ Picture: A person wearing a coat and hat

Q: Why is the person dressed that way?

A: "Because it looks cold outside and the clothes keep them warm!"

✅ Uses "because" + gives a reason based on the picture!

Example 2: "How do you know" Question

🖼️ Picture: A clock showing 8:00 and a child with a backpack

Q: How do you know the child is going to school?

A: "Because they have a backpack and it's morning time on the clock!"

✅ Points to TWO pieces of evidence!

Example 3: "What makes you think" Question

🖼️ Story: "Sam looked at the empty cookie jar and sighed."

Q: What makes you think Sam wanted a cookie?

A: "Because Sam looked at the cookie jar and then sighed when it was empty!"

✅ Uses details from the story!

✏️ Practice

Try these mixed questions! Remember all your skills. Say your answers out loud! 🤔

Set 1: Picture Questions

Question 1

🖼️ Picture: A rainbow in the sky

Why is there a rainbow?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because the sun came out after the rain!"

Question 2

🖼️ Picture: A family eating dinner together

How do you know it's dinnertime?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because they are all sitting at the table with food!"

Question 3

🖼️ Picture: A child blowing out candles on a cake

What makes you think it's the child's birthday?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because there's a birthday cake with candles!"

Set 2: Story Questions

Question 4

📖 Story: "Mia put on her swimsuit and grabbed her towel."

Why do you think Mia is going swimming?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because she has her swimsuit and towel!"

Question 5

📖 Story: "The puppy jumped up when it heard the door open."

How do you know the puppy was excited?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because the puppy jumped up!"

Question 6

📖 Story: "Ben ran to his room and closed the door. His eyes were wet."

What makes you think Ben was upset?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because he went to his room and his eyes were wet like he was crying!"

Set 3: Thinking Questions

Question 7

Why do people wear seatbelts in cars?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because seatbelts keep us safe!"

Question 8

How do you know when someone is happy?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because they smile and laugh!"

Question 9

What makes you think plants need sunlight?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because plants grow toward the window where the light is!"

Set 4: Challenge Round!

Question 10

🖼️ Picture: An empty playground with puddles

Why isn't anyone playing outside?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because it just rained and everything is wet!"

Question 11

📖 Story: "Dad put the cookies on the top shelf."

How do you know Dad wanted to keep the cookies safe?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because he put them up high where kids can't reach!"

Question 12

🖼️ Picture: A doctor looking at an X-ray

What tells you the doctor is helping someone?

Sample Answer

💡 "Because the doctor is looking at a picture of someone's bones to check if they're okay!"

✅ Check Your Understanding

Final quiz! Show what you've learned! 🌟

Question 1: What word should you use to start most explanations?

Show Answer

💡 "Because"

Question 2: Name TWO types of "explain your thinking" questions.

Show Answer

💡 Any two of these: "Why...?", "How do you know...?", "What makes you think...?", "What tells you...?"

Question 3: What should you do instead of saying "I don't know"?

Show Answer

💡 Try anyway! Say "Maybe because..." and give your best guess based on what you see or know!

Question 4: What are good things to use as evidence in your explanation?

Show Answer

💡 What you SAW, HEARD, or NOTICED in the picture or story!

🚀 Congratulations!

You finished the "Explain Your Thinking" unit! 🎉

✅ What You Learned

  • How to tell others what you know and why
  • How to show your work and thinking
  • Different types of explanation questions
  • How to give quick, clear answers
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • How to use "because" and evidence

Keep Practicing!

  • Ask "why" and "how do you know" questions at home
  • Practice explaining your thinking when you read books
  • Try another SAT/ACT Skills unit!