Taking the Line That Answers It
A 55-minute Grade 5 lesson on gathering only what the question needs from documents written for other purposes.
Taking the Line That Answers It is a free 55-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D3.1.3-5 — gather what you need from several sources, choosing each for a reason. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 3 to Grade 5
- Length:
- 55 minutes
- Standard:
- D3.1.3-5
Grade 3 to Grade 5 · Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence
D3.1.3-5
Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using the origin, structure, and context to guide the selection.
Objective
Students will be able to extract only the evidence a question requires and record its provenance.
Students are successful when they can
- Takes only what answers the question.
- Records source and date beside each line.
- Says why each source was chosen.
What you need
- Four sources and one written question
- Small note cards, deliberately small
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — copy the white paper
5 min- Give one question and the white paper and ask for everything relevant on one small card.
- Let the card run out of room.
Teach — choose the source, then the line, then the date
18 min- Take the question: was the target achievable when it was set?
- Ask which sources bear on it: the white paper and the broadcast. Say why each.
- From the paper take one line: materials and labour remain scarce.
- From the broadcast take one line: harder to obtain than we expected.
- Leave the polling figures and the fixed prices. True, and irrelevant here.
- Write source and date beside each line, because the date is half the evidence.
- Say the standard: gathering is choosing, and the reason for the choice is part of it.
“Does this line move the question forward, or is it just interesting?”
Guided practice — one card each
17 min- Pairs answer one question using two sources on one small card.
- Beside each line they write source, date and why they took it.
- Groups compare cards and challenge anything unnecessary.
Independent practice
12 min- Students complete the 'Taking the Line That Answers It' page.
- Check answers use the source's own words.
Close
3 min- Ask what got left out that somebody was tempted to keep.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Copies everything on the topic.
Why: More looks thorough.
Fix: Reread the question after each line. If it does not serve the question, it goes.
Omits the date.
Why: The source name feels like enough.
Fix: A 1946 line and a 1950 line mean different things. The date is half the evidence.
Chooses the source that is easiest to read.
Why: Effort is the visible cost.
Fix: Ask what it can tell you about this question. Difficulty is not relevance.
If they are not there yet
- One source and a question with two lines marked.
- Choose which of three lines answers the question.
If they finish early
- Answer a question no single source can serve.
- Say which source you chose not to use, and why.
- Gather for two questions from one source without mixing them.
Exit ticket
For 'was the target achievable when set?', name one line you would take and from where.
What to look for: The white paper's line about scarce materials and labour, with the 1946 date. A line with no source or date means the provenance step is missing.
Printable practice for D3.1.3-5
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Taking the Line That Answers ItLook at the source, then answer the questions.
Questions about Taking the Line That Answers It
How long does the Taking the Line That Answers It lesson take?
55 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 18 min, guided practice 17 min, independent practice 12 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Taking the Line That Answers It teach?
D3.1.3-5 — D3.1.3-5, Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence for Grade 3 to Grade 5: “Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using the origin, structure, and context to guide the selection.” In plain terms, gather what you need from several sources, choosing each for a reason.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Four sources and one written question, small note cards, deliberately small and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: copies everything on the topic; omits the date and chooses the source that is easiest to read. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “For 'was the target achievable when set?', name one line you would take and from where.” The white paper's line about scarce materials and labour, with the 1946 date. A line with no source or date means the provenance step is missing. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Taking the Line That Answers It?
Yes — 1 printable D3.1.3-5 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Taking the Line That Answers It free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D3.1.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.