Counselora · Lessons
Helping a classmate without giving them your answer
Grades 3–5 · Ready-made original
Learning goal
Choose help that supports learning without copying.
Materials
The student page below and a pencil.
Opening question · 3 minutes
“How could a student help without completing someone else's work?”
A school situation · 5 minutes
Ben asks Ada for the answer to a class practice problem. The teacher said students should show their own work.
One possible response · 4 minutes
Ada says, “I can explain the first step, but you need your own answer.” They can ask the teacher what help is allowed.
Practice · 10 minutes
How could a student help without completing someone else's work?
1. A classmate asks for a whole drawing to copy. The task is to draw and label your own shape.
2. Two students are unsure whether partners may check each other's answers.
Possible answers
1. “I can show how I found the sides. You'll need your own drawing.”
2. “Let's ask the teacher what kind of checking is allowed.”
Student page · 5 minutes
Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.
Exit question · 3 minutes
“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”
Student page to print
Helping a classmate without giving them your answer
Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.
An example
Ben asks Ada for the answer to a class practice problem. The teacher said students should show their own work.
How could a student help without completing someone else's work?
One possible response: Ada says, “I can explain the first step, but you need your own answer.” They can ask the teacher what help is allowed.
1. A classmate asks for a whole drawing to copy. The task is to draw and label your own shape.
How could a student help without completing someone else's work?
2. Two students are unsure whether partners may check each other's answers.
How could a student help without completing someone else's work?
One sentence to keep
Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.