The Importance of 

Questions 
ELA- Comprehension 

Teacher​:​ Ms. Benson 

Date:​ 3/12/18 

Overview & Purpose 

Students will analyze a text to answer the questions ​who, what, where, when, why, a
​ nd 
how​ as a group.  

The purpose of the activity is to introduce the concept of asking the “Wh-” questions 
(and how?) in order to be able to answer these questions later to determine important 
details in a text. 

Education Standards 
1. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.1​ Ask and answer such questions as ​who, what, where, 
when, why​, and ​how​ to demonstrate understanding of key details in a 
text. 

 
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Objectives 
1. I can correctly ask and answer the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? 
How? (5 Ws and How) Using a text.  

Materials Needed 
1. Blank dice template with the questions: W
​ ho? What? When? Where? Why? How? 
Written on it or a regular die with numbers corresponding to questions  
2. A whiteboard/paper for students to keep score 
3. A timer 
4. 1 text per group which allows for the asking/answering of ​Who? What? When? 
Where? Why? How? 
5. Visual definitions of 5 Ws and How 

Checking for Understanding 

1. What are we asking the questions about? (The plot) 
2. Why do we ask these questions when reading a text? 

Activity 
1. Anticipatory Set 
a. To warm up, groups of two will play a game in which they will take turns 
rolling the “Wh-” die and asking each other “Wh-” questions. Students will 
have 30 seconds to ask their partner questions starting with the “Wh-” 
word the die landed on (teacher keeps track of time and rounds). Asking 
the correct question earns them one point. Their partner gets a point for 
every question they answer. Students go back and forth until one minute is 
up. Play for six minutes, or until all students have a turn with most of the 
questions.  
2. Beginning 
a. After the game discuss how it went with students. It was probably 
challenging to come up with questions after a while. Ask students if it 

 
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would have been easier to do if they had a topic to ask questions about. 
Inform students that asking the “Wh-” questions and “How” is a great way 
to find important details and ideas in a text or video’s plot.  
b. Show students a graphic organizer or pictures with “Wh-” and “How” 
definitions and read over each one. Leave this up during the activity so 
students may refer to it.  
c. Inform students they will be reading a text in their group and trying to 
answer the “Wh-” questions.  
i. Assign each group a “reader” and each additional group member 
2-3 “Wh-”/How? Questions.  
ii. As the reader reads the story each group member will listen for 
their info. Students will keep track of the answers by using a bubble 
map with the title of the story in the center bubble. 
iii. Circulate the room-- the question of “how” may be tricky 
3. Closing 
a. Each group shares their findings.  
b. Collect the maps.