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English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Question words (who, what, where, when)

Grammar

CCSS L.K.1.DEngland: Reception GrammarEngland: Y1 GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Question words (who, what, where, when).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is lunch? At twelve o'clock. (When / Who / Where / What) → WhenPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?
  2. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is crying? The baby. (When / Where / Who / What) → WhoPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?
  3. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ animal says moo? A cow. (When / Who / Where / What) → WhatPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Question words (who, what, where, when). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is lunch? At twelve o'clock.
  • Step 1: The answer tells us which question word to use.
  • Step 2: The answer is a time, so we ask 'When'.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: When
  • Answer: When
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is lunch? At twelve o'clock. (What / Who / When / Where) → WhenPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?
  2. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is at the door? It is Grandma. (When / Where / What / Who) → WhoPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ are my shoes? Under the bed. (When / What / Where / Who) → WherePrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?
  2. Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ did you get for your birthday? A kite. (What / Who / Where / When) → WhatPrompt: Read the answer. Is it a person, a place, a thing or a time?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Question words (who, what, where, when)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is in the bag? A big red apple.

    • A. Who
    • B. When
    • C. Where
    • D. What

  2. Question 2

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ did you get for your birthday? A kite.

    • A. What
    • B. When
    • C. Where
    • D. Who

  3. Question 3

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ do you live? I live on Oak Street.

    • A. Where
    • B. Who
    • C. When
    • D. What

  4. Question 4

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ animal says moo? A cow.

    • A. What
    • B. Where
    • C. Who
    • D. When

  5. Question 5

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is the park? Next to the school.

    • A. What
    • B. Who
    • C. Where
    • D. When

  6. Question 6

    Choose the question word that fits the answer. ___ is crying? The baby.

    • A. Who
    • B. What
    • C. When
    • D. Where

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Answer key: Question words (who, what, where, when)

  1. 1. D. What

  2. 2. A. What

  3. 3. A. Where

  4. 4. A. What

  5. 5. C. Where

  6. 6. A. Who