The Five W's: Who, What, Where, When, Why!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 1:40 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about the five W's (Who, What, Where, When, and Why) and how they help us tell stories!

Video Resource

The Five W's Song | English Songs | Scratch Garden

Scratch Garden

Duration: 1:40
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Who: The person or character in a story.
  • What: The event or action in a story.
  • Where: The place where the story happens.
  • When: The time the story happens.
  • Why: The reason something happens in a story.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the five W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why).
  • Students will be able to answer simple questions using the five W's.
  • Students will be able to understand that the five W's help tell a story.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what makes a good story. Introduce the idea that stories need to answer questions like 'Who?', 'What?', 'Where?', 'When?', and 'Why?'. Tell them you're going to learn a song about the 'Five W's'.
  • Watch the Video (3 mins)
    Play the YouTube video "The Five W's Song | English Songs | Scratch Garden". Encourage students to sing along.
  • Discuss 'Who' (5 mins)
    Ask: "Who is in a story?" Show examples from the video (grandma, dog, you). Ask students who could be in *their* stories. Encourage them to name people and animals.
  • Discuss 'What' (5 mins)
    Ask: "What happens in a story?" Show examples from the video (birthday party, catching a fish). Ask students what could happen in *their* stories. What do the characters do?
  • Discuss 'Where' (5 mins)
    Ask: "Where does the story take place?" Show examples from the video (bedroom, beach). Ask students where *their* stories could happen. Can be real or made up places!
  • Discuss 'When' (5 mins)
    Ask: "When does the story happen?" Show examples from the video (this morning, on Tuesday). Ask students when their stories take place. Today? Yesterday? A long time ago?
  • Discuss 'Why' (5 mins)
    Ask: "Why does something happen in the story?" Show examples from the video (missed the bus, wanted to fly). Ask students to think about 'why' something might happen in a story. Because someone is sad? Because someone is happy?
  • Create a Class Story (10 mins)
    As a class, create a short story together, using the five W's. Ask questions like: "Who is our story about?", "What are they doing?", "Where are they doing it?", "When does it happen?", and "Why are they doing it?". Write the story on the board (or have students draw pictures to represent each part).

Interactive Exercises

  • Five W's Picture Sort
    Show students pictures related to different story elements (e.g., a person, an action, a place, a time). Have them sort the pictures into categories labeled 'Who', 'What', 'Where', and 'When'. Include a 'Why' category and have them describe the pictures in that category.
  • Storytelling Props
    Provide students with a box of props (e.g., a toy animal, a hat, a small car). Have each student pick a prop and tell a short story using the five W's about that prop.

Discussion Questions

  • What is your favorite part of the song?
  • Can you think of a story where you know who, what, where, when and why?
  • Why is it important to know the 'Five W's' when telling a story?

Skills Developed

  • Listening Comprehension
  • Storytelling
  • Vocabulary Building
  • Critical Thinking
  • Collaborative Discussion

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Who is about a ______ in a story.

Correct Answer: person

Question 2:

What is about an ______ in a story.

Correct Answer: event

Question 3:

Where is about a ______ in a story.

Correct Answer: place

Question 4:

When is about the ______ the story happens.

Correct Answer: time

Question 5:

Why is about the ______ something happens.

Correct Answer: reason

Question 6:

Which one is NOT one of the 5 W's?

Correct Answer: How

Question 7:

We can't tell a ______ without the 5 W's.

Correct Answer: story

Question 8:

Is 'Grandma' a Who, What, Where, When or Why?

Correct Answer: Who

Question 9:

Is 'the beach' a Who, What, Where, When or Why?

Correct Answer: Where

Question 10:

Is 'this morning' a Who, What, Where, When or Why?

Correct Answer: When

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The 5 W's help us tell a ________.

Correct Answer: story

Question 2:

_______ is about the person in the story.

Correct Answer: Who

Question 3:

________ is about what happens.

Correct Answer: What

Question 4:

________ is about where the story takes place.

Correct Answer: Where

Question 5:

________ is about the time.

Correct Answer: When

Question 6:

________ tells us why something happens.

Correct Answer: Why

Question 7:

A dog could be the ______ in a story.

Correct Answer: who

Question 8:

A _________ party is a 'what' in a story

Correct Answer: birthday

Question 9:

If you missed the bus, that is the __________.

Correct Answer: why

Question 10:

We need all 5 ______ to tell a story!

Correct Answer: W's

Educational Standards

PK.3.R.2:Students will answer basic questions (e.g., who, what, where, and when) about texts, photographs, or illustrations during shared reading or other text experiences with prompting. PK.3.R.3:Students will identify characters in a story with prompting. PK.2.F.2:Students will chorally recite familiar texts (e.g., rhymes, songs, poetry, etc.). PK.1.S.3:Students will ask and answer questions with prompting. PK.4.W.1:Students will begin to use new vocabulary to produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.

Teaching Materials

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