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Question words

Free
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Elementary+/A2
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Functional Language
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
45-60 min
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Low-Resource
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Overview

In this elementary-level lesson, students will focus on the question words in English. The aim is to help students understand the use and function of these essential words, enabling them to formulate questions effectively. By mastering these, students will be better able to gather information, clarify understanding, and engage in more meaningful conversations.

The lesson plan includes suggested boardwork that shows one way to present this topic. Following this, students will participate in a series of low-resource classroom activities. These focus on grammar and collaborative speaking, providing students with practical opportunities to use question words in various contexts. As usual, a game is incorporated, serving as a lively way for students to reinforce their understanding of the target language.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1Question gap-fill
2Playing catch
3Questionnaire
Games
1Hot seat
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Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

Students learn how and when to use the different question words in English.

The board work below can be used to highlight the functional uses of different question words. Start by adding the question mark and functional uses to the centre and outside of the board. Then elicit the different question words from the students.

EFL - ESL Lead-in activity for elementary | Question words

Low-resource ESL activity

Question gap-fill

A grammar activity where students have to select the correct question word to complete the sentence.

Start by adding the following prompts to the board.

  1. _____ cousins have you got?
  2. _____ do you travel to school with?
  3. _____ does it cost?
  4. _____ do you get to school?
  5. _____ are you? (age)
  6. _____ do you live?
  7. _____ do you practise sports?
  8. _____ do you like to do in your free time?
  9. _____ are you going to the concert with?
  10. _____ do you want to go there?
  11. _____ rice do you want?

The students will then complete the statements to make questions and also write down a sample answer:

Once they have finished, they can compare their answers with a partner.

Low-resource ESL activity idea

Playing catch

For this speaking activity, the students ask each other questions as they throw an object around the room.

If you have completed the previous exercise, remove the questions from the board but leave the question words. Have your students stand in a circle and throw a ball or other object to each other. As they throw the ball to another student, they ask a question using one of the question words from the board. The student who catches the ball must answer the question before passing it to another student. Mark off each question word as you go, and continue until all of them are gone.

Low-resource ESL activity idea

Questionnaire

A role-play activity where students pretend to interview a famous person.

Split the class into pairs and tell the students that they are going to act out a celebrity interview. One student will pretend to be a famous person of their choosing while the other plays the role of interviewer.

Have each pair prepare their questions and answers together before performing it for the class. They should aim to have a question for each question word.

Classroom games

Low-resource ESL classroom game

Hot seat: Question words

Students have to use questions to communicate a noun to the player in the hot seat. 

Divide the class into two teams. On each turn, one student will sit with their back to the board facing their teammates. Next, write a random word on the board behind the student in the hot seat. The other students must then make that student say this word using only questions: 

Example: Paris 
Student A: Where is the Eiffel Tower? 
Student B: France 
Student C: Which city is it in?