You will learn
- Find answers in the text.
- Answer who, what, where, when, why and how.
- Use words from the text.
- Answer in a full sentence.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Read the question carefully.
- Go back to the text.
- Find the answer.
- Answer in a full sentence.
Words to know
something you ask to find information
a reply to a question
the writing you read
a complete thought with a capital and full stop
1. Discover: A day at the market
On Saturday, Ama and her mother went to the market in Lagos. They bought mangoes, rice and a blue bag. Ama carried the bag. At noon they ate roasted corn under a big tree. They went home by bus at three o’clock.
Think: Where did they go? What did they eat?
2. Understand: Answering questions
Idea 1: Read the question
Read the question carefully. Look at the question word: who, what, where, when, why, how.
Idea 2: Go back to the text
Go back to the text and find the part that answers the question. Do not guess.
Idea 3: Answer well
Write the answer in a full sentence using words from the question: They went to the market in Lagos.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Where
Where did they go?
- Look for a place.
Answer: They went to the market in Lagos.
Example 2 (We do it together): What
What did they eat?
- Look for food.
Answer: They ate roasted corn.
Example 3 (You try): When
When did they go home?
Show the steps and answer
- Look for time.
Answer: They went home at three o’clock.
Did you know?
Reading tests often ask questions that you can answer by going back to the text.
Why this matters
Answering text questions shows that you understood what you read.
4. Explore: Find the answer
Answer questions about a text.
- Read the text.
- Read each question.
- Find the answer.
- Write a full sentence.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can answer text questions.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The question word is ___.
- The answer is in the ___.
- I write ___.
- My answer is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What do you do first?
read the question
Question 2. Where do you find the answer?
in the text
Question 3. How do you write the answer?
in a full sentence
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Something you ask is a ___.
- A reply is an ___.
- The writing is the ___.
- An answer should be a ___ sentence.
- We go back to the ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Who went to the market?
- What did Ama carry?
- Where did they eat?
Level 3: Stretch
- Why go back to the text?
- Why a full sentence?
- What if you cannot find it?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Ask a family member questions about a short text and answer them.
Show a sample answer
answers
Another one. Write three questions about a text and answer them.
Show a sample answer
questions and answers
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Use the text.
Fix: Use a full sentence.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can find answers in the text.
- I can answer wh- questions.
- I can use words from the text.
- I can write full sentences.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Read the question.
- Go back to the text.
- Find the answer.
- Write a full sentence.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Synonyms. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Where do you find the answer to a text question? [1 mark]
- Answer: Where did they eat? [1 mark]
- Answer in a full sentence: What did Ama carry? [1 mark]
- Why use a full sentence? [1 mark]
- Explain how to answer a text question. [3 marks]
Total: 7 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- in the text [1]
- under a big tree [1]
- Ama carried the blue bag [1]
- clear answer [1]
- read the question [1]; go back to the text [1]; write a full sentence [1]
Score guide: 6 to 7 = secure. 5 to 5 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Something you ask is a ___.
- A reply is an ___.
- The writing is the ___.
- Answer in a ___ sentence.
- Question word for place:
- True or false: guess.
- True or false: go back to text.
- Who went to the market?
- When did they go home?
- Write a question about a text.
Homework
Read a short text and answer questions in full sentences.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Something you ask is a ___. | question | 1 |
| 2. A reply is an ___. | answer | 1 |
| 3. The writing is the ___. | text | 1 |
| 4. Answer in a ___ sentence. | full | 1 |
| 5. Question word for place: | where | 1 |
| 6. True or false: guess. | false | 1 |
| 7. True or false: go back to text. | true | 1 |
| 8. Who went to the market? | Ama and her mother | 1 |
| 9. When did they go home? | three o’clock | 1 |
| 10. Write a question about a text. | a question | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 question; 2 answer; 3 text; 4 full; 5 text. Level 2: 1 Ama and her mother; 2 a blue bag; 3 under a big tree. Level 3: 1 to find the answer; 2 clear answer; 3 read again.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Find answers in the text | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Answer who, what, where, when, why and how | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use words from the text | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Answer in a full sentence | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Guessing. Use the text.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use a sentence frame.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child answers questions using the text. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Ask questions about stories.
- Ask: Where in the text?
- Praise full answers.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: find answers in the text; answer who, what, where, when, why and how; use words from the text; answer in a full sentence.
Prerequisite knowledge. Informational texts.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Model answering.
Explanation (10 min). Teach question words.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Check.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does the question ask? Where is the answer?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use frames. Extension. Write your own questions.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Guessing. Use the text.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 7-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use a sentence frame. Enrichment. Write your own questions. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Reading: Foundational Skills; Grade 2 » Reading: Literature; Grade 2 » Reading: Informational Text. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RL.2.1 and RI.2.1; IES What Works Clearinghouse Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade; Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (reading). These sources informed the lesson.