English · Foundation

Active learning ideas

Asking and Answering Questions

Active learning helps young students practice asking and answering questions in real interactions, not just worksheets. When children speak with partners or small groups, they build confidence and fluency with immediate feedback from peers and teachers.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9EFLY05

• 20–35 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Partner Question Swap: Toy Talk

Pairs select a toy and take turns asking three questions about it, such as 'What colour is it?' or 'How do you play with it?'. Switch roles after two minutes, then share one clear answer-answer pair with the class. Record questions on whiteboard for reference.

Explain why asking questions is important for understanding.

Facilitation Tip

During Partner Question Swap: Toy Talk, move between pairs to gently guide students who ask off-topic questions by pointing to the toy they are discussing.

What to look for

During a shared reading activity, pause and ask students to turn to a partner and ask one question about a character or event. Then, ask a few students to share their partner's question and provide a brief answer.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Small Groups

Question Chain: Small Group Relay

In small groups, students sit in a circle. The first student asks a question about the class pet or a picture book; the next answers clearly then asks a follow-up. Continue for five rounds, pausing for group votes on clearest exchanges.

Construct a question to get more information about a topic.

Facilitation Tip

During Question Chain: Small Group Relay, provide sentence starters on cards for students who need help beginning their questions.

What to look for

In small groups, students take turns sharing a favorite toy or drawing. After each student shares, their peers ask one question about it. The teacher can prompt peers by asking, 'Was the answer easy to understand? Why or why not?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Whole Class

Clarity Check: Whole Class Game

Display a picture; teacher asks a question. Students raise hands to answer, and class votes thumbs up or down for clarity. Discuss why some answers work better, then repeat with student-generated questions.

Evaluate the clarity of an answer provided by a peer.

Facilitation Tip

During Clarity Check: Whole Class Game, model how to rephrase unclear answers by repeating the question first.

What to look for

Provide students with a picture of a common object (e.g., a red apple). Ask them to write one question they could ask about the picture and one sentence that answers their own question.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Think-Pair-Share
• 35 min · Individual

Individual Question Journal: Share and Evaluate

Students draw a picture and write or dictate one question about it. Pair up to ask and answer, then regroup to evaluate if answers were clear using smiley faces. Compile class favourites.

Explain why asking questions is important for understanding.

Facilitation Tip

During Individual Question Journal: Share and Evaluate, show students how to underline the question word in their journal to check if their answer matches.

What to look for

During a shared reading activity, pause and ask students to turn to a partner and ask one question about a character or event. Then, ask a few students to share their partner's question and provide a brief answer.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should model both questions and answers with clear, simple language before expecting students to produce them. Avoid correcting every small error; instead, restate student responses correctly to build confidence. Research shows that young learners develop question-and-answer skills best through repeated, low-pressure practice in familiar contexts, not through isolated drills.

Students will speak in complete sentences, ask questions that relate to the topic, and give answers that directly address the question. They will show turn-taking, listening, and respect for each other’s ideas during conversations.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Partner Question Swap: Toy Talk, watch for students asking the same question repeatedly like 'What is it?' without trying new question words.

  Hand each student a sticky note with a different question starter (Who, What, Where, Why) and ask them to use one starter in their first question, then switch to another in the second round.

• During Question Chain: Small Group Relay, watch for students answering with unrelated sentences, such as 'I like my toy' instead of naming the toy.

  Hold up a sentence frame card that begins with 'It is a...' and remind students to finish their answer with a description or color.

• During Individual Question Journal: Share and Evaluate, watch for students writing questions that do not match their answers, such as 'How old are you?' followed by 'It is red.'

  After journal writing, have students read their question and answer aloud. If the question and answer do not match, ask them to underline the question word and fix the answer to fit.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share