English · Class 1 · Listening and Responding · Term 2

Asking 'Who' and 'What' Questions

Learning to use 'who' and 'what' to gather information about people and things.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• CBSE: Framing Questions - Class 1
• CBSE: Inquiry and Interaction - Class 1

About This Topic

Asking 'who' and 'what' questions teaches Class 1 students to frame simple inquiries about people and things. They practise 'who' for identifying persons or characters, such as 'Who is jumping in the park?', and 'what' for objects or actions, like 'What is the boy holding?'. This aligns with CBSE standards on framing questions and inquiry in the Listening and Responding unit, using pictures, stories, and classroom objects to build listening and speaking skills.

These questions encourage interaction during group talks and story times. Students learn to listen actively, respond clearly, and extend conversations, which strengthens vocabulary and confidence. The focus on key prompts like 'Who is in this picture?' supports term 2 goals of verbal expression.

Active learning suits this topic well. When students handle picture cards, puppets, or personal items to create and answer questions in pairs or groups, they connect language to real contexts. Playful exchanges reduce hesitation, make grammar intuitive, and spark curiosity for lifelong questioning habits.

Key Questions

1. Who is in this picture?
2. What is the boy holding?
3. Can you ask a 'who' question about this picture?

Learning Objectives

• Identify people and objects in a given image by asking appropriate 'who' and 'what' questions.
• Formulate a 'who' question to inquire about a person in a picture or scenario.
• Formulate a 'what' question to inquire about an object or action in a picture or scenario.
• Distinguish between the appropriate use of 'who' for people and 'what' for things in question formation.

Before You Start

Recognising People and Objects

Why: Students need to be able to identify different people and common objects to ask questions about them.

Basic Sentence Structure

Why: Understanding how to form simple statements is foundational for forming simple questions.

Key Vocabulary

Who	This word is used to ask questions about people. For example, 'Who is singing?'
What	This word is used to ask questions about things or actions. For example, 'What is this?' or 'What are you doing?'
Question	A sentence used to ask for information. Questions often start with words like 'who', 'what', 'where', 'when', 'why', or 'how'.
Person	A human being, like a boy, a girl, a teacher, or a mother.
Thing	An object or item that is not alive, like a ball, a book, or a chair.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

'Who' works for animals and objects too.

What to Teach Instead

'Who' is only for people or characters; use 'what' for animals, things, or actions. Sorting cards into 'who' and 'what' piles during pair activities helps students practise the difference through hands-on matching and peer feedback.

Common Misconception

Questions can be single words like 'Who?' or 'What?'.

What to Teach Instead

Full questions need subjects and structure, such as 'Who is that?' or 'What colour is it?'. Choral repetition and modelling in circle time correct this, as students echo and create complete sentences together.

Common Misconception

We ask questions only about unknown things.

What to Teach Instead

Questions gather details even about familiar items or people. Role-play games with everyday objects show this purpose, encouraging students to inquire during play and realise questions build shared understanding.

Active Learning Ideas

Pair Share: Picture Prompts

Give each pair 4-5 picture cards showing people, animals, and objects. One student asks a 'who' or 'what' question about the picture; the partner answers in a full sentence. Switch roles after three turns, then share one question with the class.

20 min·Pairs

Circle Time: Question Chain

Form a whole class circle with a central object or toy. The teacher models a question like 'Who can hold this?', then passes it. Each student asks a 'who' or 'what' question to the next child before passing the item.

25 min·Whole Class

Role Play: Scene Questions

In small groups, use 2-3 puppets to enact simple scenes like a market visit. Group members take turns asking 'who' and 'what' questions about the action; performers respond. Groups perform one scene for the class.

35 min·Small Groups

Object Hunt: Individual Inquiry

Each student picks a classroom object or brings a small item. They write or draw one 'who' question (imagining a person) and one 'what' question, then share with a partner for answers.

15 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• A police officer uses 'who' questions to find out who was at a scene and 'what' questions to understand what happened during an incident.
• A doctor asks patients 'who' is feeling unwell and 'what' symptoms they are experiencing to diagnose an illness.
• A librarian helps children find books by asking 'what' kind of story they are looking for and 'who' their favourite character is.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Show students a picture with several people and objects. Ask them to point to a person and ask a 'who' question about them, and then point to an object and ask a 'what' question about it. Observe if they use the correct question word.

Discussion Prompt

Present a scenario, for example, 'The park is busy today.' Ask students to think of one 'who' question and one 'what' question related to the park. Encourage them to share their questions with the class and explain why they chose 'who' or 'what'.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a card with a picture. Ask them to write one 'who' question about a person in the picture and one 'what' question about an object in the picture on the back of the card before they leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I introduce 'who' and 'what' questions to Class 1?

Start with familiar pictures or classroom objects. Model questions like 'Who is your friend?' or 'What is on the table?'. Use think-alouds to show thinking, then guide students to copy and create their own. Repeat across 3-4 sessions with varied visuals for reinforcement.

What are common errors in framing 'who' and 'what' questions?

Students often mix 'who' for objects or forget full sentences. Address by displaying example charts and using thumbs-up peer checks during activities. Regular modelling and positive feedback during pair shares correct these quickly, building accurate habits.

How can I assess mastery of 'who' and 'what' questions?

Observe during activities: note if students frame complete questions and respond appropriately. Use rubrics for participation, accuracy, and creativity. Collect drawn or written questions as portfolios to track progress over the unit.

How can active learning help students master 'who' and 'what' questions?

Active approaches like puppet role plays and picture pair shares make questioning interactive and contextual. Students practise spontaneously with peers, gaining confidence through immediate feedback and fun. Handling real items shifts focus from rote memory to meaningful use, improving retention and application in conversations.