CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1
The Standard
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about an informational text. They use key details from the text to show that they understand what they read.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students ask clear who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about an informational text. They answer in complete thoughts and point to words or details that support each answer.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may answer from prior knowledge instead of using the text. They may also confuse question words, give vague answers, or choose details that do not address the question.
How to Assess It
- Give students a short animal paragraph. Ask them to write one why question and one how question, then answer both using details from the paragraph.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Read a short article, then have students place six labeled question cards beside sentences that could answer who, what, where, when, why, or how.
Ask students to write one question they still have after reading, then explain which detail caused them to wonder.
Play Question Word Match by pairing prepared question cards with answer cards from the same short passage.
Use a school lunch menu and calendar to ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
Free download
Printable RI.2.1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Reading: Informational Text progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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