---
title: How Questions
description: Students will explain a phenomenon by answering “how” or “why questions.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/how_questions-001.png
---

**Subject: ESL/ELL (English Language Learning)**

**Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins**

**Topic: Answering “How” Questions**

**Grade Level: 4, 5, 6**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [WIDA: STANDARD 1](https://wida.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/resource/WIDA-ELD-Standards-Framework-2020.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will explain a phenomenon by answering “how” or “why" questions.

**Know Before You Start:** This lesson is intended to help students respond to “how” questions by providing a clear explanation about a familiar topic.

**Hook:**

- Read and discuss the sample comic. How does the water cycle work? 
- Help students understand that when someone begins a question with “how” they need to be able to provide a clear explanation. This might include explaining the steps in order from the beginning to end so their listener will understand.
- Have students turn to a classmate and practice explaining their ideas. 

**Activity:**

- Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic that answers one of the following questions:  
    - How does the water cycle work?
    - How are clouds formed?
    - How does water change state as it travels through the water cycle?
    - Why is the water cycle important to our planet? 
    - How does energy from the sun affect the weather?
    - How does the water cycle impact the environment?

**Closure:**

- Have students share their comics with a partner or present to the whole class.
- Display student comics around the classroom to reinforce this lesson.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Learn more about the water cycle by watching a video, reading a book, or researching in class.
- Support student language structure and provide sentence starters as needed.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qgc40yb).
- Adapt this lesson for your class by using a recent unit of study.

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-rainforest.png) Rainforest ](https://content.pixton.com/rainforest)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1720501139696390144/thumbnail.png) Beach ](https://content.pixton.com/beach)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1792949466542800896/thumbnail.png) Ocean ](https://content.pixton.com/ocean)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-muscular.png) Muscular System ](https://content.pixton.com/muscular-system)

**Suggested Story Starters:**

- [ Explain the Water Cycle ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/explain-the-water-cycle)
- [ Fill in the Blanks Water Cycle ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/fill-in-the-blanks-water-cycle)
- [ Hydrologic Cycle ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/the-hydrologic-cycle)

Assign Activity

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