Skip to content
LessonPrint

Who, What, Where, When, Why is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on answering the five question words about a story, aligned to Common Core standard RL.2.1. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next setLesson plan

One paper per pupil

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

All 25 sets ask different questions.

Who, What, Where, When, Why

RL.2.1

NameDate

Read the story, then answer the questions.

1.Read the text, then answer the questions.

The Bread That Would Not Rise

Nana let Ada make the bread on her own for the first time. Ada measured the flour, the salt and the water. She kneaded the dough until her arms ached. Then she covered the bowl and waited. An hour later the dough sat in the bowl exactly as she had left it. It had not risen at all. Nana looked at the packet on the shelf. "You used the salt twice," she said. "There is no yeast in it." Ada wanted to throw the bowl across the kitchen. Instead she washed it out and started again.

  1. 1. Where does this story happen?
  2. 2. What did Ada do at the end?
  3. 3. What had Ada left out?
  4. 4. What was Ada making?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

The New Boy

A new boy called Iosif joined the class in November. He did not speak much English yet. At playtime he stood by the wall. Some children waved. He looked away. Marta noticed he was watching the football. She rolled the ball to him. He stopped it neatly and rolled it back. They passed it for ten minutes without saying a word. When the bell went, Iosif said one word: "Tomorrow?" "Tomorrow," said Marta.

  1. 1. When did Iosif join the class?
  2. 2. What did Marta roll to him?
  3. 3. What one word did Iosif say?
  4. 4. Where does this story happen?

LessonPrint · RL.2.1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Who, What, Where, When, Why

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. In Nana's kitchen. 2. She washed the bowl out and started again. 3. The yeast — she used the salt twice. 4. Bread.
  2. 2.1. In November. 2. The football. 3. "Tomorrow?" 4. At school, by the wall at playtime.

Questions about Who, What, Where, When, Why

What does the Who, What, Where, When, Why worksheet cover?

It practises answering the five question words about a story — 2 questions for Grade 2, all on Common Core RL.2.1: Answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions about a story. The instruction to pupils is “Read the story, then answer the questions”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Who, What, Where, When, Why practise?

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1 — RL.2.1, in the Reading: Literature domain for Grade 2. The published standard reads: “Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Who, What, Where, When, Why is written for Grade 2, typically ages 7-8. It is one of the sheets on RL.2.1, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Who, What, Where, When, Why come with an answer key?

Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Who, What, Where, When, Why can I print?

25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Who, What, Where, When, Why free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Who, What, Where, When, Why, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach RL.2.1?

Yes — “Who, What, Where, When, Why and How” is a 40-minute Grade 2 plan for RL.2.1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Who, What, Where, When, Why is the practice that follows it.

More practice for RL.2.1

Answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions about a story.

Teaching this next? Who, What, Where, When, Why and How is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 2 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.2.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.