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Who, What, Where, When, Why is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on sorting story details by the question word they answer, aligned to Common Core standard RL.2.1. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students 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.

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One paper per student

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Who, What, Where, When, Why

RL.2.1

NameDate

Sort each one into the right box.

1.Sort each one: Who or What or Where or When or Why?

Sort: Ada's nana, in a rock pool by the sea, a jar of pebbles, so nobody would get wet, last winter

WhoWhatWhereWhenWhy
2.Sort each one: Who or What or Where or When or Why?

Sort: at the top of the elm tree, Sami, the new boy, because he felt shy, a wooden boat, at bedtime

WhoWhatWhereWhenWhy
3.Sort each one: Who or What or Where or When or Why?

Sort: a bag of flour, on the windy hill, because the starfish needed water, Jun's big sister, after lunch

WhoWhatWhereWhenWhy

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. a jar of pebbles — What 2. Ada's nana — Who 3. in a rock pool by the sea — Where 4. last winter — When 5. so nobody would get wet — Why
  2. 2.1. a wooden boat — What 2. at bedtime — When 3. at the top of the elm tree — Where 4. because he felt shy — Why 5. Sami, the new boy — Who
  3. 3.1. a bag of flour — What 2. after lunch — When 3. because the starfish needed water — Why 4. Jun's big sister — Who 5. on the windy hill — Where

Questions about Who, What, Where, When, Why

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

It practices sorting story details by the question word they answer — 3 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 students is “Sort each one into the right box”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1 — RL.2.1, under Reading: Literature 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 student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

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

Yes. All 3 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 student, 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.