How to Teach WH-Questions with Hands-On Materials in Special Education

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If you’re in the field of special education, then you know that wh-questions can be hard for students. So I decided to create an adapted book resource that would help students navigate how to use these questions and how to answer these questions.

There are adapted books for each of the wh-questions: who, what, where, when, and why. And this resource uses real pictures. I do love good clipart, but there is something about the use of real pictures that makes things more accessible for all students. So let’s take a deep dive into what the WH-Question adapted books are and how to use them effectively.

What’s Included in the WH-Question Adapted Book Bundle:

This product has five sets of leveled adapted books (one set for each wh-question). There are two options in each set: 4 leveled books to work on answering wh-questions using velcro or 4 leveled books that you can use dry-erase markers on. That means there are a total of 8 books per set….or 40 books when you purchase the bundle.

There are 4 levels in each set for easier differentiation for your students.

• Level 1 is a ten-page book with pieces to match. For example, in the “Who” Adapted Book, there will be the question “Who am I?” at the top of the page. Then there might be a picture of a police officer on the page. Students then have to grab the matching picture and velcro it in place.
• Level 2 is a ten-page book where there are questions about the picture and matching. For example, it might ask “Who cuts hair?” on the page. Then there will be a picture of a hairdresser. Students then have to grab the matching picture and velcro it in place.
• Level 3 is a ten-page book with 3 sentences describing the picture and matching. For example, it might say “I teach you things. I use books and paper. I work in a school. Who am I?” There will also be a picture of a teacher. Then students have to grab the matching picture and velcro it to the page.
• Level 4 is the most advanced level. It’s a ten-page book with only text and no pictures to match. For example, it might say “I clean your teeth. I use floss and a toothbrush. I work in an office. Who am I?” Students then have to grab the picture of a dentist and velcro it to the page.

How To Use the WH-Question Adapted Books:

This resource will take some prep work to set up at the beginning because you’ll need to laminate the pages and pieces and then velcro the ones that are interactive, but the beauty of these laminated books is that you can use them for years to come!

I have enjoyed using them in my classroom in different types of settings:

• whole group lessons where each student has their level
• small groups where all students have the same level
• individual work for progress monitoring IEP goals
• independent workstation materials

If you like this resource I recommend checking out the individual book sets for each question:

Or the bundle if you want all the levels:

And also, check out these other wh-question resources I have in my store!

You can read more about using adapted books in your classroom in other blog posts I have written too!