What Are the 5 Ws?
The 5 Ws are questions that, when answered, give all of the information needed on a particular topic, and are often used in research, writing, and investigations. The 5 Ws are: who, what, where, when, and why. Often “how” is included as well as "5Ws and 1H", but isn’t necessarily needed and usually falls within one or more of the 5 Ws.
How are the 5 Ws Used for Social Studies and History?
When studying all aspects of social studies and history, it can be easy to get lost, forget to include something in your studies, or feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. Using the 5 Ws will help students organize their ideas, thoughts, and the information that they are researching. Here is a breakdown of how each of the 5 Ws is used in research and informational writing.
WHO
When studying history or other aspects of social studies, the “who” refers to the person or people that were involved in the event. There are often many different answers to this question when one is exploring a topic. When learning about World War II, the “who” would be the people involved in the war: the Germans, Americans, Japanese, etc.
Example WHO Questions
Who was the first president of the United States?
Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?
Who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Who were the Pilgrims?
Who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement?
WHAT
The “what” is extremely important, because it tells us specific details about the event, landmark, geographical feature, place, etc. This W is the foundation for the whole research topic, and should be explored in great detail. If a student is studying the California Gold Rush of 1848, they would explore what the gold rush was, what caused it, and the specific details of the event/events that took place.
Example WHAT Questions
What is the capital of California?
What caused the Civil War?
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. believe in?
What is the weather like in Minnesota?
What are the geographical features of the Midwest?
WHERE
The “where” is asking for the setting or location of the event. Oftentimes there are more than one location for historical events. It is important for the students to be quite detailed in this area. If a student is learning about the Pilgrims, where they landed is extremely important to how they formed a settlement and how they lived.
Example WHERE Questions
Where did the Pilgrims land in 1620?
Where is the most populated city located?
Where does the president live?
Where was the Titanic found?
Where do immigrants to the United States most often come from?
WHEN
The “when” refers to the point in time that a historical event takes place. This can span over many years, or simply be a short period of time. A timeline is an excellent tool for showing the “when” of an event. When studying The Great Depression, students would identify that it began in August of 1929 and lasted until March of 1933. The student may also include other dates of importance within that time period.
Example WHEN Questions
When did the United States gain its independence?
When did World War I take place?
When was Barack Obama born?
When were women first allowed to vote?
When was the First Thanksgiving?
WHY
It is so important to understand why historical events took place, in order to truly understand the historical value. This W is not always obvious, and will most likely be the most challenging and require the most research. Sometimes there are several reasons why, and sometimes varying opinions. When the Puritans came to American from England, why did they come? Why was life hard for them? Another important “why” when researching history, is why are we learning this? Why is this important for me to know? Historical events shape who we are today and understanding the “why” helps students connect history to their own lives and current events.
Example WHY Questions
Why do people immigrate to the United States?
Why does the judicial system exist?
Why did the United States join World War II?
Why is Boston the capital of Massachusetts?
Why are there 50 stars on the American Flag?
When researching historical events, students must have guidelines and tools to help them organize their thoughts and research findings, otherwise the information may end up all mixed up together and more difficult to understand. Separating information into these 5 W categories not only ensures that students have covered all areas of research, but it also helps them to organize what they’ve learned in a predictable manner. When showing what they know, there are so many options available. Some students enjoy writing a paper, some prefer to create a slideshow, and some may want to make an informative poster.
Storyboards are an excellent way to organize and present information at the same time, and it gives students the opportunity to be creative and have lots of fun! With the many different types of storyboards available, teachers are able to provide a variety of options based on individual needs, strengths, and learning styles. Provided below are a few templates that can be used, and an example of a poster style storyboard for students who may want to provide more detailed information.
Use this die in many ways! You can use it to quiz yourself or a partner by simply rolling the dice and answering that question on your historical topic (or any topic, really!). You can use the dice in a group when deciding who is doing what for research. You can also use the dice to spark group or partner discussion.
Related Activities
Check out these 5 Ws activities from our guides on Japanese American Incarceration in WWII, Slavery in America, and Civil Rights Movement
How to Develop Punctuation Awareness in Reading
INTRODUCE THE IMPORTANCE OF PUNCTUATION
Start by explaining to students the significance of punctuation in written text. Help them understand that punctuation marks serve as signals for pausing, emphasizing, and clarifying meaning. Discuss how punctuation contributes to the overall tone and flow of a piece of writing.
TEACH THE DIFFERENT PUNCTUATION MARKS
Familiarize students with the various punctuation marks, including periods, commas, question marks, exclamation marks, quotation marks, semicolons, colons, dashes, parentheses, and ellipses. Explain the purpose and usage of each mark, providing examples to illustrate their functions.
ANALYZE TEXTS FOR PUNCTUATION
Select engaging texts or passages and guide students in analyzing the punctuation used by the author. Encourage them to identify and discuss the impact of punctuation on the meaning, tone, and overall effectiveness of the writing. Ask questions to prompt critical thinking about the author's choices.
ENGAGE IN PUNCTUATION EXERCISES
Provide students with punctuation exercises that involve inserting or correcting punctuation marks within sentences or paragraphs. These exercises can focus on specific punctuation marks or challenge students to apply a range of punctuation correctly. Offer feedback and explanations to reinforce learning.
EXPLORE PUNCTUATION IN CONTEXT
Guide students to explore different genres and types of writing, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and dialogue, and analyze how punctuation is used in each. Discuss how punctuation conventions may vary across genres and the impact it has on readers' comprehension and interpretation.
REFLECT AND DISCUSS
Facilitate reflective discussions to help students become more aware of the punctuation choices they encounter while reading. Encourage them to share their observations and interpretations of the author's intentions based on the punctuation used. Foster critical thinking and encourage students to analyze the effectiveness of punctuation in conveying meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions about the 5 Ws of Social Studies and History
How can the 5 Ws be used to analyze primary sources in Social Studies and History?
By using the 5 Ws to analyze primary sources, students can gain a deeper understanding of historical events and the people involved. For example, students might examine a photograph or letter from a Civil War soldier and use the 5 Ws to gather information about who the soldier was, what battles they fought in, when and where they were stationed, and why they joined the war effort.
What are some strategies for teaching the 5 Ws to students in Social Studies and History?
Teachers can use a variety of strategies to teach the 5 Ws, such as modeling the process with a think-aloud, providing graphic organizers for students to use, or creating activities that require students to analyze primary sources using the 5 Ws. Teachers can also encourage students to collaborate and share their findings with their peers.
How can the 5 Ws help students make connections between past and present events in Social Studies and History?
By using the 5 Ws to analyze historical events, students can identify patterns and connections between past and present events. For example, students might compare the causes and effects of the American Revolution to current social and political movements, or examine the historical roots of contemporary issues like racism and inequality.
How can the 5 Ws be used to develop critical thinking skills in Social Studies and History?
The 5 Ws require students to gather and analyze information from multiple sources, evaluate the reliability and bias of those sources, and draw conclusions based on evidence. By using the 5 Ws to analyze historical events, students develop critical thinking skills that are essential for understanding complex issues and making informed decisions.
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