English // Speaking & Listening
Asking Questions
Ask relevant questions to extend understanding; ask and answer questions to seek help, get information, or clarify something not understood
Quick check
If the learner doesn't understand something — like instructions for a game or an explanation from a teacher — do they ask a question to find out more rather than just guessing?
Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.
Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Ask a question when something is unclear or more information is needed
- Answer questions with relevant and specific information
- Request clarification politely (e.g. 'Can you explain that again?')
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
3 topics- Listening and respondingRequired
Speaking & Listening // Ages 4 to 11
Listening and responding needed before asking questions
- Question WordsRequired
Grammar & Punctuation // Ages 5 to 6
Generating effective questions requires knowledge of question words (who, what, where, when, why, how)
- Exploring Ideas Through TalkHelpful
Speaking & Listening // Ages 4 to 6
Related speaking skill supports this topic
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Asking Questions
Ages 4 to 11 // Method
Leads to
4 topicsSpeaking & Listening // Ages 10 to 11
Discussion questions builds on asking relevant questions
- Asking for HelpHelpful
Personal & Social Development // Friendship & Cooperation // Ages 5 to 7
Asking for help benefits from curriculum questioning skills
- Asking scientific questionsHelpful
Science // Scientific Inquiry // Ages 5 to 8
Formulating scientific questions builds on the general skill of asking relevant questions to extend understanding, developed in English speaking and listening
Mathematics // Data & Statistics // Ages 6 to 8
Cross-subject: interpreting categorical data by asking/answering questions relies on the English skill of asking relevant questions to seek information
Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
- SL.1.3SL.2.3SL.3.3SL.4.3SL.5.3SL.K.3
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- Eng.SL.2
English // Speaking & Listening
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