Do you think it’s possible to have an effective conversation or a social interaction without using wh-questions? It is not, to most extent. Wh-questions are an essential part of our formal and informal communication, making its understanding a must. Also, using wh-questions by young children signifies healthy language and cognitive development.
However, teaching young kids wh-questions can sometimes become very challenging. But the unique and fun methods, such as wh-questions online games can simplify and strengthen the understanding of wh-questions and the context they are used in. In this post, we have mentioned some cool wh-questions online games that are fun, knowledgeable, and easy to play. Keep reading to know different online games for learning wh-questions and let your child enjoy learning them.
Making Wh-questions fun: Cool online games
1. Wh-questions by Helpful Games
Wh-questions is an interesting educational game that helps children practice different wh-questions in a fun and challenging way. The different wh-questions that the game deals with are- what, when, why, where, which, who, whose, whom, and how. The wh-questions game consists of five levels, and with increased levels, the game’s difficulty level keeps increasing. The levels are,
- Find the Wh-s (word search)
- Match words in memory
- Link them up
- Choose the wh-s (multiple choice), and
- Write the Wh-s (cloze test).
Each completed level of every game results in one knowledge point. That means each game can have a maximum of five knowledge points. If a player completes a level twice, a bronze medal will be awarded, and a silver medal will be awarded upon completing every level. A gold medal is awarded if all five levels are completed twice.
The game metrics also represent your number of attempts, scores at each level, accuracy rate, rounds played, and so on to track your performance. Additionally, players can ask for other players’ help if they feel stuck at some level.
2. WH-Questions
WH Questions game by Teresa Grimes on Tiny Tap is a wonderfully designed game with the right level of challenging questions and some amazing animations. WH Questions is a fun game that teaches kids different wh-type questions and simultaneously tests their memory, improves visual discrimination and reading comprehension skills. The game enhances children’s concentration and boosts their expressive and receptive skills.
The game involves an interactive interface, where certain graphics and a statement describing them are presented to the children. For instance, for a picture of a cat sitting on a table; an accompanying statement will be ‘A cat is sitting on a chair’. After this, wh- questions related to the picture will be asked. Each question will have two options, and a child need to select the right option to move forward in the game.
3. WH Questions by WordWall
WH Questions by integrated skills on WordWall is an educational game with a customizable interface that promotes wh-questions learning in a fun and exciting manner. The game has beautiful themes to make the game even more interactive and according to one’s liking. The broad range of filter options available with the game allows the player to control the game’s speed, time limit, game lives, and so on.
As the game begins, certain wh-question words, such as what, when, how, where, why, etc., will appear at the bottom of the screen. After a few seconds, certain graphics will begin to pass on the screen, and the player will have a few seconds to assess them and choose the right wh-question word from the list mentioned below that accurately describes it. The feedback will be provided immediately.
It is a wonderful tool to improve memory and concentration and familiarize students with the application of wh-questions. With various filters, players can set their pace and master the wh-questions and uses.
4. Kangaroo Boomerang Game
Another fun and highly interesting game to practice questions is the Kangaroo Boomerang Game. The game assists kids in practicing wh-question words, such as what, where, who, why, when, which, and how. The game is a useful tool to equip children on the context and usage of wh-words to form interrogative complete sentences.
As the game starts, you will meet your kangaroo friend with a boomerang in his hand. Once you start playing the game, certain fill-in-the-blank questions will appear on the screen individually, and each question will have four options. You must drag the right option in the blank and press submit. If you get the answer right, the kangaroo will throw the boomerang and successfully catch it, but if you get the answer wrong, the kangaroo will still throw the boomerang but won’t be able to catch it signifying the answer is wrong.
Before the game begins, proper instructions will be provided, and you can drag the options as many times as you want before submitting. It is a beautifully designed game that improves grammatical skills and teaches them the correct use of wh-question words while making sentences.
5. Questions game
‘Questions game’ is a wonderful and complete package of wh-question words which includes how they are used in the sentences, how to contemplate the meaning of the formed sentences, and finally, how to answer the questions. Oh! The game’s last level will even assess all these skills in a challenging yet thrilling manner.
The game has three parts. The first part focuses on how wh-questions are used in different contexts. The second part aims to teach kids how the wh-questions are answered correctly, and the third part is dedicated to assessing all the covered skills. Each part has appealing visuals to maintain the kids’ interest, and the second and third part has a timer to bring the challenging element to the game. However, if a child finds the timer pressurizing, it can be easily removed.
Players can further adjust the game’s difficulty level, and the game extends to more than wh-questions; it covers can, are, do, is, would, etc. type of question words too. It is a suitable game to enhance children’s cognitive and critical thinking skills.
6. Wh, question words, memory game
This is a challenging yet interesting game that aims to enhance the memory of young kids and teach them the use of wh-questions words. It is important to be concentrated and highly attentive while playing this game.
The game involves a grid where every piece of the grid is kept with their faces downwards. The player has to click on each piece to reveal the content of the piece. You cannot reveal all the pieces together. Hence, you have to keep in mind which piece has what information. Some pieces have wh-question words written, whereas others pieces have the use of that wh-word. The game is simple; you have to flip two cards that are related to each other at the same time.
It is a cognitively stimulating memory game, requiring active brainstorming and an active mind to play the game.
Wh-questions: A fun way to learn it
Wh-questions are an essential part of our daily life. A conversation and a social interaction are almost incomplete without wh-question words. Understanding and learning wh-questions become more challenging if the foundation is not so strong. However, educators can always incorporate new and creative methods to make learning questions fun and interesting.
Some ways to make wh-questions a fun learn are-
- Wh-question activities: Activities are the kid’s favorite and the best tool at the teacher’s disposal to teach children challenging concepts with a twist of fun and excitement. Wh-question activities are easy to perform and a highly fruitful approach to teaching.
- Encourage communication: Wh-questions can be best learned through conversations. Encourage children to purposefully engage in conversations and notice how often and in what context they use wh-questions. It will help kids better understand the use of wh-questions.
- Real-life examples: The concepts that are rooted in daily life can be best explained through daily-life examples. Wh-questions undoubtedly play a major role in our daily life, so why not present real-life examples to kids and help them understand the concept?
- Wh-questions Board games: Wh- question board games are a wonderful tool to enhance learning and fun at the same time. These games are even useful for improving young kids’ language and cognitive development and promoting a better understanding of the game.
Concluding thoughts
Wh-questions, such as who, what, when, where, why, whom, and so on, are the basics of any conversation. Children are taught wh-questions from a young age and as they grow they better understand its application and meaning. The process of learning wh-questions can be further reinforced by online games.
The above-mentioned wh-question online games are a complete package of fun, learning, challenge, and knowledge. Find the game that best suits your child’s needs and let your child learn challenging concepts in a fun manner. These games are also super useful for facilitating language development in growing kids.
I am Sehjal Goel, a psychology student, and a writer. I am currently pursuing my Masters’s from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Child psychology has always fascinated me and I have a deep interest in learning about disabilities in children and spreading awareness regarding the same. My other areas of interest are neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Connect me on Linkedin