Introduction

Developing appropriate social skills is an essential part of a child’s educational journey. One of the first social skills students need to learn is how to answer questions in class. This involves understanding and following social rules, such as waiting to be called on, controlling voice volume, and providing concise answers. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach Kindergarten students how to answer questions in class effectively.

No-Prep Activity: The Question Train

The Question Train is a simple, engaging activity that requires no preparation or materials. It helps students practice waiting to be called on, adjusting their voice volume, and answering questions concisely. Here’s how it works:

1. Have the students sit in a circle.
2. Explain the three social rules for answering questions in class: waiting to be called on, controlling voice volume, and providing concise answers.
3. Begin by asking a question to the first student in the circle, making sure to call on them by name.
4. After the student answers, provide feedback on their performance, emphasizing the social rules they followed correctly and areas for improvement.
5. Continue around the circle, asking questions and providing feedback to each student.
6. After each student has had a turn, repeat the process, giving students a chance to practice and improve their skills.

As students participate in the Question Train, they will become more comfortable and confident in following the social rules for answering questions in class.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about the social rules for answering questions in class:

1. Why is it important to wait to be called on before answering a question?
2. How can we make sure our voice volume is appropriate when answering questions?
3. Why is it important to provide concise answers when responding to questions?
4. How do you feel when you follow the social rules for answering questions in class?
5. What are some other situations where we need to follow social rules?

Related Skills

Besides learning how to answer questions in class, students should also develop other related social skills, such as:

• Listening actively to others
• Taking turns in conversation
• Respecting personal space
• Using polite language and manners
• Understanding and managing emotions in social situations

Teaching these skills will help create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about teaching Kindergarten students how to answer questions in class, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning resources. Sign up for free samples of our skill-building materials and discover other valuable resources to support your students’ social-emotional growth. Together, we can help our students thrive in the classroom and beyond.