Where Detectives Lesson Plan Kindergarten ELA • Listening & Speaking
Where Detectives Lesson Plan
Total: 40 Minutes
Focus: Answering "Where?" Questions
Learning Objective
Kindergarteners will answer "Where?" questions about a read-aloud text by naming or pointing to a place/location , using the gesture cue and sentence frame: "Barnaby is [in / on / at] the ________."
Key Rule
"WHERE" always asks for a PLACE ! Not a person, not a thing, but a spot you can go to.
Timed Instructional Plan (0 to 20 Minutes)
Part 1: Launch & Story Modeling
00-05 Min
1. Detective Hook & Hand Signal (5 Mins)
Kinesthetic Anchor
Teacher Action: Introduce "Detective Goggles" (curl fingers around eyes like binoculars). Teach the call chant: "Where, oh where? Look and see! WHERE tells the PLACE for you and me!"
Quick Check: Ask: "Where are you sitting right now?" Students answer: "On the rug!" or "In our classroom!" Confirm: "Yes! A rug and a classroom are PLACES!"
05-15 Min
2. Timed Interactive Read-Aloud: Barnaby Bear's Lost Scarf (10 Mins)
Core Modeling
Read the companion narrative (displayed on slides or read aloud). Pause at each stop using the structured prompts below:
Stop 1 (Pg 1): "Barnaby wakes up yawning in his cozy tree den." ➔ Prompt: "Detective goggles on! Where is Barnaby waking up?" (Answer: In the cozy den / in his bed).
Stop 2 (Pg 2): "He checks the bubbly river pond." ➔ Prompt: "Look at the water! Where is Barnaby searching now?" (Answer: At the river / in the pond).
Stop 3 (Pg 3): "Squirrel points up into the tall apple branches." ➔ Prompt: "Look high! Where is Squirrel sitting?" (Answer: Up in the apple tree / on the branch).
15-20 Min
3. Guided Choral Practice & Stem Rehearsal (5 Mins)
Oral Rehearsal
Teacher models full-sentence frame with hand motions: "Barnaby is IN the cave." • "The scarf is UNDER the barn roof."
*If a student answers with an object (e.g., "The red scarf!"), gently cue: "The scarf is a THING! Where is a PLACE! What place is it at?"
Where Detectives Read-Aloud Unit • Grade K Page 1 of 2 • Instructional Plan & Script
Kindergarten ELA • Page 2
Practice, Differentiation & Assessment
Mins 20 to 40
20-32 Min
4. Detective Partner Clue Hunt (Worksheet Practice - 12 Mins)
Table Work
Students transition to tables with their "Where Clues Practice Worksheet" :
Step 1 (Guided): Teacher reads Prompt 1. Students circle the picture that shows the PLACE where Barnaby searched.Step 2 (Partner Turn): Students point with a finger to their partner: "Where is he?" Partner responds using the visual word bank.Step 3 (Independent): Students trace the location word or draw Barnaby in their favorite secret place.
32-40 Min
5. Wrap-Up & Secret Exit Check (8 Mins)
Formative Exit
Gather back on the rug. Teacher displays Slide 8 (Exit Challenge):
"Barnaby is hiding! Look at the picture. Whisper in your hand: WHERE is he hiding?" On count of 3, whole group releases the place word together. Quick observational check on target students.
Scaffolding & Multilingual Support
Visual Picture Cards: Allow non-verbal or emerging bilingual students to point to the location card (tree, den, pond) instead of producing full sentences.
Preposition Chants: Pair physical gestures for in, on, under, at (pat lap for "on", hands inside shirt for "in", hands below knees for "under").
Sentence Strips: Provide pre-cut cards: [Barnaby] [is] [at] [the pond] .
Higher-Order Extension Prompts
Two-Part "Where" Questions: "Where did Barnaby look first, and where did he look next?" (Sequence + Location).
Map Connections: "Where would you look if you were lost in our school hallway? Point to our classroom door."
Vocabulary Expansion: Encourage descriptive place words: "in the dark burrow", "at the muddy shoreline" .
1-Minute Observational Rubric (Quick Tally)
Needs Prompting (1) Names person or thing instead of a place (e.g., "The bear!").
Approaching (2) Points to place or gives single isolated noun (e.g., "Pond!").
Mastery (3) Uses preposition phrase or stem (e.g., "In the pond!").
Where Detectives Read-Aloud Unit • Grade K Page 2 of 2 • Station Flow & Assessment
Where Quest Slide Deck Kindergarten Read-Aloud
Where Clues
🔍 🐻 🧣 Detective Eyes Ready!
Where Detectives!
The Mystery of Barnaby Bear’s Lost Scarf
Question Word of the Day: WHERE Put on your detective goggles! 👓
Detective Anchor Rule
Golden Rule
When you hear the word WHERE...
"WHERE" ASKS FOR A PLACE!
A spot you can point to or visit!
🏞️
The Pond
A Place!
🌳
The Tree
A Place!
🛖
The Den
A Place!
🚜
The Barn
A Place!
❌ Not a person! | ❌ Not a toy! | ✅ ALWAYS A PLACE!
Story Stop 1 • Morning Time Look for Clues
🛏️ 🐻 🪵
Barnaby's Cozy Den
Warm blanket of dry leaves & twigs
Detective Question:
WHERE is Barnaby Bear waking up?
Say the Full Place Sentence:
"Barnaby is waking up in his cozy den."
Action: Point to where Barnaby sleeps! Keyword: IN the den
Story Stop 2 • Splash Time Look for Clues
🌊 🐟 🪨
The Bubbly River Pond
Splashing cool water over rocks
Detective Question:
WHERE is Barnaby washing his paws?
Say the Full Place Sentence:
"Barnaby is washing his paws at the river pond."
Action: Make swimming hands at the pond! Keyword: AT the pond
Story Stop 3 • Snack Time Look for Clues
🌳 🍎 🐿️
The Tall Apple Tree
Crisp red apples high on green branches
Detective Question:
WHERE is Squirrel eating a sweet red snack?
Say the Full Place Sentence:
"Squirrel is sitting up in the apple tree."
Action: Reach your arms high up like tree branches! Keyword: UP IN the tree
Story Stop 4 • Mystery Solved! Final Clue
🚜 🧣 🐔
Under the Barn Roof
Hen found it tucked safe in warm golden straw!
Detective Mystery Question:
WHERE was Barnaby’s lost red scarf?
Say the Full Place Sentence:
"The scarf was hidden inside the red barn!"
Great detective work! Mystery solved! 🎉 Keyword: INSIDE the barn
Detective Echo Chant
Choral Talk
Repeat after teacher with big gestures!
Barnaby is
[ in / on / under / at ]
the [ PLACE ] !
🐟
"IN the pond!"
(Hands splash!)
🌳
"ON the tree branch!"
(Arms stretch high!)
🚜
"UNDER the roof!"
(Hands make a tent!)
Prepositions tell us WHERE things are! 📍
Detective Quick Check!
Exit Challenge
"Point your finger to the picture that answers: WHERE?"
🧣
A. Red Scarf
Is this a PLACE? (No, a thing!)
🐻
B. Barnaby Bear
Is this a PLACE? (No, a bear!)
🌳
C. The Green Forest
Is this a PLACE? (YES! A place!)
Count of 3: Point to A, B, or C! Ready for our Detective Worksheet! 📝
Where Clues Practice Worksheet Kindergarten Detective Mission
Where Clues Practice
Name:
Date:
🔍 Detective Reminder: "WHERE" asks for a PLACE!
Spot you can go to!
Directions: Listen to each question. Circle the picture that shows the PLACE !
1. Where does Barnaby Bear wake up in the morning? Circle 1 Place
🪵
Cozy Den
🥄
Honey Spoon
🌰
Acorn Nut
Say with partner: "Barnaby wakes up in the ____________."
2. Where does Barnaby wash his muddy paws? Circle 1 Place
🍎
Red Apple
🌊
River Pond
🎩
Winter Hat
Say with partner: "Barnaby washes his paws at the ____________."
3. Where did Hen find the lost cozy scarf? Circle 1 Place
🐸
Green Frog
🚜
Red Barn
🌼
Daisy Flower
Say with partner: "The scarf was hidden inside the ____________."
Where Detectives • Listening Comprehension Page 1 of 2 • Turn the page for the drawing challenge! ➔
Part 2 • Secret Place Detective
Draw & Tell Your Place
Name:
Part A: Where is the Little Bee?
Look at each picture and choose the place word
🌻 🐝
ON the flower
🍯 🐝
IN the hive
🍃 🐝
UNDER the leaf
Part B: Where is Barnaby Hiding?
Draw Barnaby Bear in a secret place (at the park, in a tree, under a bridge, or in the cave)!
Tell your teacher or trace: Where is Barnaby Bear?
Barnaby is
the place is
Partner Share Check:
I named a PLACE I pointed to my picture
Where Detectives • Grade K Practice Sheet Page 2 of 2 • Drawing & Verbal Expression
Where Detectives Answer Key Teacher Resource • Scoring & Guidance
Where Detectives Answer Key
Answer Key & Rubric
Quick Evaluation Guide
Page 1: Picture Clue Hunt Solutions
Item 1: Waking Up Correct: Den
🪵 Cozy Den (Place)
Distractors: Spoon & Acorn are objects (things), not places. Accept "in his den" or "in his bed".
Item 2: Washing Paws Correct: Pond
🌊 River Pond (Place)
Distractors: Apple is a food ; Hat is clothing . Accept "at the river", "in the water".
Item 3: Scarf Location Correct: Barn
🚜 Red Barn (Place)
Distractors: Frog is an animal ; Flower is a plant . Accept "inside the barn", "in the straw".
Page 2: Preposition Match & Dictation Key
Part A (Bee Prepositions):
1. ON the flower (surface contact)
2. IN the hive (enclosed interior)
3. UNDER the leaf (sheltered beneath)
Part B (Drawing & Dictation Expectation):
• Student draws a recognizable setting/place (cave, park, pond, tree).
• Oral sentence should pair the preposition + location (e.g., "under the tree" , "at the school" ).
Kindergarten Oral Language Scoring Rubric
Level 1: Non-Target
Names a person, animal, or object instead of a place (e.g., "The scarf!" or "Barnaby!" ).
Needs Prompt
Level 2: Emerging
Points accurately to the place on the picture or says a single location noun (e.g., "Pond!" ).
Single Noun
Level 3: Developing
Uses an accurate spatial preposition phrase (e.g., "In the pond" , "At the barn" ).
Preposition Phrase
Level 4: Proficient
Speaks in a complete sentence with subject and location (e.g., "Barnaby is inside the red barn." ).
Target Standard
In-the-Moment Teacher Feedback Cues
If student names a thing: "That’s a thing! 'Where' asks for a PLACE you can visit. What PLACE is he at?"
If student points silently: "You found the spot! Put words to it: Barnaby is in the _________."
If student omits preposition: "Is he ON the cave or IN the cave? Say: 'IN the cave!'"
Where Detectives Read-Aloud Unit • Grade K Teacher Answer Key & Diagnostic Protocol
