The 5 Ws of Storytelling: Who, What, Where, When, and Why

Scratch Garden

This animated video introduces young learners to the "5 Ws" of storytelling: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Using a cast of ladybugs holding signboards, the video visually defines each question word by opening a storybook to reveal relevant examples, such as characters for "Who" and settings for "Where." The video relies primarily on music and visuals rather than narration to convey these concepts, making it a flexible tool for teacher-led instruction. The key themes explore narrative structure and reading comprehension strategies. By breaking down a story into these five fundamental components, the video helps students understand the building blocks of narrative writing and information gathering. It essentially provides a visual checklist for students to use when analyzing a story or planning their own writing. In the classroom, this video serves as an engaging hook for literacy lessons. It is particularly useful for introduction to journalism, creative writing, or reading comprehension activities. The humorous ending, featuring a late arrival by the "How" ladybug, provides a natural segue into discussing the "H" that often accompanies the 5 Ws, allowing teachers to extend the lesson to include process and method.