People of America

Questions With How? and Why?

You can use the word how or why to ask a question.

A painting of men and women traveling in wagons

Use how to ask about the way people do something.

How did the pioneers travel?

They traveled in wagons.

Use why to ask for a reason.

Why did the pioneers travel west?

They traveled west becauseYou can use because to answer a question with why. they wanted land to farm.

Build Questions

Read each answer. Then ask 2 questions to go with the answer: How _____? Why _____?

    Example

  • 1. How do scientists do experiments?

    Why do they do experiments carefully?

  • 1. photograph of a scientist in a laboratory

    Scientists do experiments carefully because they want to get correct results.

  • 2. photograph of a soldier standing in front of an American flag

    Soldiers fight bravely because they want to protect their country.

  • 3. illustration of a cowboy riding a horse

    Most cowboys ride horses very well because they spend a lot of time on horseback.

  • 4. photograph of a machine harvesting a crop

    Farmers use machines to harvest their crops because machines work quickly.

Write Answers illustration of pen icon

Work with a partner. Use the chant on page 210 to find the answer to each question below. Take turns writing an answer as a complete sentence. Use the word because.

  • 5. Why did the Pilgrims leave home?

  • 6. Why did explorers travel across the land?

  • 7. Why did immigrants come to the United States?

  • 8. Why did pioneers leave the plains?

    Example

  • 5. The Pilgrims left home because they wanted to practice their religion.