What is This and What is That? - Animals Learning PDF for Kids WH

Purpose of Flashcards: Understanding WH questions is a fundamental step in a child's language development. Questions like “What is this?” and “What is that?” help children identify, describe, and differentiate objects in their environment. Mastering these concepts builds critical thinking, observational skills, and expressive language abilities.

This printable WH learning resource focuses on animals, one of the most engaging topics for young learners. With 15 interactive pages, this resource uses clear visual prompts to guide children in learning the difference between "this" (near) and "that" (far) through real-world examples.

Perfect for early learners, speech therapy sessions, special education, and homeschooling, this resource helps children with autism, speech delays, and language processing difficulties develop essential communication skills in an enjoyable, structured way.

Product Details

Resource Type: 15-page printable PDF

Two animals per page: Each page features two different animals to reinforce learning.

Simple WH question prompts: The top half of the page shows an animal with a child pointing at it, asking “What is this?” Below, the answer is provided: “This is a [Animal Name].”

Distanced perspective: The right side of the page shows the same animal at a distance with a child pointing, asking “What is that?” Below, the answer is provided: “That is a [Animal Name].”

Clean and engaging design: Simple, distraction-free visuals make it easy for young learners to focus.

This resource is ideal for:

Educational Benefits

This WH question learning PDF offers numerous educational benefits, making it a valuable tool for parents, educators, and therapists:

✅ Builds WH Question Comprehension: Helps children understand and respond to "What is this?" and "What is that?" in real-life contexts.

✅ Enhances Vocabulary & Language Development: Teaches animal names while reinforcing sentence structure using simple, repetitive phrasing.

✅ Improves Observational & Cognitive Skills: Helps children distinguish between objects that are near vs. far, promoting critical thinking and perspective-taking.

✅ Supports Speech Therapy Goals: Ideal for children with speech delays, autism, or language processing difficulties, guiding them to form clear, structured responses.

✅ Encourages Engagement & Participation: The visual cues and interactive format keep children engaged, making learning fun and natural.

Instructions for Use

This printable WH learning tool can be used in multiple educational settings, from home practice to therapy sessions.

Print the PDF & Bind It: Printing in color and laminating/binding the pages makes the resource reusable.

Ask Questions & Encourage Responses: Use your child’s natural curiosity to engage them in the activity.

Expand on Answers: If your child says "Lion," reinforce it by saying, "Yes! This is a lion. Can you tell me what that is?"

Use Real-Life Objects: After completing the activity, point to real-world objects (e.g., toys, pets) and ask WH questions to help them apply their learning.

Use in Small Group Activities: Engage multiple students by having them take turns answering.

Pair with Real Objects & Flashcards: Reinforce the concept with hands-on activities using toy animals or real-world visuals.

Encourage Peer Interaction: Have students ask each other, "What is this?" and "What is that?" to promote social and communication skills.

Use as a Structured Therapy Tool: Ideal for working on expressive and receptive language skills with children needing extra support.

Encourage Verbalization & Sentence Formation: Prompt responses and guide children to form complete answers.

Incorporate AAC Devices & Visual Aids: For non-verbal learners, use picture communication boards or AAC apps alongside this printable for an interactive experience.

Activities Using the Resource

WH Question Hunt (Indoor & Outdoor Activity)

• Objective:Reinforce WH questions using real-world objects.
• How to Play:
  • After completing a few pages, encourage the child to find objects around the house or in the classroom.
  • Point to an object up close and ask, “What is this?”
  • Have them answer using a full sentence: “This is a chair.”
  • Then, point to an object farther away and ask, “What is that?”
  • Guide them to respond: “That is a table.”
• ✅ Skill Focus: WH comprehension, object identification, speech development, real-world application.

Animal Guessing Game

• Objective:Help children recall and name animals independently.
• How to Play:
  • Show an animal picture from the PDF, cover its name, and ask: “What is this?”
  • If the child struggles, offer hints like “It has a mane and roars.”
  • Once they identify it, ask, “What is that?” while pointing to an animal at a distance in the book or a toy figure.
  • Celebrate correct answers with positive reinforcement (claps, high-fives, or verbal praise).
• ✅ Skill Focus: Vocabulary building, memory recall, descriptive language, WH questions.

Toy and Flashcard Matching Game

• Objective:Strengthen the connection between printed visuals and real-world objects.
• How to Play:
  • Gather toy animals that match the ones in the PDF.
  • Show a page and ask: “What is this?” (pointing to the printed image).
  • Ask the child to find the corresponding toy.
  • Place the toy farther away and ask: “What is that?”
  • Repeat with different animals, encouraging active engagement.
• ✅ Skill Focus: Object recognition, matching skills, visual discrimination, interactive learning.

Storytelling with WH Questions

• Objective:Encourage sentence formation and creative expression.
• How to Play:
  • Use the animal images in the PDF to tell a short story.
  • Ask WH questions like “What is this?” and “What is that?” to keep the child engaged.
  • Example: “This is a lion. He is the king of the jungle. That is an elephant. He loves water!”
  • Let the child create their own story, using “this” and “that” while pointing to the images.
• ✅ Skill Focus: Language expansion, creativity, sentence formation, interactive storytelling.

Cut & Paste WH Activity (Printable Add-On Idea)

• Objective:Reinforce WH learning through hands-on interaction.
• How to Play:
  • Print extra copies of the PDF pages and cut out the animals.
  • Have the child paste them onto a new sheet in two sections labeled “This” (near) and “That” (far).
  • Encourage them to say: “This is a lion. That is a tiger.” while placing the cutouts.
• ✅ Skill Focus: Fine motor skills, WH comprehension, spatial awareness, categorization.

Conclusion

The "What is This and What is That? - Animals Learning PDF for Kids WH" is an engaging, easy-to-use WH question resource that builds foundational language skills in young learners. By introducing “this” and “that” with familiar animals, children develop vocabulary, observation, and critical thinking skills in a fun and structured way.

Whether used in homes, classrooms, or therapy sessions, this printable PDF is a versatile tool for early learning, supporting speech development, cognitive growth, and social communication.

With 15 interactive pages, visual prompts, and structured WH question reinforcement, this downloadable WH learning tool ensures engaging and effective learning experiences for children.

Download, print, and start learning today!