Curated OER
Reading Short Stories
In this story comprehension worksheet, students fill out an organizer, making a prediction about a story before reading, and writing about what led them to this prediction. Students then complete another organizer, writing about setting,...
Curated OER
"One Hundred Dollars" Reading Comprehension
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a passage about a man who wished for one hundred dollars. Students answer 10 multiple choice questions about the passage.
Curated OER
Analyzing and Evaluating Literary Works
Students evaluate the literary elements found in short stories. In this literature instructional activity, students read short stories of their choosing and list the examples of the literary elements they encounter in the story on the...
Scholastic
What Happened Next? (Grades K-4)
Explore the structure of narrative writing with this fun, collaborative lesson. Start by reading aloud a short story, asking small groups of learners to fill in key events on a large story board prepared on the class whiteboard....
Digital Writing and Research Lab's – Lesson Plans
Teaching Close Reading through Short Composition/Revision
This activity may have writers evaluate short compositions, but their subjects are quite tall: great Americans. Pupils read one another's compositions and closely examine how specific phrases and diction contribute to shaping American...
Curated OER
Frame Story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"
Mark Twain's frame story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" provides an opportunity for a study of this story-within-a-story pattern. Using an illustrated template, class members record a plot summary of the frame story...
K5 Learning
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood brings lovely treats to her grandmother, and valuable reading skills to your pupils. After reading the short fairy tale, fifth graders answer four comprehension questions.
K5 Learning
Queen Hulda and the Flax
Choosing humility over outstanding wealth can be beneficial in the long run. Elementary pupils practice reading comprehension with a short fairy tale about Queen Hulda and her gifts to a poor shepherd, and demonstrate their...
K5 Learning
Race Cars
Do you ever get nervous before a big event? A pair of race cars discuss their nerves before tomorrow's race in a reading activity that includes five comprehension questions.
K20 LEARN
A Stone's Throw Away - The Dangers Of Tradition: The Lottery
Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is the anchor text for a lesson that teaches young readers how to use the Tip of the Iceberg strategy to go below the surface of a tale. After reading the short story and an article about the...
Curated OER
Left-to-Right Reading
Left-to-right, left-to-right, that's the way we read and write! Watch this short video clip and teach your young learners this chant before they start writing!
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Three Skeleton Key
Encourage your middle schoolers to interact with the text as they read. While reading "Three Skeleton Key," class members note predictions, define words and study their meanings, take notes on how the suspense builds, and jot down...
K5 Learning
The Astronomy Project
A passage about an astronomy lesson may leave readers starstruck. Fifth graders read about a class's exploration into the makeup of the galaxy and its constellations before answering six questions about the terms and vocabulary...
K5 Learning
Space Based Astronomy
How much astronomy can you study with the naked eye? Learn more about the ways scientists explore the galaxy with a short reading passage and set of short-answer questions.
K5 Learning
Harry and Annie
Henry and Annie are on thin ice—literally! Read about the siblings' winter walk and the importance of staying safe with a short passage and four follow-up questions.
K5 Learning
Androclus and the Lion
Kindness is never a standalone act. Fourth graders read the classic tale of Androclus and his act of service to the lion, which is repaid to him by the lion in a Roman colosseum. After reading the passage, they answer four comprehension...
K5 Learning
Pretty Fish
John caught a trout, but will he release it or eat it? After reading the passage, young readers respond to four comprehension questions about the story.
Curated OER
Reading Activities Using Bloom's Taxonomy
This short, yet effective, presentation gives pupils many great tips on increasing their enjoyment of what they read and improving their comprehension. The categories of tips include analyzing, remembering, understanding, applying,...
Literacy Design Collaborative
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" provides middle schoolers with an opportunity to hone their close reading and literary analysis skills. After annotating their copy of the story, writer's craft an essay in which they analyze...
K5 Learning
Ned and the Apples
Four short answer questions make up a worksheet created to reinforce reading comprehension skills. Scholars read a brief passage about two boys picking apples then recall the story's details answering who, what, where, and how questions.
K5 Learning
An Honestly Fun Camp
Six short answer questions challenge scholars to show what they know after reading a passage about a boy not so keen on his first trip to summer camp.
K5 Learning
May the Best Prankster Win
Everyone loves a good prank! With this reading passage, Perla and her grandmother play some fun innocent pranks on one another. Kids focus on new vocabulary words, questions about the information they have read, and responding with their...
K5 Learning
A Response to 9-1-1
When you get hurt, who are the people who help you? Learn about first responders, support services, and public health with a reading passage. Kids read the informational text and answer reading comprehension questions about the...
Student Achievement Partners
Eleven
Turning 11 comes with a range of emotions. Explore those emotions by reading the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. Readers analyze the main character's reactions to the events of her day. Then, they write an essay describing what...