Reading short original stories and non-fiction passages, then finding the main idea, details and order of events, making inferences and working out word meanings from context.
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 3.1.4.1; 3.1.4.2 · asking and answering questions about a text and finding its central idea
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
Read the whole passage once, then go back to find answers.
The main idea is what most of the passage is about, not one small detail.
For a new word, read the words around it. They often explain it.
Example: A passage tells how Amir feeds the class pet, cleans its cage and gives it water. What is the main idea? Each sentence tells one way Amir looks after the pet. Together they tell one big idea. Answer: Amir takes good care of the class pet.
Read and Think in Minnesota
In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 1 of 13 in 3rd grade English Language Arts, before Story Elements.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What did Zoe and Grandpa do after lunch?
The Indoor Picnic
Zoe and her grandpa had planned a picnic at the park for Saturday. But when Zoe woke up, rain was drumming on her window.
“Our picnic is ruined,” Zoe sighed, pressing her nose against the cold glass.
Grandpa smiled. “Who says a picnic has to be outside?” He spread a blanket on the living room floor. Zoe packed sandwiches, grapes and lemonade into the basket, just as they had planned.
They ate on the blanket and listened to the rain. After lunch, they built a blanket fort and read stories inside it. “This was even better than the park,” Zoe said with a grin.
Built a blanket fort and read stories
Walked to the park
Baked cookies
Built a blanket fort and read stories
Hint: Find the words “After lunch” in the last paragraph.
Question 2
What lesson does this story show?
The Indoor Picnic
Zoe and her grandpa had planned a picnic at the park for Saturday. But when Zoe woke up, rain was drumming on her window.
“Our picnic is ruined,” Zoe sighed, pressing her nose against the cold glass.
Grandpa smiled. “Who says a picnic has to be outside?” He spread a blanket on the living room floor. Zoe packed sandwiches, grapes and lemonade into the basket, just as they had planned.
They ate on the blanket and listened to the rain. After lunch, they built a blanket fort and read stories inside it. “This was even better than the park,” Zoe said with a grin.
A change of plans can still be fun.
Picnics are only fun at the park.
Always stay inside on Saturdays.
A change of plans can still be fun.
Hint: Zoe thought the day was ruined, but how did she feel at the end?
Question 3
How did Zoe feel when she first saw the rain?
The Indoor Picnic
Zoe and her grandpa had planned a picnic at the park for Saturday. But when Zoe woke up, rain was drumming on her window.
“Our picnic is ruined,” Zoe sighed, pressing her nose against the cold glass.
Grandpa smiled. “Who says a picnic has to be outside?” He spread a blanket on the living room floor. Zoe packed sandwiches, grapes and lemonade into the basket, just as they had planned.
They ate on the blanket and listened to the rain. After lunch, they built a blanket fort and read stories inside it. “This was even better than the park,” Zoe said with a grin.
Proud
Excited
Disappointed
Disappointed
Hint: Zoe sighed and said the picnic was ruined. What feeling do those clues show?
Question 4
The rain was “drumming” on the window. What does that tell you?
The Indoor Picnic
Zoe and her grandpa had planned a picnic at the park for Saturday. But when Zoe woke up, rain was drumming on her window.
“Our picnic is ruined,” Zoe sighed, pressing her nose against the cold glass.
Grandpa smiled. “Who says a picnic has to be outside?” He spread a blanket on the living room floor. Zoe packed sandwiches, grapes and lemonade into the basket, just as they had planned.
They ate on the blanket and listened to the rain. After lunch, they built a blanket fort and read stories inside it. “This was even better than the park,” Zoe said with a grin.
The rain was tapping hard and loudly.
The rain had stopped.
Someone was playing a drum.
The rain was tapping hard and loudly.
Hint: Think about the sound a drum makes. How would rain sound if it was drumming?
Question 5
Who did Ravi practice for last?
Ravi's Rocks
Ravi was going to share his rock collection at show and tell on Monday. All weekend, his stomach felt fluttery whenever he thought about talking in front of the whole class.
On Sunday, Ravi practiced his talk for his mom. Then he practiced for his little sister. Last of all, he practiced for the cat, who yawned. Each time, Ravi spoke a little more clearly.
On Monday, Ravi held up a shiny piece of quartz. His voice wobbled at first, but then he remembered his practice. He told the class where he had found each rock. When he finished, so many hands went up with questions that the bell rang before he could answer them all.
His little sister
His mom
The cat
The cat
Hint: Look for the words “Last of all” in the second paragraph.
Question 6
What did Ravi share at show and tell?
Ravi's Rocks
Ravi was going to share his rock collection at show and tell on Monday. All weekend, his stomach felt fluttery whenever he thought about talking in front of the whole class.
On Sunday, Ravi practiced his talk for his mom. Then he practiced for his little sister. Last of all, he practiced for the cat, who yawned. Each time, Ravi spoke a little more clearly.
On Monday, Ravi held up a shiny piece of quartz. His voice wobbled at first, but then he remembered his practice. He told the class where he had found each rock. When he finished, so many hands went up with questions that the bell rang before he could answer them all.