IPDAE
Themes in Short Stories
"What is the theme of this story?" The very question can spark fear in the minds of readers and incinerate confidence. Here you will discover an exercise that shows how writers use the tools of setting, plot, conflict, and...
K5 Learning
The Blind Men and the Elephant
Sometimes it's necessary to view the whole picture before making a judgment about a small part. Read a short story about five blind men who try to identify an elephant by feeling different parts and coming to their own conclusions....
Writing Educators Symposium
Asking the Right Questions
It can be difficult to find the theme of a book or story if you don't know the questions to ask. Teach your kids to discern the universal theme in works of literature with a set of activities that promote critical thinking and active...
Penguin Books
An Educator's Guide to Jan Brett
Prepare to teach Jan Brett stories by taking a look at this teacher resource, which includes text-based questions, writing assignments, discussion ideas, and vocabulary practice for 18 different stories.
Curated OER
Miss Nelson is Missing! Love Two Teach
In these reading and math skills worksheets, students complete a series of activities for the story Miss Nelson is Missing! Students create a missing poster, a Venn Diagram, a story map, activities for multiplication, addition,...
Curated OER
The Meanest English Teacher Ever
Upper graders will use a reading comprehension worksheet about the meanest teacher to practice comprehension. They will read a 5 page story titled The Meanest English Teacher Ever and answer 4 comprehension questions about it.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Surprise!: Extra Support Lessons (Theme 2)
Surprise! is the theme of a unit covering such topics as consonants, blending, short vowels sounds, high frequency words, and number words. The unit's lessons also include teachable moments covering story structure, illustrations,...
Music Publishers Association of the United States
I Made It. I Own It. Please Don't Steal It.
Explore the world of copyright law with a variety of activities to instill the importance of respecting creative property. Scholars watch an animated tale then take part in a grand conversation detailing the video's main idea, details,...
School Specialty
The Tortoise and the Hare - Drawing Conclusions/Predictions Outcomes
Does the fastest one always win the race? Look deeper into The Tortoise and the Hare with a set of discussion questions for before, during, and after reading the story.
English Worksheets Land
That Darn Cat!
Read about the darnedest can in two fables adapted from Aesop's Fables. Readers answer three reading comprehension questions that prompt them to compare and contrast animal characters in the two stories.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Family and Friends: Extra Support Lessons (Theme 4)
Family and Friends is the theme of a unit offering extra support lessons. Follow each lesson plan's teach, blend, guided practice or practice/apply routine to reinforce concepts such as clusters, responding to reading, drawing...
Curated OER
Log Canoes: A Chesapeake Bay Tradition
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a story about log canoes on the Chesapeake Bay and examine the dialogue between characters. Students use the dialogue between the characters to answer five short answer questions.
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 words...
Curated OER
The Formation of Coal
In this coal formation worksheet, students read and informational sheet about coal formation. Students are given 5 short-answer questions regarding what they've read.
Curated OER
Planning and Drafting a Personal Narrative
Bring your learners together to write a class narrative about the first day of school. Start off by teaching them about sequence with a quick oral activity. Then, work together to fill out a story map. Finally, compose the class...
Voice of America
Henry Ford, 1863-1947: He Revolutionized the Auto Industry
How did Henry Ford change the world? One word: automobile. After reading a two-page passage about Henry Ford's contributions to society with the invention of the automobile, readers respond to a series of 10 reading comprehension...
English Worksheets Land
The Donkey, the Fox and the Lion
Have learners read about a lion that lures a foolish fox into a trap and gets himself and his donkey friend eaten. After reading, pupils answer three questions and determine what the lesson of the story is.
Teach-nology
Author's Purpose
Challenge your class to find the three purposes for writing. After they read three short passages, kids note whether the author's purpose was to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Teach-nology
Author’s Purpose
What is the author's purpose when writing a narrative story? Kids read a short narrative passage before answering three questions about author's purpose.
Curated OER
The Pot of Gold
In this reading activity, students read a story titled The Pot of Gold and answer short answer questions about it. Students read the 4 page story and answer 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Hiysi's Millstone
In this reading and comprehension worksheet, students read a story titled Hiysi's Millstone, and answer short answer comprehension questions in the end. Students read 9 pages and answer 2 questions.
Curated OER
Insects: Group Creative Writing
In this creative writing worksheet, students work with a group, using 10 given words about insects to write a short story. Worksheet contains a link to additional activities.
Curated OER
Women's World Cup Champs
The Learning Network in conjunction with the New York Times provides an article for reading and questions for short answers and discussion. If you are looking for a rainy day activity or just a time-filler this story titled, "Women's...
Curated OER
The Diary of a Young Girl: Getting Ready to Read
In this "Diary of a Young Girl" activity, students work with a partner to write two predictions about Anne's diary entries. Next, students answer 12 short answer comprehension questions based on the story.