comprehension

notebook

for

nd
2

Grade

Common Core Aligned Daily

Comprehension Practice

Jodi Southard
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Thank you for purchasing this unit. I hope you find it useful.
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This packet meets the following Common Core Standards:

RL.1: Ask and answer questions such as who, what, where, when, why, and how to
demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RL.2: Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine
their central message, lesson, or moral.
RL.3: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
RL.7: Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to
demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
RIT.1: Ask and answer questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to
demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RIT.2: Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific
paragraphs within the text.
RIT.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2
topic or subject area.
RIT.6: Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer,
explain, or describe.
RIT.7: Use illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
RIT.10: By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including
history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 2-3 text complexity
band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

*I recommend printing this packet double sided so the week

is open together. You can place it in a 3 ring binder or have it
spiral bound together.

comprehension
notebook

Lilly loved solving mysteries. She was always the person that people
would go to when they misplaced something or needed help. One day,
Lilly got an important phone call. Her friend, Sarah, had lost her pet
rabbit and needed Lillys help. Lilly went to Sarahs house to start
collecting clues. First, she noticed that the lock on the rabbit cage was
broken. Then, Lilly saw rabbit paw prints on the ground. Lilly followed
the paw prints until she got to a fence. The fence had a small hole at
the bottom. Lilly peeked over the fence and noticed Mr. Browns
garden. I think Ive solved the mystery, Lilly told Sarah. They
opened up the gate and found the rabbit in the garden eating a carrot.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is the problem in the story? ___________________________

___________________________________________________

Character Analysis

Beginning

Think about how different

Sarah felt from the beginning
of the story to the end. Write
a sentence to describe her at
the beginning and at the end.

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End

1
Draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Middle

Vocabulary
Focus
Draw a line to match the
words that mean about the
same thing.

misplaced
peeked
collect
noticed
mystery

End

find
secret
lost
looked
observed

Text-to-Self Connection
Think about a time when you lost something. What did you lose and how did you find it?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Every morning Farmer Dave woke up at sunrise when he heard the

rooster crow. He would get out of bed, get dressed and head out
to the barn to feed the animals. One morning, Farmer Dave woke
up and noticed that it was later than usual. The rooster didnt
crow and wake him up early! Farmer Dave got dressed and headed downstairs.
He was in for quite a surprise. In his kitchen, stood his horses, cows, and pigs.
They were eating all of his food. What is going on! yelled Farmer Dave. He
walked each of the animals back to the barn and went looking for the rooster.
He finally found the rooster, just waking up, behind the barn. Farmer Dave
explained to the rooster how important his job was to the farm. The rooster
was so happy that he was so important that he never slept in again.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is the setting of the story? ___________________________

___________________________________________________

Lets Visualize!
Close your eyes while your
teacher reads the story. Draw
a picture of what you think
Farmer Daves kitchen looked
like with all of the animals in it.

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2
Problem and
Solution

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

Write or draw the

problem in the first box.
Write or draw the
solution in the second box.

1. It isnt ______________ finished.

Vocabulary
Focus

2. I _________________ the reason why

I was late.

Fill in the sentences with the

correct word from below.

usual quite explained

3. This is not my ___________________

lunch time.

Text-to-Self Connection
What would you do if you found farm animals in your kitchen?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

3
Elephants are the largest land living animals in the world. There are two
different types of elephants, African and Asian. Both the female and the
male African elephants have tusks, but only the male Asian elephants have
tusks. Their tusks are like long teeth that they can use for digging to find
food or water. Elephants have long trunks. They use their trunks to lift food
and suck up water into their mouths. Elephants can also use their trunks like a
snorkel when they are swimming. They also use their trunks to suck up water
to spray on themselves when it is hot outside. Elephants eat
a lot. They can eat 300 pounds of food in one day! Would you
want to be an elephant?

List three things you know about elephants.

1.__________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________

Lets Visualize!
Close your eyes and imagine
what it looks like when an
elephant is swimming. Then
draw a picture.

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3
Fill in the blanks.
Elephants can use their trunks like a ____________ when they are swimming.
Elephants can eat 300 __________________ of food in one day.
Elephants are the ________________ land living animals in the world.

Vocabulary
Focus
Circle the words in the
box that mean about the
same as large.

huge
tiny
gigantic
mammoth

enormous
massive
petite
hilarious

Text-to-Self Connection
Would you want to be an elephant? Why or why not?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Bryson had a wiggly tooth that would not come out. His mom told him to eat
an apple. He went and picked a really big apple and took a bite. The tooth
did not budge. He took another bite. Still no luck! Bryson decided to give up.
He went outside to ride his bike with his friend. As they were racing down
the hill, Bryson started going too fast and fell off his bike. He got up,
brushed himself off, and jumped back on his bike. When they were finished
riding, he smiled at his friend. Your tooth is missing! Bryson felt his mouth
with his tongue and noticed a little hole. He had lost his tooth when he fell
off his bike. Bryson was happy that his tooth had finally fallen out, but he
was disappointed that his tooth was lost forever.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is problem in the story?_____________________________

___________________________________________________

Character Analysis

Beginning

Draw a picture of how

Bryson felt at the beginning
of the story and at the end
of the story.
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End

4
Write a sentence and draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Middle

Vocabulary
Focus

End

What does it mean when something will not budge?

_________________
_________________
_________________

Text-to-Self Connection
Write about a time when you were disappointed.

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Maria was going to Olivias birthday party today. She was really looking
forward to spending the day at her friends house. Maria picked out the
perfect present for her and couldnt wait until she opened it. Maria wrapped
the present in yellow wrapping paper with white polka dots because yellow was
Olivias favorite color. When Maria arrived at Olivias house, no one was there.
She kept knocking at the door, but no one answered. Maria went
back to her moms car and they called Olivias mother. When
Olivias mother answered the phone, they explained that they were
at the house and no one was home. Maria and her mom found out
that they had the time wrong and they were an hour early. Maria
and her mother laughed about their mistake.

Problem and
Solution

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

Write or draw the

problem in the first box.
Write or draw the
solution in the second box.

True or False
1. _______ Maria was late to the birthday party.
2. _______ Olivias mother was not home when Maria arrived.
3. _______ Maria wrapped the present in purple paper.
4. ________ Marias mother called Olivias mother.
5. ________ Maria was really looking forward to going to Olivias house.
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5
Main Idea

Vocabulary
Focus
Fill in the sentences with the
correct word from below.

Detail

Detail

Detail

1. Today is the ______________ day.

2. I ______________ early to school.

3. She ___________________ the

explained arrived perfect answer to me.

Text-to-Self Connection
What is something that you really looked forward to? Why were you so excited about it?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Pumpkins are usually orange, but can be yellow, white, or green. Many people
think pumpkins are a vegetable, but they are actually a fruit. Pumpkins grow
from a seed. The seed eventually grows into a sprout with leaves that
becomes a vine. Next, yellow flowers grow on the vine. These flowers
attract a lot of bees that pollinate the flower. The flower closes and a small
green pumpkin begins to grow. The green pumpkin continues to grow and
eventually turns orange. Pumpkins are used for many things. Some gigantic
pumpkins are entered into contests. Many pumpkins are carved into
jack-o-lanterns. Some types of pumpkins are perfect for
making pies, soups, or other foods. Many people also bake
pumpkin seeds to eat as well. What do you like to do with
pumpkins?
What is something you know about pumpkins?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Make a List!
Make a list of things you
can make with pumpkins.

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

6
Fill in the blanks.

The flowers attract bees that __________________ the flower.

Some__________________ pumpkins are entered into contests.
The seed grows into a ________________ that becomes a vine.

Vocabulary
Focus

What does pollinate mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________
Write About It.

What have you eaten that was made from pumpkins? Which one is your favorite?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Tyler was going to the dentist. He was a little anxious because he worried
that he might have a cavity. His mom always made him brush his teeth in
the morning and at night, but he wasnt sure if he was doing a good enough
job. The dentist told him to sit up in the chair. He leaned him back and had
Tyler open his mouth as wide as he could. As the dentist looked around
and poked at his teeth, Tyler became even more nervous. Next, the dentist
wanted to take some x-rays of his teeth. After they were over, the
dentist told Tyler that his teeth looked great. Tyler was so relieved. The
dentist gave Tyler a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
and told him to come back in six months.

1. Who was the main character? _____________________________

2. What was the problem in the story?_________________________

___________________________________________________

Cause and
Effect
Write the cause to match
the effect from the story.

Effect: Tyler was very anxious.

Cause: ________________

____________________
____________________
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7
Draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Middle

End

Vocabulary
Focus

Anxious ____________________
_________________________

Use context clues to

determine the meaning of the
words in the next box.

Relieved ____________________
_________________________

Text-to-Self Connection
Think about a time when you were anxious. Write about it.

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Cameron was always doing something silly. He loved to make people laugh and
he was always trying to come up with new ways to be funny. One day
Cameron decided to do a handstand. Unfortunately, he had never tried one
before and he fell down right away. Cameron landed on his arm and
started to cry. His arm really hurt so his mom took him to the doctor.
The doctor looked at his arm and decided that Cameron needed an
x-ray. Cameron was nervous because he did not want to have a
broken arm. The doctor came back into the room and let him know
that he would need a cast because his arm was broken. Cameron was
upset, but he would try to make the best of it.

Main Idea

Detail

Lets Infer!
You make an inference by
using what you already
know along with what you
read in the text to answer
questions.

Detail

Detail

Do you think Cameron will try and do a

handstand again? Why or why not?

____________________
____________________
____________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

8
Character
Analysis

Vocabulary
Focus
Circle the words that
mean the same as
nervous.

Write words to describe Cameron.

needy
worried
smart
wild

anxious
tense
edgy
uneasy

Text-to-Self Connection
Think about something you have done that is funny. Write about it.

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

9
Spiders are not insects. They are arachnids. Spiders have
eight legs and insects only have six. Spiders only have two
main body parts, the abdomen and the thorax, whereas
insects have three, the abdomen, the head, and the thorax.
Spiders do not have antennae while insects do. There are
many types of spiders. All spiders can make silk, but only some spin webs to
catch their food. Most spiders are harmless, but there are some types that
can be poisonous to humans, such as the black widow. The largest spiders are
tarantulas. Some tarantulas eat birds, mice, and lizards. Are you scared of
spiders?

Compare & Contrast

Same

Write things that are the

same and things that are
different between spiders
and insects.

Lets Label!
Use the words below to fill
in the labels on the spider.
thorax
legs

abdomen
spinnerets
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Different

9
Circle the facts.

Most spiders are harmless, but some are poisonous to humans.

Spiders are insects.
Spiders have six legs.
All spiders make silk, but only some spin webs.
The largest spiders are tarantulas.

Vocabulary
Focus

What does harmless mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________

Text to Self Connection

Would you like to be a spider? Why or why not?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

10 Charlie wanted to be a famous magician when he grew up. He practiced magic

tricks every weekend. His favorite trick to perform was to pull a rabbit out of
a hat. First, he would show the audience his empty hat. Next, he would wave his
wand over the hat and say some magic words. Then, he would reach down into
the hat and pull out a rabbit. The audience always loved it and they would
always give him a huge round of applause. Charlie was invited to perform in a
popular talent show and he was so excited to show his talent.
He was very determined to do well so he worked really hard
to learn some new tricks. The day of the talent show came
and Charlie was wonderful. He was entertaining and the
audience loved him. Charlie won the entire talent show!

Main Idea

Character
Analysis
Circle the words that
describe Charlie in
the story.

Detail

Detail

Detail

Determined
Mean
Wonderful
Talented
Hardworking
Lazy
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10
1. What is Charlies favorite magic trick? ______________________________
__________________________________________________________
2. Why was he determined to do well? ________________________________
3. What happened at the end? _____________________________________

What is something you think is entertaining?

Vocabulary
__________________
Focus __________________
__________________
Text-to-Self Connection
What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

11

Carly used to like school. She loved getting up in the morning and
looked forward to spending the day learning and playing. However,
this year was different. This year, a girl named Ivy was in her
class. Ivy was always mean to Carly. She would call her names at recess and
make fun of her clothes. Ivy would make mean faces at Carly and spread
rumors about her. Carly pretended like she was sick every morning and
would tell her parents that she shouldnt go to school. Carly would cry
herself to sleep every night. Her mom finally sat Carly down and asked her
what had been bothering her. She eventually decided to tell her mom about
Ivy. Carlys mom called the teacher and let her know what was going on.
The teacher talked with Ivy and her parents and things started improving at
school. Carly was very happy that she let someone know that she was being
bullied.

Solution

Problem

Lets Predict!
A prediction is when you
make a guess about what
will happen.

Do you think Carly will start enjoying school

again? Why or why not?

____________________
____________________
____________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

11
Draw a picture and write a sentence to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Vocabulary
Focus
Draw a line to match the
words that mean about the
same thing.

Middle

rumors
pretended
bothering
improving
cry

End

troubling
sob
invented
gossip
getting better

Authors Message
What message is the author trying to teach in this story?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

12

Native Americans were the first people to live in North America.

There were many different tribes of Native Americans that lived in
our country. All of the tribes were different. They wore different
clothes, had different hairstyles, and built many different types of
houses depending on where they lived. Some Native American tribes
would build teepees because these were easy to move as they
traveled. Other tribes built houses that would last longer with
materials such as wood, clay, vines, grass, and bark. The types of
housing materials depended on the climate of the area. The
different tribes also spoke different languages. There are still about
3 million Native Americans living in North America today.

List three things you know about Native Americans.

1.__________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________

Main Idea

Detail

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Detail

Detail

12
Write an F if the statement is a FACT. Write an O if the statement is an OPINION.

_______ Native Americans lived in many different types of houses.

_______ Native Americans are very smart.
_______ Native American homes are not very comfortable.
_______ There are about 3 million Native Americans living in North America today.

Vocabulary
Focus
Make a list of the materials
that were used to build
Native American homes.

Text-to-Self
What do you think it would have been like to have been some of the first people to live in North America?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

13

Gage wanted to go sledding, but he had never been before. All

of his friends convinced him to give it a try. Gage found an old
sled in his garage. He went inside and put on his coat, hat, gloves,
and boots, then he walked to the park. He found the perfect hill
and pulled the sled up to the top. Once he reached the top of the hill and
looked down, he got a little nervous. He watched the other kids sledding down
the hill and they seemed like they were having such a great time. Gage pushed
his sled to the edge of the hill and sat down. He scooted himself in the snow
until he started racing down the hill. He couldnt believe how fast he was going.
Once he reached the bottom, he realized how much fun it was and he couldnt
wait to try it again!

Characters

Character Analysis

Setting

Beginning

Draw a picture of how

Gage felt at the beginning
of the story and at the end
of the story.
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End

13
Write a 1,2,3, and 4 in the front of each sentence to show the sequence of the story.

_______ Gage couldnt wait to sled down the hill again.

_______ He found an old sled in the garage.
_______ Gage pulled the sled up the hill.
_______ Gages friends convinced him that he needed to try and sled.

Vocabulary
Focus

Convinced __________________
_________________________

Use context clues to

determine the meaning of the
words in the next box.

Scooted ____________________
_________________________

Text to Self Connection

What is something new you have wanted to try? What do you think it would be like?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

14

Jake went to the penguin exhibit at the zoo with his parents. He loved
penguins and was so fascinated with all of them. A little penguin walked up
close to Jake, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked Jake if he could come
home with him. He couldnt believe what he was hearing. He opened up his
backpack and the penguin jumped inside. Jake took the penguin home with
him as a pet. Soon, Jakes parents found out what had happened. They
were astonished that Jake actually took the penguin home with him. They
told him that he couldnt keep a penguin at his house and made him
take him back to the zoo. Jake was really sad, but he understood.
He went and visited the penguins a lot after that, but never brought
his backpack with him again.

Problem

Characters

Cause and
Effect
Write the cause to match
the effect from the story.

Effect: Jake couldnt believe what he was

hearing.
Cause: ________________

____________________
____________________
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14
Detail

Main Idea

Vocabulary
Focus

Detail

What does astonished mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________

Text to Self Connection

Think of a time when you were really sad. Why were you sad?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

15

Polar bears live in the Arctic, which is in the northern part of the Earth. It is
very cold and icy in the Arctic so polar bears have special features that help
them live in this type of climate. Their paws are rough so they do not slip on
the ice. Their paws also help them to be excellent swimmers. Polar bears have
lots of fat under their skin to keep them warm. Their fur and skin also help
them to stay warm and dry. Polar bears actually have black skin which allows
them to absorb the sunlight. They have a layer of fat called blubber
that helps them stay warm in the icy Arctic water. Polar bears are
the largest type of bears. A female polar bear can grow to be
seven feet tall and a male polar bear can be ten feet tall.

1. What is the layer of fat on a polar bear called? ________________________

2. Where do polar bears live? ______________________________________
3. What are some special features that help them live in the Artic? ____________
__________________________________________________________

Main Idea

Detail

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Detail

Detail

15
Write an F if the statement is a FACT. Write an O if the statement is an OPINION.

_______ Polar bears are the best bears.

_______ Polar bears have rough paws to keep them from slipping on the ice.
_______ Polar bears have black skin that absorbs sunlight to keep them warm.
_______ Polar bears are the most interesting Arctic animal.

Vocabulary
Focus

1. The sandpaper was very __________.

2. Her _____________ are like her moms.

Fill in the sentences with the

correct word from below.

3. This towel will _________________

rough absorb features the water.

Compare and Contrast

What are some similarities about polar bears and other bears? What are some differences?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

16

Hot chocolate is such a delicious treat. It is so rich and chocolaty. I love to

drink it on a really cold day after playing in the snow. I come inside and my
mom mixes together the chocolate and the milk, warms it up, and puts it in a
special mug for me. I also love it when she adds marshmallows to the top. It
is just so delicious and sweet. One time we were out of marshmallows so my
mom found a can of whipped cream in the refrigerator. She sprayed it on
top of my hot chocolate and I could not believe how amazing it tasted. It was
cool and creamy on top, but nice and warm underneath. Hot
chocolate is my favorite drink in the winter. I like that it
warms me right up on cold, windy, winter days. Do you like hot
chocolate?

Main Idea

1.

Detail

Detail

Detail

When does the author like to drink hot chocolate? _____________________

__________________________________________________________
2.

Why does the author like hot chocolate so much? _____________________

__________________________________________________________
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16
Compare & Contrast

Same

Different

Write things that are the

same and things that are
different between hot
chocolate and milk.

Vocabulary
Focus
Write words that
describe hot
chocolate.

Text to Self Connection

What is your favorite drink? Describe the drink using your five senses.

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

17

Brownie was very happy living on the farm. She had a

beautiful stall and plenty of room to roam in the field.
Brownie even had a little girl that would come and take her on
a ride. Even though she was happy, Brownie always dreamed
of being a race horse. She longed for the wind to blow past her face and the
excitement and the thrill of racing other horses. Brownie would pretend she
was racing in the field sometimes. One Saturday afternoon, the little girl
came for her weekly ride. She told Brownie that she wanted to start training
her for a race. Brownie was thrilled. They started practicing every day for
the big race. Brownie could not wait until her special day!

Summarizing __________________________
Summarize the story.
Try to answer the
questions, who, what,
when, where, and why.

__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

Lets Predict!
A prediction is when you
make a guess about what
you think will happen.

How do you think Brownie will feel when she

gets to be in the horse race?

____________________
____________________
____________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

17
Draw a picture and write a sentence to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Middle

Vocabulary
Focus
Draw a line to match the
words that mean about the
same thing.

plenty
roam
longed for
thrill
beautiful

End

wander
sufficient
pretty
wanted
excitement

Text to Self Connection

Visualize what it would be like to ride a horse during a horse race. Describe what you are visualizing using
your five senses.

___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

18

Sharks are fish that live in the ocean. There are many types of sharks
including great white, bull, hammerhead, and tiger sharks. Sharks do not have
any bones in their bodies. Their skeletons are made of cartilage instead. Some
types of sharks remain moving for their entire lives because they must keep
moving water over their gills to get oxygen into their bodies. Some sharks lay
eggs and others give birth to live sharks. Baby sharks are called pups. After
they are born, they swim away quickly so the mother shark does not eat them.
Sharks constantly lose teeth, but new ones move forward to take their place.
They are always making new teeth. Sharks have an
amazing sense of smell and hearing, which helps them
hunt for food.

List three things you know about sharks.

1.__________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________

Lets Label!
Use the words below to fill
in the labels on the shark.

teeth
dorsal fin

tail fin
gills
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18
Main Idea

Detail

Vocabulary
Focus

Detail

Detail

What does constantly mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________

Text-to-Self Connection
Would you want to be a shark? Why or why not?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

19 James wanted to play on the schools basketball team. He had never really
played basketball before, so he knew he had a lot of work to do. He called his
friend, Jake, to come over because Jake was a really good basketball player.
James and Jake practiced every evening for weeks. When the day came for
basketball tryouts, James felt like he was ready to go. He really tried his best
and he felt pretty good when he left. The next day, the school posted
the names of the new team members. James looked over the list
and could not believe that his name was not listed. James was really
disappointed. He really wanted to be on the team, however, James
decided to not give up. He would continue to work hard and try out
again next year.

Draw a picture and write a sentence to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning

Lets make
a
Prediction!

Middle

End

Do you think James will make the basketball team

next year? ________________________
Explain your reasoning. Why did you make that
prediction? _____________________

_______________________________

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

19
Character
Traits
Write words to
describe James.

Vocabulary
Focus

The school posted the names of the new team members.

Draw a picture to show the

meaning of the sentence
from the story.

Authors Message
What lesson was the author trying to teach in this story?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

20

Maryssa had not been feeling well. She had a horrible cold and she had been
coughing and sneezing all day. Her mom called the doctor to see if she could
get an appointment. Maryssa did not want to go to the doctor because she
was worried that she would have to get a shot. Her mom reassured her
that the doctor would help her to feel better. When Maryssa arrived at the
doctors office, the nurse took her temperature, checked her height and
weight, and looked in her ears and throat. When the doctor came in, he
noticed that Maryssas throat was really red. He checked it closer and
diagnosed her with strep throat. He prescribed some medicine and told her
that she would feel better in a couple of days.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is the problem in the story? ___________________________

___________________________________________________

Cause and
Effect
Write the cause to match
the effect from the story.

Effect: Maryssa went to the doctor.

Cause: ________________

____________________
____________________
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20
Sequence of Events
First

Next

Then

Finally

Vocabulary
Focus

Reassured __________________
_________________________

Use context clues to

determine the meaning of the
words in the next box.

Prescribed __________________
_________________________

Text to Self Connection

Do you get nervous when you go to the doctor? Why or why not?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

21
Do you know how to blow a bubble? It can be a challenging skill to
learn. First, you need to make sure you have the best kind of
gum for blowing bubbles. They make chewing gum and bubble
gum, so make sure you purchase the right kind. Chew the gum
for awhile so it is ready to blow a bubble. Once your gum is ready, bring the
gum to the front of your mouth and use your tongue to start to push through
the gum. Pull your tongue out and blow while holding onto the gum with your
lips. It will definitely take some practice, but you will continue to get better.
Did you know that the largest bubble ever blown was over 20 inches across?
Do you think you could blow bubbles that big someday?

Write the steps for blowing a bubble.

1. Blowing bubbles takes____________________, but you will continue to get

better.
2. Blowing bubbles can be a ___________________________skill to learn.

3. You may need to chew your gum for ______________________________

so it is ready to blow a bubble.
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

21
Write an F if the statement is a FACT. Write an O if the statement is an OPINION.

_______ Blowing bubbles is easy.

_______ You can buy chewing gum and bubble gum.
_______ The largest bubble ever blown was over 20 inches across.
_______ Grape bubblegum tastes the best.

Vocabulary
Focus

What does challenging mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________
Authors Purpose

What do you think the authors purpose was in writing this story?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

22

I was walking in the park one day and found a black hat on the
ground. As I got closer, I noticed that the hat was shaking and
making a strange humming sound. I thought it was odd, but I was
just too curious to walk away. I picked it up. It started shaking
even harder and I thought I heard it say something. I brought the hat up closer
to my ear and I heard it say, Make a wish! I had found a magic hat! I asked
the hat for a dog. Poof! A dog appeared. Next, I asked the hat for a new
bike. Poof! A brand new bike appeared in front of me. I thought and thought
about what my next wish should be. All of the sudden, the hat vanished. I could
not believe that it was gone. I still look for that hat every time I go to the
park.

Main Idea

Detail

Lets Visualize!
Close your eyes while your
teacher reads the story. Draw
a picture of what you
visualized.

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Detail

Detail

22
Write a 1,2,3, and 4 in the front of each sentence to show the sequence of the story.

_______ A new dog and a bike appeared.

_______ The magic hat vanished.
_______ The hat started shaking and humming.
_______ A magic hat was laying on the ground in the park.

Vocabulary
Focus

Appeared __________________
_________________________

Use context clues to

determine the meaning of the
words in the next box.

Vanished ___________________
_________________________

Text-to-World Connection
What would you wish for if you found a magic hat? Why?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

23 Michael and his dad went to the beach. They saw a massive sailboat go by and
Michael was amazed at how big it was. He ran over to his dad and begged him
to go on a sailboat ride. His dad thought it was a great idea so they went to
the boat rental shop. They got everything set up to go on a sailboat ride in two
hours. When the time came, Michael and his dad put on their life jackets and
climbed on. The captain of the boat explained to them how to help with the
sails. Once they got out on the water, Michael and his dad learned all
about the sailboat and how everything worked. They were so
interested and couldnt wait to learn more about sailing. Michael and
his dad had such a wonderful time learning to sail and they knew
they had found a new hobby to do together.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What was the setting in the story?_________________________

___________________________________________________

Lets make
a
Prediction!

Do you think Michael and his dad will go sailing again?

_______________________________
Explain your reasoning. Why did you make that
prediction? _____________________

_______________________________

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

23
Main Idea

Detail

Detail

Detail

Vocabulary
Focus

Massive ___________________
_________________________

Use context clues to

determine the meaning of the
words in the next box.

Hobby ____________________
_________________________

Text-to-Self Connection
What is your favorite hobby? Why is it your favorite thing to do?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

24

Ants are insects. They have three main body parts, a thorax,
head, and abdomen as well as six legs and antennae. Ants use their
antennae for their sense of touch as well as their sense of smell.
There are many species of ants and they live all over the world,
except Antarctica, which is too cold for survival. Ants are very strong.
They can lift over 20 times their own body weight. Ants live together in
colonies, which can consist of millions of ants. The colonies are led by the
queen ant. The queen ants have wings, which they shed when they start a new
nest. The queen lays all of the eggs, so when a queen ant dies, the rest of the
colony will eventually die. A queen ant can live up to twenty years.

Write three things you know about ants.

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Lets Label!
Use the words below to fill
in the labels on the ant.

thorax
antennae
abdomen
head
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24
Fill in the blanks.

Ants can lift _________________ times their body weight.

Ants use their antennae for ___________ and ____________.
Ants live together in ________________.

Vocabulary
Focus
Draw a line to match the
words that mean about the
same thing.

eventually
species
except
consists
survival

kinds
made up of
finally
living
not including

Text-to-World Connection
What do you find to be most interesting about ants? Why?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

25

Daisy loved her family. She had a huge yard that she could run and
play in all day and lots of toys to chew on. The kids in the family
loved to play with Daisy. They would throw balls and sticks for her
to fetch and chase her all over the yard. At night, Daisy had a huge
doghouse with her name on it and a fluffy dog bed inside. One day,
Daisy woke up and heard the kids coming outside to play. They ran
right over to Daisy and yelled, Happy Birthday! Daisy didnt know
it was her birthday. She was so excited. The kids put a party hat on Daisy and
gave her a huge dog bone wrapped in a gigantic red bow. They sang Happy
Birthday to her and hugged her tight. Daisy was so fortunate!

Main Idea

1.

Detail

Detail

Detail

Why are the kids celebrating? __________________________________

__________________________________________________________
2.

What do the kids like to do with Daisy? ____________________________

__________________________________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

25
Effect: Daisy is so fortunate.

Cause and
Effect

Cause: ________________

Write the cause to match

the effect from the story.

____________________
____________________

Vocabulary
Focus

What does fortunate mean?

_________________
_________________
_________________

Text to Self Connection

What would you do on your birthday if you could pick anything you wanted?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

26 Mia was a dreamer. She could daydream about anything. Her favorite thing
to dream about was what she wanted to be when she grew up. Some days she
wanted to be a pediatrician and take care of sick kids. Other days she wanted
to be a singer. She just couldnt decide. Mia was thinking about her future one
day. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was her teacher telling her
that she needed to be paying attention in class. Mia realized that she
had been daydreaming and had not been listening and learning. Mia
knew that she needed to do well in school and work hard in order to
be whatever she wanted to be when she grew up. Mia started trying
harder to pay attention and always do her best in school. Mia had big
dreams and she had to work hard to achieve them.

1. What is the problem in the story? ___________________________

2. What was the solution to the problem? _______________________

___________________________________________________

Lets Visualize!
Draw a picture to show what
you think Mia was daydreaming
about when her teacher told
her to start paying attention.

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

26
Write a 1,2,3, and 4 in the front of each sentence to show the sequence of the story.

_______ Mia was daydreaming in class.

_______ Mia knew she had to start trying harder to pay attention.
_______ Mia couldnt decide if she wanted to be a pediatrician or a singer.
_______ Mias teacher told her that she needed to start paying attention.

1. I like to _______________about my
future.

Vocabulary
Focus

2. _____________, it started to rain.

Fill in the sentences with the

correct word from below.

suddenly attention daydream

3. Please pay _____________________ !

Text to Self Connection

What do you daydream about?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

27 Loggerhead sea turtles are a species of sea turtles that live in

the ocean. They are the most common sea turtles in the United
States. Loggerheads have powerful heads and jaws. They can crush the shells
of horseshoe crabs, conches and other shelled animals. They also like to eat
fish, seaweed, and even jellyfish. Sea turtles swim to the shore to lay their
eggs. The female turtles dig a hole and bury their eggs in the sand. The eggs
are often eaten by predators including raccoons. Once a turtle has hatched,
it crawls out of the sand and heads towards the water. During their journey
to the ocean, the turtles must beware of raccoons, birds, and crabs looking
for a meal. Loggerhead turtles have many predators throughout their lives,
but it is possible for them to live to be 50 years old.

What are five things that turtles eat?

1.______________________ 2.__________________________
4.______________________ 3.__________________________
5.________________________

True or False
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

_______ Sea turtles live in the ocean.

_______ Sea turtle eggs may get eaten before they ever hatch.
_______ Sea turtles only live for 5 years.
________ Loggerhead sea turtles have strong jaws.
________ Sea turtles never come out of the water.
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

27
Detail

Main Idea

Vocabulary
Focus

Detail

Detail

What is a predator? _________________

_______________________________

What are some predators of sea turtles?

_______________________________
_______________________________

Text-to-Self Connection
What do you think would be the best and worst thing about being a sea turtle?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

28

Avery had a very important math test tomorrow and she forgot to study all
week. Her stomach started to ache because she knew she wasnt going to do
well on the test. On Friday morning, she tried to come up with an excuse to
not go to school so she wouldnt fail the test. She told her mom that she
wasnt feeling very well. Averys mom told her to go sit on the couch and
she would check her temperature. She came in with the thermometer and
put it in Averys mouth. When her mom came back, she told Avery that her
temperature was completely normal and she would have to go
to school. Avery kept begging her mom, but she would not give
in. Avery finally ended up going to school. She didnt do well
on her test, but she definitely learned her lesson.

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is the problem in the story? ___________________________
___________________________________________________

Lets Infer!
You make an inference by
using what you already
know along with what you
read in the text to answer
questions.

Do you think Avery will study for her next

math test? Why do you think that?

____________________
____________________
____________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

28
Write a 1,2,3, and 4 in the front of each sentence to show the sequence of the story.

_______ Averys mom took her temperature and it was normal.

_______ Avery pretended like she was sick.
_______ Avery went to school and took her math test.
_______ Avery had a math test on Friday and she didnt study for it.

Vocabulary
Focus
Draw a line to match the
words that mean about the
same thing.

excuse
ache
regular
important

hurt
normal
reason
imperative

Authors Purpose
What lesson was the author trying to teach in this story?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

29I needed a new pair of shoes. Mine were so torn up, but I loved them. They
were so comfortable and fit my feet so well. I hated to get a new pair, but
my mom insisted that it was time. I went to the store and tried on twelve
pairs of new shoes and did not like any of them. Finally, I found the perfect
pair. They were red and white, which I loved because red is my favorite color.
They had striped shoelaces and a yellow star on the top. The shoes were so
clean and new. When I put them on, they were so cozy on the inside and shiny
on the outside. I tied them up and walked around the store. They were
perfect! I loved them even more than my old shoes. I could not
wait to wear them to school tomorrow. I knew everyone
would adore them!

Solution

Problem

Lets Visualize!
Draw a picture of what you
think the new shoes looked
like.

Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

29
Sequence of Events
First

Next

Then

Finally

1. My bed is so __________________.
2. My mom ____________________
that I eat my vegetables.
3. I __________________ my baby
sister.

Vocabulary
Focus
Fill in the sentences with the
correct word from below.

adore comfortable insisted

Text to Self Connection

What would your perfect pair of shoes look like?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

30

Most of the time, Frankie the Flounder loved being a fish. He

loved being able to swim fast and dive deep into the water, but
sometimes he wished he was a huge, scary shark. Frankie
would often pretend like he was a great white shark. He loved finding schools of
minnows and swimming towards them as fast as he could. He would open his
mouth and imagine he had enormous, sharp teeth. One day he was swimming
towards the minnows and noticed one of the smallest minnows crying. Frankie
stopped to see what was the matter and the minnow screamed and swam away
as fast as he could. Frankie chased after him, but could not catch the minnow.
He felt bad because he was just trying to have fun and didnt mean to scare the
minnow. Frankie decided that he loved being a flounder and didnt want to be a
shark anymore.

Sequence of Events
First

Next

Character
Traits
Write words to
describe Frankie.
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

Then

Finally

30
Compare & Contrast

Same

Different

Write things that are the

same and things that are
different between Frankie
and a great white shark.

Vocabulary
Focus
Circle the words in the
box that mean about the
same as pretend.

make believe
pretest
invent
fiction

preview
imaginary
enjoy
fantasy

Character Analysis
How did Frankies character change from the beginning of the story to the end?

_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Fun-in-first.blogspot.com