A Promise to the River (Fiction Passage)
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"A Promise to the River" is a 5th Grade fiction reading passage worksheet for ages 10-11: a story of about 270 words about a girl and her father who spend their Saturdays cleaning a river to keep a promise, plus a page of five questions on the theme or lesson of the story, vocabulary in context and cause and effect. It covers Common Core RL.5.2 and includes an answer key.
2 pages in this set
Read a story about cleaning up a river, then answer 5 questions on theme, the word accomplished, Dad's gesture, and how the last line echoes the first. Part of our fiction passages collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.
How to use “A Promise to the River” with 5th graders
Start with a minute of talk: How can one family's small action help a place? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 270 words in 7 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Page 2 holds five questions. Ask students to support each answer with evidence from the text, and have partners swap the two written responses to give feedback. Check the work with the answer key.
Skills students practice in this 5th grade fiction passage
- Name the theme of "A Promise to the River" and explain what in the story supports it
- Work out what "accomplished" means from the words around it
- Write complete sentences to answer prompts such as "How did the ducklings and dragonfly change how Nora felt?"
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Curriculum Links
Common Core State Standards
Reading · 5th Grade
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FAQ
How to use “A Promise to the River” with 5th graders
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Start with a minute of talk: How can one family's small action help a place? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 270 words in 7 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Page 2 holds five questions. Ask students to support each answer with evidence from the text, and have partners swap the two written responses to give feedback. Check the work with the answer key.
What does this worksheet teach?
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A Promise to the River gives 5th grade students a fiction passage of about 270 words about a girl and her father who spend their Saturdays cleaning a river to keep a promise, followed by five questions. The questions practice the theme or lesson of the story, vocabulary in context and cause and effect, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.5.2. An answer key is included.
What is "A Promise to the River" about?
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A Promise to the River is a fiction passage of about 270 words about a girl and her father who spend their Saturdays cleaning a river to keep a promise. It is written for 5th grade readers (ages 10-11) and has 7 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.
Which reading skills does the A Promise to the River worksheet practice?
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Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice cause and effect, vocabulary in context, the theme or lesson of the story and how a character feels. Questions include "Why did Dad point at the cleared patch of ground" and "How does Grandma's last line connect to the start of the story". The sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.5.2, and the answer key is included so you can check responses quickly.
How can I introduce "A Promise to the River" before students read?
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Try this conversation starter: How can one family's small action help a place? Before reading, ask students to predict what might happen from the title. After reading, have them retell the story in two or three sentences before they answer the questions.
How long does the A Promise to the River worksheet take, and can I use it at home or in class?
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Most students need about 20 to 25 minutes for the passage and the questions together. The sheet works at a kitchen table with a parent talking through the written answers, or at a reading center as independent work on the theme or lesson of the story and vocabulary in context.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 5th Grade |
| Subject | Reading |
| Topic | Paragraphs & Passages |
| Standard | RL.5.2 |
| Pages | 2 pages |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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A Song for the Sea (Fiction Passage)
Letters Across the Ocean (Fiction Passage)
Mina and the Mountain Trail (Fiction Passage)
Samir's Big Decision (Fiction Passage)
The Boy Who Painted Rain (Fiction Passage)
The Broken Compass (Fiction Passage)
The Clockmaker's Secret (Fiction Passage)
The Dragon Who Could Not Fly (Fiction Passage)