A Letter from Grandma (Fiction Passage)

Start with a minute of talk: Why might someone send a gift that is not what you expect? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 210 words in 6 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Next comes page 2: three multiple choice questions and two written responses. Before writing, students should find the evidence that supports their thinking. Check the work with the answer key.

A Letter from Grandma gives 4th grade students a fiction passage of about 210 words about a boy who receives a letter and a small gift from his grandmother, followed by five questions. The questions practice the main idea, vocabulary in context and making inferences, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.4.2. An answer key is included.

A Letter from Grandma is a fiction passage of about 210 words about a boy who receives a letter and a small gift from his grandmother. It is written for 4th grade readers (ages 9-10) and has 6 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.

Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice cause and effect, the main idea, vocabulary in context and key details. Questions include "Why did Leo feel a lump in his throat but also smile" and "Why do you think Grandma sent seeds". The sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.4.2, and the answer key is included so you can check responses quickly.

Try this conversation starter: Why might someone send a gift that is not what you expect? Ask students to read the first paragraph and guess what the problem will be, then finish the story to check their guess.

Most students need about 20 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 main idea and vocabulary in context.