The Science Fair Disaster (Fiction Passage)

Start with a minute of talk: What do you do when a project does not turn out the way you planned? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 220 words in 7 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Students then answer five questions on page 2, three multiple choice and two written. Ask them to cite a detail from the text in each written response. Check the work with the answer key.

The Science Fair Disaster gives 4th grade students a fiction passage of about 220 words about a girl whose science fair volcano does not work the first time, followed by five questions. The questions practice summarizing, vocabulary in context and making inferences, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.4.2. An answer key is included.

The Science Fair Disaster is a fiction passage of about 220 words about a girl whose science fair volcano does not work the first time. It is written for 4th grade readers (ages 9-10) and has 7 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.

Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice cause and effect, summarizing, vocabulary in context and key details. Questions include "Why did nothing happen when Mia first poured the liquid" and "Make an inference: what did Mia learn from her mistake". 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: What do you do when a project does not turn out the way you planned? Ask students to read the first paragraph and guess what the problem will be, then finish the story to check their guess.

Plan about 20 minutes in all: the reading first, then the five questions. At home, a parent can read the questions aloud and talk through the written answers. In class, it works well for independent practice or a quick check of summarizing and vocabulary in context.