Find the Five W's in the Overdue Book News
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Find the Five W's in the Overdue Book News" is written for 3rd Grade (Ages 8-9), and it covers Common Core RI.3.1. If your little one is a year younger but already steady on comprehension exercises, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and identifying the 5 w's never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.
2 pages in this set
3rd grade reading worksheet: fill in a 5 W's and How chart for a news story about a library book returned 40 years late. Answer key included. Part of our identifying the 5 w's comprehension exercises collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Begin with a shared reading or oral warm-up that highlights identifying the 5 w's so students hear and see the skill in context before practicing it independently. Have students work through it independently, using a partner or small group only if they want to talk through their thinking, especially for phonics-based tasks where saying an answer aloud first helps. After completing the worksheet, use one or two examples from the page to start a discussion: "Where else have you seen this in your reading?" These identifying the 5 w's worksheets are ideal for use during small group reading time, as independent center work, or as a homework activity.
What students will practice
- Students will read a made up news story about Mr. Ortiz returning a library book 40 years late.
- Students will fill in a chart with the who, what, where, when, why and how of the story.
- Students will choose the best new headline and the main idea of the news story.
Curriculum Links
Common Core State Standards
Reading: Informational Text · 3rd Grade
Standard: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
View all RI.3.1 worksheets →Find this in the curriculum
Browse the grade, subject, and topic this belongs to.
FAQ
How do I use this identifying the 5 w's worksheet?
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Begin with a shared reading or oral warm-up that highlights identifying the 5 w's so students hear and see the skill in context before practicing it independently. Have students work through it independently, using a partner or small group only if they want to talk through their thinking, especially for phonics-based tasks where saying an answer aloud first helps. After completing the worksheet, use one or two examples from the page to start a discussion: "Where else have you seen this in your reading?" These identifying the 5 w's worksheets are ideal for use during small group reading time, as independent center work, or as a homework activity.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Fill in a 5 W's and How chart for a news story about a library book returned 40 years late. A news story answers the five W's: who, what, where, when, and why. Many also tell how. This news story is made up. The directions on the page read: Read the news story. Look for who, what, where, when, why, and how. Then, turn the page and answer the questions. On page 2: Write a few words on the line for each W and for How in the chart. Then, circle the letter of the best answer for 2 and 3. The answer key covers the questions on page 2.
Can I use this identifying the 5 w's worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 3rd Grade comprehension exercises, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with identifying the 5 w's. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.
What are the 5 W's?
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Who, what, where, when and why. They are the questions a news story answers near the top. Many stories also tell how, so the news story charts have a How row too.
What is a headline?
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A headline is the title of a news story. It tells the main idea in a few words, like Long Lost Library Book Is Back. Question 2 on each news story sheet asks children to choose the best new headline.
Are the news stories real?
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No. Each news story is made up, and the page says so, but it is written the way a real newspaper story is, with the most important facts first.
Is there an answer key for each worksheet?
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Yes. All 3 sheets have an answer key, with sample answers for the chart.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 3rd Grade |
| Subject | Reading |
| Topic | Comprehension Exercises |
| Standard | RI.3.1 |
| Pages | 2 pages |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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