Grace Learns to Swim (Fiction Passage)

Start with a minute of talk: How do you learn a hard skill one small step at a time? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 180 words in 5 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Page 2 has five questions, three multiple choice and two written. Remind students to answer in complete sentences and to point to the part of the text that proves their answer. Check the work with the answer key.

Grace Learns to Swim gives 3rd grade students a fiction passage of about 180 words about a girl who is learning to swim, one skill at a time, followed by five questions. The questions practice the main idea, vocabulary in context and cause and effect, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.3.2. An answer key is included.

Grace Learns to Swim is a fiction passage of about 180 words about a girl who is learning to swim, one skill at a time. It is written for 3rd grade readers (ages 8-9) and has 5 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.

Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice the main idea, cause and effect, vocabulary in context and the order of events. Questions include "What is the main idea of this story" and "Why did everyone at the pool clap". The sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.3.2, and the answer key is included so you can check responses quickly.

Try this conversation starter: How do you learn a hard skill one small step at a time? Invite students to share a similar experience first, then read to compare. Afterward, ask what the main character learned.

Plan about 15 to 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 the main idea and vocabulary in context.