Here are some ways that you read stories.
- You may read to find out what the story is about. This is sometimes called the main idea.
- You may read a story to find details that help you understand the main idea better.
- You may read a story to find out an answer to a question. Sometimes this means that you put things together to make sense of the story. Other times, you may need to predict or infer something about a character or event in the story.
- You may read a story to find out about the order of events in the story. Putting events in order helps you to remember the story and make sense of it.
Try reading the part of a little story included below and then answer the questions.
“It was fall. This meant that the days were cooler than in the summertime. The nights were colder too. Birds called to each other from the housetops. There was going to be a big change soon. Squirrels scampered from tree to tree. Their cheeks were bulging with treasure. Nuts fallen from the trees were covering the grass and the squirrels had taken notice. Even the trees seemed to know that something was going to happen. As the trees swayed back and forth with the wind and rain, the leaves made a noise. Occasionally, one or two leaves fell off the trees and laid on the grass below. It was time.
Almost overnight, the green leaves in the trees changed colours. Now the leaves were red, orange, and yellow…”
Questions:
- What is the main idea of the first paragraph of the story?
- What is the meaning of these phrases: “Bulging with treasure”, “Taken notice, “Swayed back and forth.”
- Paragraph two is not finished. What do you think should happen next? Write a few sentences to finish your paragraph so it makes sense.