Remember the details
Ethan was nervous before the school talent show. He wasn't sure if he wanted to dance or do magic, but he decided to do magic. He practiced his tricks every night for a week. It was finally the day of the talent show. When it was his turn, he did his famous trick and made a coin disappear. He looked into the crowd and everyone cheered for him. After the show, his teacher said she was proud of him. He felt relieved and happy that he did a good job.
What did Ethan do in the talent show?
Magic
Emily was walking down the hallway rushing to get to math class. She remembered that she needed her notebook that was in her locker. She stopped at her locker to get what she needed and it was jammed. She can't open her locker and the bell will ring in four minutes.
What is the problem, and how can she solve it?
Emily can't open her locker, and she needs to get to class. She can find a teacher and ask them to help open her locker.
As Ava turned the corner onto her street, something caught her eye—a flyer taped to the stop sign. The name on the flyer was Sam. Later that night she looked into the woods and walking around on the ground she saw big white fluffy animal the size of a wolf with a bright red collar. She thinks she might have found him!
Who is Sam? What happened to Sam? How did you know it was a dog?
Sam is a dog that went missing.
Emma usually preferred working alone. So, when her science teacher assigned a group project, she wasn’t happy. She sat quietly at the table, watching as her teammates chatted and passed around ideas. At first, it felt like no one was taking the project seriously. But after talking things through, they split the work fairly. Emma began to notice how each person brought something different to the table. By the time they finished, Emma realized that working in a group wasn’t so bad after all.
What is the main idea?
Emma learned that group work can be successful when responsibilities are shared.
When Mia’s family told her they were moving to another state, she felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She could almost see her old school, the familiar halls where she knew everyone’s name, and her soccer team practicing on the field. But after a few weeks in her new town, Mia discovered a great library, made friends in her science class, and even joined a better soccer team. She still misses her old friends, but now she feels excited about her new life.
What sport does Mia play?
Soccer
Daniel stood in the middle of his room, still in his dusty baseball uniform. He had baseball practice all week to practice for the big game coming up. Now it was Sunday night, and his phone buzzed with a steady stream of notifications. One classmate after another was asking the same thing: “Hey, Daniel, where are your slides for our presentation tomorrow?” He felt a pit in his stomach because he forgot to do his part of the project.
What are some things Daniel can do to solve this problem? What can he do differently next time?
Tell his classmates the situation, and get your slides done that night. Next time, try and split up the work and do a little bit each night.
Matthew stepped into the cramped lost-and-found room and knelt next to a bin overflowing with clothes. He pulled out a wrinkled blue hoodie. He turned it over, checked the inside tag to see the name on it. Without saying anything, he folded it and placed it back, looking sad.
Why do you think he was sad?
It wasn't the hoodie he was looking for.
Every morning, Jordan raced around his room, trying to get dressed and gather his things before the school bus arrived. He barely even had time to eat breakfast. One morning, his older brother, who always seemed calm and organized, suggested he wake up a little earlier. At first, Jordan didn’t like the idea. But after trying it, he realized he had more time to eat, get organized, and feel less stressed. That small change made a big difference in how his day started.
What is the main idea?
Waking up earlier helped Jordan improve his morning routine and reduce stress.
Liam’s eyes lit up as he stepped off the bus and into the aquarium. The air smelled like saltwater, and he could hear sound of the waterfall in the background. He had always loved animals, and today, he was going to see them up close. At the aquarium, he saw jellyfish that glowed, sharks swimming in circles, and penguins waddling on rocks. His favorite part was touching a starfish in the tide pool exhibit. On the way back, he told his teacher it was the best day ever.
What is one animal Liam saw at the aquarium?
jellyfish, sharks, starfish, penguins
John sat in the corner of the school library, his group huddled around a table with their laptops working on their group project. He tapped at the keyboard of his school laptop. “Incorrect password” flashed on the screen. He tried another combination, but it was still wrong. He was getting really nervous because he needed his password to work on the project. After a few failed tries, he remembered writing it in his science notebook at home.
What could John do to get his password? How can this be prevented in the future?
Call someone at home and ask them to read it. Write the password down in the notebook you bring to school.
The sun is shining on a cool fall day. The students’ backpacks are filled with new notebooks and pencils. They wait at the bus stop, talking with their friends who they haven’t seen all summer. The teachers are happy as they greet the new students in the hallway on their way to class.
Why is everyone happy and excited? (what day is it?)
The first day of school
Jordan walked into his room after school and looked around at the piles of books, papers, and sports equipment scattered across the floor. The clutter made him feel overwhelmed, like he couldn’t focus on anything. He decided to spend the next hour cleaning and organizing his space. As he picked up the books and sorted through the papers, the room began to look neater, and soon, Jordan felt calmer. By the time he finished, the space felt much more peaceful and ready for homework.
What is the main idea of the story?
Organizing his space helps Jordan feel more peaceful and ready to focus.
Carlos was sitting at his lunch table and was very hungry after a long morning at school. He opened his backpack to get his turkey sandwich, and his lunchbox was gone. He clearly remembered putting it in his bag that morning. He decided to leave the cafeteria and take a walk down the hallway, and out to the playground. He was searching and searching. And then, there it was—his lunchbox, resting on the bench where he had stopped earlier to tie his shoe.
What did Carlos lose? Where did he find it? What type of food was he going to eat for lunch?
His lunchbox, on the bench
Jackson was the last one in the locker room after gym class. As he reached into his locker to grab his backpack, his heart sank. His history folder—the one with his essay—wasn’t there. Papers were scattered across the floor, and someone else's hoodie was crumpled up on the bench nearby. He knelt down, checking under the bench and even inside his gym bag, but the folder was gone. Jackson stood there, unsure of what to do next.
What can Jackson do to try and solve the problem?
He can retrace his steps and ask his teachers if anyone found his folder in their rooms or go to the lost and found.
Tyler sat on the cold, metal bleachers, staring across the court where the names of the basketball team members were taped up. He ran over with nervousness as he stared at the list. His shoulders slumped and his chest felt tight. When his friend came over smiling and holding a jersey, Tyler forced a small smile.
Why do you think Tyler wasn't very happy?
He did not make the team.
Thunderstorms are dangerous. Do you know what to do to remain safe during a thunderstorm? First, go inside a sturdy building or a vehicle and close the windows. Do not use telephones or electrical equipment. Avoid taking showers or baths. Knowing what to do (and what not to do) during a thunderstorm could save your life.
What is the main idea?
There are certain actions you need to take to stay safe in a thunderstorm
Imagine our solar system, with the planets around the Sun, but now picture something hidden and invisible lurking around. Surrounding the planets, there are black holes, but they can’t be seen. This is because black holes don’t light up like other objects do. It’s like looking for something invisible in a dark room.
Can black holes be seen? Why?
No. They don't show light.
Josh sat at the kitchen table, his math homework spread out in front of him. He had finished all the problems—except one. It was a word problem and no matter how many times he reread it, the numbers just didn’t add up. His little sister was humming at the counter, and the smell of dinner was drifting from the oven, but all Josh could see was the confusing problem on his paper and the clock ticking closer to bedtime. The homework was due in an hour and he didn't know what to do.
What can Josh do to solve this problem?
Ask a family member or friend for help with the problem. Go in a separate room to focus. Tell his teacher he was struggling with that problem and seek extra help.
Aiden walked into the living room and froze. His older sister was sitting on the couch, arms crossed, with their mom standing nearby holding Aiden’s report card. The TV was off, and the room was unusually quiet. Without saying a word, his mom looked at him, one eyebrow slightly raised. Aiden shifted his weight and avoided her eyes. He already knew what this was about.
Why do you think Aiden's mom looked upset?
He did not do well on his report card.
Your body has a special system that protects you from illness and disease. This system is called the immune system. It helps identify when something harmful enters your body. Every cell in your body has a way of saying, “I belong here” to the immune system, which leaves them alone. But things like bacteria, viruses, and parasites are different- they are like monsters and they are not good for your body. When the immune system sees a one of these monsters, it quickly attacks.
What is the main idea?
The immune system protects the body by identifying and attacking harmful invaders.