Reading comprehensionGrade 1
1st grade reading comprehension
A very short original passage of about 65 words in the largest type this tool uses, followed by three circle-the-answer questions and one to write. It is for new readers who are ready to answer questions about what they read.
- Fresh problems every time
- Answer key on its own page
- Print or PDF, Letter or A4
- Free, no sign-up
On this page
Small text, big print
First graders are still building speed, so the passage is short and the words are plain. Each of the five passages runs about 65 words, in sentences of a few words each. The type is the biggest of any grade here, with wide space between lines, so a finger can follow along.
This is not a decodable reader and it is not leveled by Lexile or another formal system. Sentences are simple and the words are everyday ones, but a child who is still sounding out may need to read it aloud with you the first time.
What prints
The sheet is titled "1st Grade Reading Comprehension". Under it, the instructions ask the child to read the story or article and then circle the best answer or write on the lines. The passage title is printed in bold, and the text follows in two short paragraphs.
There are four questions. Questions one to three are multiple choice with three choices each, stacked in one column. Each choice has a small lettered circle, and the child circles the answer. Question four has two ruled lines for a written answer, spaced wide for large handwriting.
In the key, a colored ring marks every right choice, and a sample reply is written on the top line.
The five passages
- The Red Kite, a story about Mia, her kite and a windy day.
- Ants at Work, an article on how ants live in a nest and work as a team.
- The Rain Day Fort, a story about two children who build a fort from a sheet and two chairs.
- Our Moon, an article about the moon.
- Max Digs a Hole, a story about a brown pup and a buried bone.
The settings
- Grade is set to 1st grade on this page. The menu also offers 2nd through 5th grade. Choosing new problems brings up another 1st grade passage, which may repeat.
Worked example: The Red Kite
In this story Mia's kite goes up, falls into a tree, and her dad gets it down with a long stick. The first question is "What does Mia have?" with the choices a red kite, a blue ball and a green hat. The child circles "a red kite".
The second asks "Where does the kite fall?" and the answer is "in a tree". The third asks how Mia feels when the kite falls: happy, sleepy or sad. The child has to find the words "Mia is sad". The written question is "Who helps Mia get the kite down?" and a model answer is "Her dad helps her."
Look at how a child answers the last one. A full sentence is nice, but "her dad" shows the child understood. Praise the finding, then ask for the sentence if you want the writing practice.
For the grown-up
Read the title aloud, ask what the child thinks will happen, then let them read. Once they finish, ask them to tell the story back in their own words before they touch the questions. For the next step after this page, see 2nd grade reading comprehension, or practice the words themselves with first grade sight words.
Sources
- Common Core State Standards: Reading Literature, Grade 1 (RL.1.1, key details) thecorestandards.org
- Common Core State Standards: Reading Informational Text, Grade 1 (RI.1.1, RI.1.2) thecorestandards.org
- Institute of Education Sciences: Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (WWC practice guide) ies.ed.gov