Amandas first day
Passage Activities:

Words: 301-400

Skills: Character Traits Theme

Grades: K 1st

Topics: Realistic Fiction

Genres: Prose

Lexile Range: —

Lexile Measure: —

CCSS: Reading: Literature

Themes: —

Amanda's First Day

by Elizabeth Trach

Amanda is the new girl in school, and she is worried about how she will make new friends. Jessica and Troy step in at playtime to make her feel welcome. Students will answer questions about the theme and character traits while learning the importance of making new friends feel welcome.

Reading Comprehension Passage

Amanda's First Day

by Elizabeth Trach

Amanda was not happy. She held her father's hand tightly.

"It's time to say goodbye, Amanda. Have fun with your new class," Amanda's father said.

Amanda let go of her father's hand. She looked at the ground.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"It will be okay. There's your new teacher now."

Amanda walked over to Miss Smith.

"Welcome to Room 3, Amanda!" Miss Smith smiled.

Amanda nodded. She looked around the big classroom. It was filled with children. Some played with blocks. Some played with games. Others were working on a large jigsaw puzzle.

"We start each day with free play," said Miss Smith. "You may choose any toys you like."

Amanda wasn't sure what to do. She felt very lonely.

"Hello," said a boy with red sneakers. "My name is Troy. What's your name?"

"I'm Amanda," Amanda whispered.

"Nice to meet you, Amanda," said Troy. He pointed to a girl with long black braids. "This is my friend Jessica. Do you want to play our game?"

"Yes," said Amanda. She sat down next to Jessica. Jessica handed her a pile of red blocks.

"Here," said Jessica. "We take turns putting blocks on the tower. I do the green blocks. Troy does yellow. You can be red."

"Thanks," said Amanda. She felt better with something to do. She took her turn adding blocks to the tower. She was starting to have fun.

After a few minutes, the tower getting very tall. When Amanda put her next block on top — crash! The whole tower fell down.

Amanda felt very sad. She didn't mean to ruin the game. Would Jessica and Troy still want to be her friend? She thought she might cry.

"It's okay, Amanda," said Troy. "The tower always falls down. Now we get to start again!"

Amanda laughed. "That was fun! Thanks for letting me play."

"You're welcome," said Jessica. "That's what friends are for!"


Passage Only

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Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why was Amanda afraid at the beginning of the story?



2. Do you think Amanda had more fun playing with her friends rather than playing by herself?



3. What kind of person is Troy?



4. Do you think Amanda will have fun on her second day of school? Why or why not?


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Vocabulary List

Vocabulary List

Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.


1. Tightly

2. Lonely

3. Pile

4. Adding

5. Ruin

6. Always

Context Clues

Context Clues

Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.


1. “Amanda was not happy. She held her father's hand tightly.”

a. loosely      b. securely       c. nervously      d. helplessly


2. “Amanda wasn't sure what to do. She felt very lonely.”

a. friendly      b. sad      c. happy      d. alone


3. "Yes," said Amanda. She sat down next to Jessica. Jessica handed her a pile of red blocks.”

a. collection      b. box      c. container      d. bag


4. "She took her turn adding blocks to the tower.”

a. removing      b. increasing      c. knocking down      d. stealing


5. “She didn't mean to ruin the game.”

a. mess up       b. break      c. play     d. take turns in


6. "It's okay, Amanda," said Troy. "The tower always falls down. Now we get to start again!"

a. never      b. usually      c. sometimes      d. every time