Goldfish Hide and Seek
Reading Comprehension Activity
Jimmy is very excited about his new pet, but how do you play with a fish? In this story, even finned friends can be full of fun. Students will read the story and answer follow-up questions on character traits, the vocabulary, and the plot.
Topic(s): Realistic Fiction, Science Fiction / Fantasy. Skill(s): Summary, Character Traits, Context Clues, Story Elements. Genre(s): Prose
Click for the passage & questions on one printable PDF.
Today was the school carnival. Jimmy was excited. He wanted to win a prize at the game table.
Jimmy stepped up to the first booth. “Hello, there!” called Mr. Ames. Mr. Ames was the school music teacher. “Would you like to try my game? Just toss a small ball into one of these bowls to win a prize.”
Jimmy nodded. He took three small, white balls in his hand. “Ready, set, go!” cried Mr. Ames.
Jimmy threw the first ball hard. It bounced off the edge of a bowl and onto the ground. “Not too hard,” said Mr. Ames.
Jimmy tossed the second ball very lightly into the air. It went up high and floated down. Another miss. Now he was down to his last ball. Jimmy looked at the bowl carefully. He threw the ball, and this time it landed with a splash into the bowl.
“You win!” Said Mr. Ames.
“What’s my prize?” asked Jimmy.
Mr. Ames picked the bowl up and took out the wet ball. “I’ll keep the ball, but you can have the bowl.”
When Mr. Ames handed Jimmy the bowl, he could see a bright orange fish swimming in fast circles.
“Wow! I’ll name her Golda,” said Jimmy.
The goldfish looked right at Jimmy, wiggled her tail, and darted behind a small plastic treasure chest in the fishbowl. Jimmy laughed.
“Are you hiding? Don’t be afraid.” He turned the bowl around in his hands so he could see the fish. “Found you!”
Golda looked at Jimmy again. The gills on her neck were flapping open and shut as she breathed. Then, like a flash, Golda swam to the other side of the treasure chest.
“Well, I guess I’m ‘it’,” said Jimmy. “Come out, come out wherever you are!” He slowly turned the bowl again and found Golda, still flapping her gills. “You’re it now!”
This time Jimmy turned the bowl and ducked his head down low, so the treasure chest was between him and Golda. He waited.
Soon Golda swam around to Jimmy’s side of the bowl and flapped her gills. “Now you found me,” Jimmy said. “I didn’t know a fish could be so much fun!”
Get the passage & questions on one printable PDF.