= Partner SiteThe Pet Store - Reading Comprehension Activity
Jackie loves to visit the pet store. She likes all the animals, but her favorite is the talking bird. Will she finally be able to teach him a new word? Students will read the passage and answer follow-up questions about character and other story elements. This reading passage also includes Dolch Sight Words from the pre-primer and primer lists.
Topic(s): Realistic Fiction. Skill(s): Fact & Opinion, Context Clues. Genre(s): Prose
Passage
“Jackie, would you like to come to the post office?” Mom asked.
“Yes, please!” said Jackie. The post office was next door to the pet store. Jackie loved to go to the pet store to see the animals. “Can we see the pets?”
“Yes,” said Mom. “I knew you would want to.”
The line at the post office was long. Mom bought stamps and mailed a letter. Then it was time to go to the pet store.
Jackie liked to look at the dogs first. The big dogs were in cages near the floor. The little dogs sat in cages way up high. They wagged their tails. Some barked. A big, black dog was taking a nap.
Next, Jackie went to visit the cats. They were very quiet. The cats looked at Jackie with big, green eyes. The cats liked to scratch a post covered with rough rope/ This helped them keep their claws sharp.
Finally, Jackie turned to the bird cages. There were many small birds. Some sang songs. Other birds whistled. In the last cage in the row, there was a big bird. He was blue and yellow. His name was Sam.
“Hello, Sam,” said Jackie.
“Hello! Hello!” said Sam. Sam could talk. He was Jackie’s favorite animal.
“How are you?” asked Jackie.
“Pretty bird! Pretty bird!” said Sam.
Jackie laughed. Sam knew many words, but he didn’t really know what they meant. He just copied the sounds people made.
Jackie wanted to teach Sam a new word. “Jackie!” she said. “Now you try it. Jackie. Jackie.” She wanted to teach Sam her name.
Sam turned his head sideways. He shook his feathers. “Pretty bird!”
Jackie laughed. “You are very silly,” she said.
“Very silly! Very silly!” Sam said. He bobbed his head up and down in a funny dance.
“Mom! I did it! I taught Sam a new word!” Jackie was very happy. Sam couldn’t say her name, but she did teach him to say some new words.
“See you later, silly bird!” Jackie said as she headed home with Mom.
Comprehension Questions
Answers
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