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Ch 5 Presentation - Bitler and Northcut 

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Varying question stems can sustain engagement and promote critical thinking. The timing, sequence and clarity of questions you ask students can be as important as the type of question you ask. The table below is organized to help formulate questions provoking gradually higher levels of thinking.

¹ From Alison King, "Inquiring Minds Really Do Want to Know: Using Questioning to Teach Critical Thinking," Teaching of Psychology 22 (1995): 14.

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Varying question stems can sustain engagement and promote critical thinking. The timing, sequence and clarity of questions you ask students can be as important as the type of question you ask. The table below is organized to help formulate questions provoking gradually higher levels of thinking.

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Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution. At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions. For effective questioning, start by holding your hypotheses loosely. Be willing to fundamentally reconsider your initial conclusions - and do so without defensiveness. Second, listen more than you talk through active listening. Third, leave your queries open-ended, and avoid yes-or-no questions. Fourth, consider the counterintuitive to avoid falling into groupthink. Fifth, take the time to stew in a problem, rather than making decisions unnecessarily quickly. Last, ask thoughtful, even difficult, follow-ups.

Are you tackling a new and difficult problem at work? Recently promoted and trying to both understand your new role and bring a fresh perspective? Or are you new to the workforce and seeking ways to meaningfully contribute alongside your more experienced colleagues? If so, critical thinking - the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution - will be core to your success. And at the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.

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Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions

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Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution. At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions. For effective questioning, start by holding your hypotheses loosely.

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Every child is born with a questioning mind. Two-year-olds are famous for continually asking "why?"-and never being satisfied with the first answer. They are always trying to get to the "why beyond the why," that next-level reasoning behind our first response.

To build critical thinking skills, we need to nurture this questioning mind as children get older. Too often, children are trained (intentionally or unintentionally) to see learning as a process of finding the one "right answer." But the heart of critical thinking is looking beyond simple answers and getting to deeper levels of understanding-"the why beyond the why." Students who continually question to test their understanding, dig deeper into a topic, or even challenge the status quo are developing the critical thinking skills they will need to become lifelong learners and problem solvers. In fact, it is precisely the ability to keep asking better questions that leads to great discoveries and new ways of thinking in all disciplines and fields. Here's how you can help students take "Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How" to the next level to support higher levels of learning.

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Critical Thinking and Questioning

Socrates recognized the importance of questioning for developing understanding and reasoning skills more than 2,000 years ago. The Socratic Method of teaching through questioning still stands up today. But even more important than asking questions is teaching students how to ask their questions. In many ways, this can be considered the essence of critical thinking. Paul and Elder (2000), in Critical Thinking: Basic Theory and Practice , explain, "Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. Had no questions been asked by those who laid the foundation for a field...the field would never have developed in the first place."

Questioning is closely tied to the process of metacognition , or "thinking about our own thinking." Metacognitive questions that support higher-level thinking include:

What do I already know about this?

How do I know this?

How reliable and unbiased are my sources of information?

When would I use this, and for what purpose?

How does this connect to other things I know?

How does this change my thinking about a related topic?

What pieces of this do I still not understand?

What else do I need to find out, and where can I find the information?

Beyond the Five Ws: Increasing the Rigor of Our Questions

We often teach children questioning through the "5 Ws and 1 H": Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Often, we think of the first four questions-the Who, What, When, and Where-as basic knowledge questions and Why and How as higher-level questions. But it's not always that simple. It is possible to create both higher-level and lower-level questions for all the Ws (and H). Consider the difference between these "Who" questions:

Who drafted the Marshall Plan?

Who were the primary beneficiaries of the Marshall Plan?

The first question is a basic knowledge question-Google it, write it down, move on to the next question. The second question asks students to think about what the treaty says, who it was written to benefit, and in what ways-a much higher-level task.

Increasing the rigor of the questions we ask-and the questions we teach students to ask for themselves-is one of the key ways that we increase rigor for the assignment as a whole. Here are some examples of lower-level and higher-level questions for the 5Ws and H:

The questions in the figure above are only a few examples out of hundreds of possible questions at every level of Bloom's taxonomy. And of course, there are hundreds more that don't fit within the "5 Ws and H" framework. Questions like:

Support for Rigorous Questioning with Thinking Maps and the Frame of Reference

To move students to higher levels of rigor, encourage them to keep asking questions-to get to the "why (and how) behind the why." The best kinds of questions are those that don't have a simple answer that can be found through a Google search or expressed as a multiple-choice question. In a , Mary Halton (2019) recommends four strategies (based on the work of Brian Oshiro) for moving beyond the superficial:

Go beyond "what" and ask "how?" and "why?"

Follow up with "How do you know this?"

Prompt them to think about perspective.

Ask them how to solve the problem.

For example, if you want students to understand the impacts of a new piece of legislation, you can start with the question, "what are the intended outcomes of this legislation?" It's not a bad question-but you can take it further with related "how" and "why" questions. For example:

How will this legislation achieve those outcomes?

Why should our community vote for or against this legislation?

Students can work through these questions using a multiple-Map Thinking Maps exercise.

A Multi-Flow Map is used to show the intended outcomes of the bill (cause-and-effect).

A Flow Map could be used to show the mechanisms leading to each outcome-what actually happens in the chain of events from legislation to outcome?

They could use Tree Maps to explore the pros and cons of the legislation or show how it impacts different groups of stakeholders.

A writing Flow Map can be used to help them organize their ideas for an opinion piece.

Students can continue to go deeper with questions like, "What unintended effects might result from this legislation?" and "How would you change this bill to avoid those unintended effects?" Students can use and combine Thinking Maps in a variety of ways to explore these higher-level questions.

"How do you know this?" and "What is the perspective?" are important questions, too. Students need to be able to determine the source of their information and understand the perspectives and potential biases that may be influencing the way information is presented. In a Thinking Maps school, students learn to use the Frame of Reference to explore questions such as:

Where did you get your information?

What is the point of view that is influencing this information source?

What conclusions can you draw from this information?

As students learn to show their thinking through Thinking Maps, they are also learning to use and apply the academic language that corresponds to each Map, including questioning language. Using the Maps, students learn how to ask, and answer, questions at all levels of thinking.
Going further: To learn more about implementing Thinking Maps, talk to your Thinking Maps representative.

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To Get Better Thinking, Ask Better Questions

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Asking better questions is an important component of critical thinking. Learn how to go beyond the

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Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply information in a logical and rational way. It is a valuable skill for solving problems, making decisions, and communicating effectively. But how can you improve your critical thinking skills? One way is to ask better questions. Questions that challenge your assumptions, explore different perspectives, and stimulate deeper thinking. In this article, you will learn some tips and techniques for asking better critical thinking questions.

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How can you ask better critical thinking questions?

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Learn how to ask better critical thinking questions that challenge your assumptions, explore different perspectives, and stimulate deeper thinking.

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We're always looking for ways to get our kids to think more deeply. Critical thinking skills are really important. They allow your students to think clearly and rationally and understand the logical connection between ideas. Critical thinking is vital in this time of contradicting information and fake news, so how do we get our students to do more of it? We've rounded up all of the best critical thinking questions to help you get your students to the next level.

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With Who

Who caused harm?

Who is harmed as a result?

Who was the most important character?

Who is responsible?

Who said it?

Who wrote it?

Who should have won?

Who will benefit?

Who would be affected by this?

Who makes the decisions?

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With What

What would it be like if ... ?

What could happen if ... ?

What other outcomes might have happened?

What questions would you have asked?

What would you ask the author about ... ?

What was the point of ... ?

What should have happened instead?

What is that character's motive?

What else could have changed the whole story?

What can you conclude?

What would your position have been in that situation?

What would happen if ... ?

What makes your position stronger?

What was the turning point?

What is the point of the question?

What did it mean when ... ?

What is the other side of this argument?

What was the purpose of ... ?

What does ______ mean?

What is the problem you are trying to solve?

What does the evidence say?

What assumptions are you making?

What's a better alternative?

What are the strengths of the argument?

What are the weaknesses of the argument?

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With Where

Where did the story change?

Where would you most often find this problem?

Where are there similar situations?

Where would you go to get answers to this problem?

Where can this be improved?

Where can you get more information?

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With When

When did the story change?

When is this acceptable?

When is this unacceptable?

When does this become a problem?

When will we be able to tell if it worked?

When is it time to reassess?

When is the best time to start?

When is it time to stop?

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With Why

Why is this a problem?

Why did the character say ... ?

Why did the author decide to ... ?

Why did that happen?

Why is this important?

Why is it necessary?

Why do you think I (he, she, they) asked that question?

Why is that answer the best one?

Why do we need this today?

Critical Thinking Questions That Start With How

How would you solve ... ?

How is this different from other situations?

How is this similar to ... ?

How would you use ... ?

How could the story have ended differently?

How does this work?

How could this be harmful?

How else could this have been handled?

How should they have responded?

How would you feel about ... ?

How does this change the outcome?

How did you make that decision?

How does this benefit you/others?

How does this hurt you/others?

Other Critical Thinking Questions

Can you give me an example?

Do you agree with ... ?

Can you compare this with ... ?

Can you defend the actions of ... ?

Could this be interpreted differently?

What are your favorite critical thinking questions? Share in the comments below.

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We're always looking for ways to get our kids to think more deeply. Critical thinking skills are really important. They allow your students to think clearly and rationally and understand the logical connection between ideas. Critical thinking is vital in this time of contradicting information and fake news, so how do we get our students to do more of it?

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Each student walks across the graduation stage, diploma in one hand and a proverbial toolbox in the other. Inside the box is every skill and piece of knowledge they've learned throughout their childhood. The contents of this toolbox will be their building blocks to success beyond high school.

In addition to impressive classroom discoveries - like producing electricity from potatoes or building their own paper mache volcano - there's a vital skill every student should possess: critical thinking. They'll use this skill to assess, critique, and create, propelling them to thrive in the real world as they participate in engaging conversations and offer constructive solutions to real-world issues.

Fortunately, this valuable skill can be developed both inside and out of the classroom. Teachers and parents can encourage kids to think deeply and critically about the world by asking good questions. We'll explore why, as parents and teachers, the questions we ask our kids matter - and what we can be asking to help them excel.

How Questions Guide Young Students' Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is about so much more than simply knowing the facts. Thinking critically involves applying reason and logic to assess arguments and come to your own conclusions. Instead of reciting facts or giving a textbook answer, critical thinking skills encourage students to move beyond knowing information and get to the heart of what they really think and believe.

15 Questions to Encourage Critical Thinking

What is one of the best ways to encourage critical thinking? By asking excellent questions!

We have compiled a list of 15 questions that you, as a teacher or parent, can ask to encourage kids to think outside the box. Let's dive in.

1. How Do You Know This?

Whether it was by word of mouth, classroom knowledge, or a news report, this question prompts students to consider whether their source of information is reputable.

2. How Would Your Perspective Be Different If You Were on the Opposing Side?

This question encourages kids to role-play from an opposing person's viewpoint and discover a perspective outside their own so that they can better understand the broader situation. Extracurriculars like debate class - mandatory for all Hun middle school students - is a powerful way to accomplish this goal, as students must thoughtfully anticipate their opposition's arguments in order to counter them.

3. How Would You Solve This Problem?

Finding creative solutions to common problems is a valuable life skill. This question is the perfect opportunity to encourage young minds to wander!

4. Do You Agree or Disagree - and Why?

Choosing a side in any debate challenges students to consider both perspectives, weigh the arguments, and make an informed choice.

5. Why? Why? Why?

Just like when you were a young kid, ask why repeatedly to push students beyond a simple first, second, or even third answer, to get to the real depth. Be careful, though, not to ask them to the point of frustration - you want learning and exploring to be a positive experience.

6. How Could We Avoid This Problem in the Future?

Ask students to apply critical thinking by analyzing how they could prevent a certain issue from reoccurring.

7. Why Does It Matter?

Whether they're learning about a historical event or a mathematical concept, it's important to understand why the topic is relevant today.

8. What's Another Way to Look at This Issue?

It can be easy to learn one worldview and automatically believe it is the only, or the best, way. Challenging kids to think of a creative alternate perspective encourages them to think more broadly.

9. Can You Give Me an Example?

Inventing an example, or pulling from experience to share a real one, is an excellent way to apply critical thinking skills.

10. How Could It Have Ended Differently?

It takes some innovation and careful analysis to storyboard a different ending, considering "what could have been" rather than "what is."

11. When Will We Be Able to Tell If It Worked?

Kids will be pushed to consider what constitutes success and how it can be measured in scenarios where the results aren't set in stone.

12. Why did you ask that question?

Instead of answering a question at face value, this question encourages kids to think about what the merits of the question may be.

13. Who Would Be Affected by This?

Students as the next generation of leaders and game-changers. When making any decision, it's important to consider who will be impacted and how.

14. What Can This Story Teach Us About Our Own Lives?

From literature to social studies, students interact with all kinds of different stories. Help them take these narratives one step further by examining how it relates to their lives.

15. Why Is This a Problem?

Analyzing why something is a problem - rather than just accepting that it is - will help students develop strong problem-solving skills of their own.

The Hun School of Princeton Teaches Critical Thinking

At the Hun School of Princeton, our teachers ask these questions, and more, in combination with our student-centered learning approach that helps kids of all ages think critically about what they're learning.

As a premier private school in Princeton, NJ, we aim to help students think deeply and develop well-rounded skill sets through immersive, problem-based learning.

Schedule a tour today to see our program in action!
Schedule a Tour

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questions to encourage critical thinking

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15 Questions to Encourage Critical Thinking | Hun School of Princeton

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Teachers & parents should use every opportunity, especially in a child's early school years, to encourage critical thinking. Here are some questions to ask!

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Lucidspark: A Virtual Whiteboard with Real-Time Collaboration

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Visualize ideas and processes with Lucidspark - a virtual whiteboard to collaborate with anyone in real time. Brainstorm and roadmap in a visual workspace that's simple and intuitive for everyone.

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Here are a bunch of free reading comprehension worksheets. These will help students master reading skills. You can print, edit, or complete these worksheets online. Try the nonfiction or short story reading worksheets to cover general reading skills. Or focus on specific reading skills like making predictions.

Nonfiction Passages with Questions

Chess

Chess has been played for hundreds of years. This test covers some basics of the game of kings. This test is for earlier readers, but the multiple-choice and long response questions are rigorous and aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

TV

Where would American culture be without TV? Television has impacted society in profound ways. Modern streaming options may be taking over living rooms today, but TV has played a significant role in culture since its creation. Learn about its history and answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

Seat Belts

Wearing your seat belt is such a simple thing, but it can save your life. Find out why in this short persuasive text, and then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. This is more great practice for standardized tests. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Tetris

There's a reason why Tetris is the most popular video game of all time. Learn about this classic game and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this fun and exciting reading practice test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6

The Coliseum

The Coliseum is one of the world's most recognizable images. Learn about its rich and interesting history and then answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

The Pony Express

The Pony Express was the fastest way to get mail from California to the rest of the nation in the early 1860s. The exciting nature of the enterprise has earned the Pony Express a place in American folklore. Learn about the Pony Express in this text and answer multiple-choice and extended response questions based on the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Wintertime

Wintertime can be rough. Getting through the wintertime is harder on some species than on others. Learn about how different animals survive the winter and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6

Y2K

Computers control so many aspects of our lives. As a society, we depend on them in many regards. What if these systems went down? This passage explains the Y2K bug to readers. Students answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Money

Money is a great way to get students' attention. This passage summarizes the origins and evolution of money. Readers answer multiple-choice and long-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Redwoods and Arms Races

Redwoods are known for being the largest trees in the world. Why do they grow so tall? How does that affect their lives? How does that connect to human activity? Learn more by reading this interesting text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

The Cobra Effect

Our actions can have far reaching consequences. Sometimes these consequences can surprise us. Learn about a phenomenon known as the cobra effect and answer comprehension and inference questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. It is the most notorious shopping day of the year. Learn about this cultural phenomenon in this short text and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

The Act of Reading

This is a reading passage about reading. Isn't that meta? The passage questions why so many students work so hard to get out of reading assignments in this short persuasive piece. Of course, this activity includes multiple-choice and extended-response questions after the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are some of nature's most interesting creatures. Students will learn about these remarkable creatures while answering multiple-choice and extended response questions in this activity. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

The Dodo

The dodo is probably the world's most popular and well known extinct animal. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and their disappearance in this short text. Answer multiple-choice and long response questions to sharpen skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Phishing

Computer hackers are scary, but learning about their attacks can help to keep you safe. This text teaches readers about a common attack, and how to protect against it. It covers reading skills like main idea, author's purpose, and making inferences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Diamonds

Diamonds are not only beautiful, they are the hardest material on Earth. They also come in many colors. Find out why in this informative passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Child Inventors

You don't have to be big to make a big discovery. This short reading passage about child inventors will inspire your students. It will also give them practice with nonfiction reading skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Honey Badgers

Did you know that honey badgers can sleep off cobra venom? It's true. Though small in size, the honey badger is renowned for its fighting spirit. Learn how they fight off much larger animals in this reading passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended response questions, so that you can run up on a standardized test like a honey badger! Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Carnivorous Plants

Plants are known for sitting still, but some plants are devious killers. Learn more about the amazing world of carnivorous plants with this short text. Then answer CCSS aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

Hyperinflation

Paper money is a funny thing. The only value it really has is given to it by society. This value can change rapidly under certain conditions. Learn more about hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic (Germany) after World War I in this interesting short passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Koko

Koko is one special gorilla. Not only can she communicate in sign language, but her Facebook page has more Likes than mine. Learn about this unique creature in this short nonfiction passage and then answer multiple-choice and extended-response questions. All questions are aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Worst Game Ever

E.T. for the Atari has been widely condemned as the worst game ever. Learn why while answering reading comprehension questions in this awesome nonfiction reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

"A Mystery of Heroism"

This is a thoughtful yet simply written piece set during a battle in the American Civil War. Crane, while capturing the terror and foolishness of war, dispels a heroic myth. WARNING: This text contains graphic descriptions of a violent battle. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.

All Nonfiction Passages

Short Stories with Questions

"The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger"

From the man who imagined the Land of Oz comes a short story about peer pressure and testing one's morals. Students will like reading about these memorable characters and they should find the ironic outcome to be humorous. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

This is one of Poe's more accessible works. When I teach this text, I tend to play up the insanity of the narrator. It makes for a pretty good hook. This is also a good text to study when discussing the reliability of the narrator. Warning: This text contains a murder and may be unsuitable for some audiences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9

"The Gift of the Magi"

This is probably O. Henry's best known work. It is the classic Christmas tale of a young couple who sacrifice their most valued treasures for one another. It is a story that sticks with readers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Cat That Walked by Himself"

Written in the style of a folktale, this Kipling classic explains the origins of the domestic cat. This fun and cleverly written tale was borrowed from Kipling's Just So Stories. It is a great tale to study when discussing folkloric traits. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Lottery Ticket"

A wise man once said, "Mo'money; mo'problems." This Chekhov classic brings those harsh words to life. The story is about a married couple who have a close encounter with a winning lottery ticket. This story helps to remind readers about what's really important in life. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Ransom of Red Chief"

This is the classic O. Henry tale of a pair of kidnappers who find themselves at the mercy of their hostage. It's hard to read this one without laughing out loud at least a few times. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"A Respectable Woman"

A houseguest causes tension and excitement in a married woman's home. As with some of Chopin's other texts, this story deals with issues of infidelity, or at least the implications of such; however, if you are working with a mature group of students, this story is worth studying. Still, BE SURE TO READ THIS STORY FIRST BEFORE ASSIGNING IT. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

"A Piece of Steak"

This is the tale of a boxer who has come to the twilight of his career. The narrator follows him from his home to the ring, and readers learn about the passage from youth to wisdom. The resolution is unforgettable. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

All Short Stories

Inferences Worksheets

Inferences Worksheet 1

Looking for a worksheet on making inferences? Check this out. Students read the short passages and then answer the inferential questions. Then they explain their answers by referencing details from the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

Inferences Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet on making inferences. Students read the passages and answer inferential questions. Then they support their answers with evidence from the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

Inferences Worksheet 3

Here's another inference worksheet to give students practice with this challenging reading skill. Students will read the passages, answer the questions, and support their answers with textual evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

All Inferences Worksheets

Main Idea Worksheets

Main Idea Lesson 1

Here is an animated PowerPoint lesson on main idea. The slideshow explains main idea and how to identify it in a text. There is also a practice activity at the end of the lesson with five practice problems.

Main Idea Worksheet 1

Here is a double-sided main idea worksheet. Students read seven original nonfiction passages and summarize the main idea of each passage. Also, students must think of a title for each passage that relates to the main idea of the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.

Main Idea Worksheet 2

Here is another double-sided main idea worksheet. This worksheet features six more original nonfiction passages for your students to analyze. Students read the passages, disregard nonessential information, express the main idea, and think of a title for each passage related to the main idea. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

Main Idea Worksheet 3

Here is yet another double-sided main idea worksheet. This one is themed around robots and robotic technologies. Students practice identifying main ideas and coming up with appropriate titles for each passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10

Main Idea Worksheet 4

Here is one more double-sided main idea worksheet. Students read seven passages about money and systems of exchange. They summarize each paragraph, state the main idea, and think of an appropriate title for the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9

Main Idea Worksheet 5

Here's another great activity to help students master main idea. Learn about some of the greatest scientists in human history while reviewing main idea. Read the passages, identify the main idea, and create appropriate titles for each passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

All Main Idea Worksheets

Theme Worksheets

Theme Worksheet 1

Are you looking for an engaging activity to help your students review or practice identifying themes in short stories? Good news! You've found one here. In this worksheet students will practice identifying themes in five short stories. Students will read each story, determine the theme, and explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Theme Worksheet 2

Here's another engaging activity to help students practice identifying themes in short stories. In this worksheet students will read five original short story passages and determine the theme or message of the story. Also, they will explain how they got their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

Theme Worksheet 3

Here's yet another theme worksheet to help your students master this challenging skill. Students read the short stories and extract the message. Then they support their answers with textual evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

All Theme Worksheets

Story Structure Worksheets

"The Breakaway"

Here's an activity to help students review plot and story structure. Students will read a motivational story about an athlete who sustains an injury and has to find another way to succeed. Then they will analyze and identify structural elements of the story. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"When Gertrude Grew Great"

Students read a motivational story and identify the story structure parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This activity includes a skill sheet that tests students' understanding of other reading skills as well. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

"The Phone Call"

Still looking for more worksheets about story structure and plot? Here's one more! This story is about a young man who overcomes an internal problem created by negligent family member. Students read the story and then complete a reading skill sheet that includes an analysis of the narrative structure. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

All Story Structure Worksheets

Characterization Worksheets

Characterization Worksheet 1

Here is a worksheet to help students practice characterizations. Students read ten short examples of character interactions. They identify an indirect character trait in each and explain their answers by referencing the text.

Characterization Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet to help students practice identifying characterizations. Students read ten short passages. They identify an implied character trait in each. Then they explain their answers using text.

Characterization Worksheet 3

Here is yet another characterization worksheet to give students ample practice with this core reading skill. This worksheet has got another ten more problems. Students must identify characters' traits based on their actions in each. Then they explain their answers using text. This worksheet is great for homework or class work.

All Characterization Worksheets

Setting Worksheets

Setting Worksheet 1

Looking for a worksheet to help students practice identifying setting? In this double-sided worksheet, students read short stories. They determine the setting based on textual details and explain their answers. It has five passages and ten problems. This worksheet gives students great practice with determining story settings. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Setting Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet that will give students practice with identifying and describing settings in stories. This worksheet has five short passages and ten questions. Students read each passage and determine the setting based on textual clues. Then they explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Setting Worksheet 3

Here is one more setting worksheet. This one has five passages and ten problems. Students determine the setting of each passage based on textual clues and explain their responses. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

All Setting Worksheets

Summary Worksheets

Summarizing Worksheet 1

Here is a worksheet to help students practice summarizing. Read four nonfiction paragraphs about trains, highlight or underline important information, and write a title for the passage related to its main idea. Then create a summary.

Summarizing Worksheet 2

My students loved reading these four nonfiction passages about ninjas. In this summarizing worksheet, students read the passages, summarize the content, and express the main idea of each passage.

Summarizing Worksheet 3

Here's another activity to give your students practice summarzing nonfiction texts. Students read a long passage about the lost colony of Roanoke, highlight or underline important information, and summarize each paragraph.

All Summary Worksheets

Making Predictions Worksheets

Making Predictions Worksheet 1

Looking for worksheets on making predictions? Here's one with ten practice problems. Students read short passages, determine what will happen next, and support their predictions with evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Making Predictions Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet on making predictions. This one has five reading passages and ten questions. Students read the passages, predict what will happen next, and support their predictions with textual evidence. What more could you ask for in a prediction worksheet? Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Making Predictions Worksheet 3

Looking to give your student more practice with making predictions in stories? Here's another double-sided prediction worksheet! Students read the passages, predict what will occur next, support their answers with text. This is great practice. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

All Prediction Worksheets

These activities will help students master reading skills.

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