Short Stories Worksheets - Original Stories and Public Texts
Our collection of informational stories and other non-fiction texts combine high-interest reading passages with questions designed to build reading comprehension skills. Passage topics cover a range of subjects including animals, how-to, occupations, science, and sports. Questions cover a range of skills, including identifying main idea, determining the author's purpose, summarizing, making inferences, identifying cause/effect, analyzing text features, using context clues, and finding support in a passage. The high-interest passages will help get kids excited about reading, while the questions accompanying each passage will help kids improve their reading comprehension skills.
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| Passage Name | Grade | Lexile | Word Count | Skill/Strategy | Text Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going to the Park | K | 170L | 39 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| At the Beach | K | 230L | 39 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| Going to the Library | K | 290L | 34 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| The Merry-Go-Round | K | 310L | 276 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| Rain, Rain Go Away | K | 320L | 177 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Swings | K | 340L | 164 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| Push and Pull | K | 360L | 169 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Race | K | 400L | 251 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| At the Pool | K | 420L | 46 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| The Bumper Cars | K | 420L | 294 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| I Can't Live Here | K | 480L | 273 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| A Place for My Acorn | K | 490L | 329 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| A Sunny Day at the Beach | K | 500L | 343 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| What's for Dinner? | K | 500L | 213 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Little Flower | K | 520L | 173 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Tornado | K | 530L | 295 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Sandy Beach | K | 550L | 339 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| The Trash Patrol | K | 640L | 274 | Science | Original, Fiction |
| Drawing | K | N/A | 22 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| In the Summer | K | N/A | 26 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| The Hungry Mouse | K | N/A | 23 | Comprehension | Original, Fiction |
| Sleepy Bear | 1 | 310L | 175 | Multi-Skill | Original, Fiction |
| Little Bird's First Flight | 1 | 380L | 386 | Summarizing | Original, Fiction |
| Snow Flowers | 1 | 380L | 295 | Multi-Skill | Original, Fiction |
| Summer Sun Poem | 1 | 390L | 77 | Drawing Conclusions | Fiction |
| The Windy Beach | 1 | 410L | 103 | Main Idea | Original, Fiction |
| Family Camping | 1 | 420L | 150 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Dolphins Have Feelings, Too! | 1 | 460L | 137 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Ellie's Big Day | 1 | 470L | 429 | Summarizing | Original, Fiction |
| Bigfoot | 1 | 480L | 216 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Skunk Alert | 1 | 530L | 198 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The Clumsy Penguin | 1 | 590L | 346 | Summarizing | Original, Fiction |
| Matt Mole | 2 | 500L | 281 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Yawning | 2 | 500L | 237 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| Caring for a Kitten | 2 | 540L | 113 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| The Helpful Leprechaun | 2 | 550L | 232 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| April Fool's Day | 2 | 570L | 836 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Fortune Cookies | 2 | 570L | 244 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Leaning Tower of Pisa | 2 | 590L | 396 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| Can You Fry an Egg on the Sidewalk? | 2 | 600L | 230 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| Loch Ness Monster | 2 | 640L | 182 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Treehouse Living | 2 | 670L | 344 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Great Wall of China | 2 | 710L | 305 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| French Words in Cooking | 2 | 720L | 225 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| How Do Fish Breathe? | 2 | 720L | 202 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Great Pyramid of Giza | 2 | 720L | 323 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Tiny Houses | 2 | 730L | 394 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Dimes | 2 | 740L | 322 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Ostriches | 2 | 740L | 315 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| What is a Nurse? | 2 | 740L | 279 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Avocados | 2 | 750L | 178 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| What is a Mechanic? | 2 | 750L | 258 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Competitive Swimming | 2 | 760L | 269 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| How to Make Pancakes | 2 | 760L | 177 | Text Structure | Original, Informational |
| What is a Bodyguard? | 2 | 770L | 250 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Giraffes | 2 | 780L | 266 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| How to Make a Birthday Cake | 2 | 780L | 282 | Text Structure | Original, Informational |
| Speed Skating | 2 | 780L | 312 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Black Holes | 2 | 790L | 331 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| What is a Director? | 2 | 790L | 175 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Biggest Hotel in the World | 2 | 800L | 318 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Sharks | 2 | 810L | 325 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| The Statue of Zeus | 2 | 810L | 326 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| The Fuzzy Caterpillar | 2 | 880L | 863 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The Kitchen Encyclopedia Index | 2 | N/A | 83 | Text Structure | Original, Informational |
| Rosa Parks | 3 | 420L | 150 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Doppleganger | 3 | 500L | 169 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Cayden's Rock Collection | 3 | 530L | 278 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| A Memorial Day Trip | 3 | 570L | 330 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Number of Stars | 3 | 730L | 235 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Strongest Muscle | 3 | 760L | 323 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Briar Rose | 3 | 780L | 826 | Cause and Effect | Fiction |
| Golf Balls | 3 | 780L | 284 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Baseball | 3 | 790L | 375 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Olympic Rings | 3 | 790L | 153 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Saying Merry Christmas | 3 | 790L | 742 | Main Idea | Fiction |
| Sneezing | 3 | 790L | 293 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Alphabet | 3 | 790L | 261 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Cutting Onions | 3 | 800L | 216 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Old Woman and Her Pigs | 3 | 800L | 970 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Chewiest, Berriest Candy Company | 3 | 820L | 287 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| What Makes Hair Turn Gray | 3 | 820L | 301 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| Nails | 3 | 830L | 386 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Roller Coasters | 3 | 830L | 369 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Snowflakes | 3 | 830L | 309 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Crepes | 3 | 840L | 263 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Lemurs | 3 | 840L | 272 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Largest and Smallest Flowers | 3 | 860L | 302 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Puss in Boots | 3 | 860L | 972 | Problem and Solution | Fiction |
| Eating Bugs | 3 | 870L | 258 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Coriolis Effect | 3 | 870L | 354 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Blinking | 3 | 880L | 272 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| How Fast Can Humans Run? | 3 | 890L | 256 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Pastry, Pies, and Tarts | 3 | 890L | 323 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Why Do Fingers Wrinkle? | 3 | 890L | 334 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Vampires | 3 | 900L | 302 | Original, Informational | |
| How the Leaves Came Down | 3 | 920L | 231 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| My Shadow | 3 | 990L | 187 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| One Million Dollar Bill | 3 | 1000L | 415 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Owl and the Pussycat | 3 | 1010L | 215 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Lick Your Elbow | 3 | 1020L | 246 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Birthday Invitation | 3 | N/A | Real-life Reading Skills | Original, Informational | |
| The Kitchen Encyclopedia | 3 | N/A | 290 | Text Structure | Original, Informational |
| My Bed is a Boat | 4 | 680L | 104 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| How to Shoot a Free Throw | 4 | 690L | 237 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| How to Turn a Double Play | 4 | 710L | 185 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Polar Bears | 4 | 710L | 311 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| The Goose and the Golden Egg | 4 | 720L | 114 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The Town of Coober Pedy | 4 | 720L | 234 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Diving Dogs | 4 | 800L | 270 | Cause and Effect | Original, Informational |
| The Value of Hard Work | 4 | 810L | 394 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Let Dogs Delight to Bark and Bite | 4 | 820L | 46 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Ring of Fire | 4 | 880L | 337 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| Archery | 4 | 890L | 273 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Farmer and the Snake | 4 | 910L | 214 | Character Study | Fiction |
| Who Was Dr. Seuss? | 4 | 910L | 350 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Goldfish | 4 | 940L | 669 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Bermuda Triangle | 4 | 940L | 286 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Little Things | 4 | 970L | 30 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Stonehenge | 4 | 980L | 331 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| Sea Cucumbers | 4 | 1000L | 623 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Basketball | 4 | 1030L | 378 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Bed in Summer | 4 | 1030L | 86 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Store Hours | 4 | N/A | Real-life Reading Skills | Original, Informational | |
| La Tomatina Festival | 5 | 690L | 192 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Sleep | 5 | 700L | 456 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Who is Hillary Clinton? | 5 | 710L | 309 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Gardening with Grandpa | 5 | 760L | 259 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Teddy the Buckskin Horse | 5 | 790L | 319 | Character Study | Fiction |
| The North Island | 5 | 820L | 212 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| Glowworm Grotto | 5 | 840L | 212 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Forest Fires | 5 | 850L | 273 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| Hares, Wild and Tame | 5 | 850L | 745 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Cinderella Around the World | 5 | 860L | 355 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Fire Safety | 5 | 860L | 273 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Alligators and Crocodiles | 5 | 880L | 269 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| See You Later, Alligator | 5 | 880L | 269 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Stage Fright | 5 | 880L | 377 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Who is Donald Trump? | 5 | 890L | 314 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Robot Handshake | 5 | 920L | 230 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Golf | 5 | 1000L | 494 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Snowbirds | 5 | 1000L | 277 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| The Trojan Horse | 5 | 1030L | 1409 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Wind | 5 | 1050L | 128 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| History of the Toothbrush | 5 | 1060L | 146 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star | 5 | 1080L | 94 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Land of Nod | 5 | 1090L | 106 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Lynx | 5 | 1090L | 835 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Squirrels | 5 | 1100L | 981 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Build an Emergency Kit | 5 | 1110L | 194 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Veterinarian Hours | 5 | N/A | Real-life Reading Skills | Original, Informational | |
| The Flag Goes By | 6 | 510L | 161 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Wind and the Moon | 6 | 720L | 380 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Haunted House | 6 | 750L | 506 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| One-Way Ticket to Mars | 6 | 790L | 204 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Arrow and the Song | 6 | 810L | 88 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Becoming a Runner | 6 | 830L | 291 | Cause and Effect | Fiction |
| Cooking with Aunt Sheila | 6 | 830L | 291 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Stranded in Italy | 6 | 850L | 394 | Context Clues | Fiction |
| Jackie Robinson | 6 | 870L | 349 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Battle of the Oranges | 6 | 870L | 342 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| Earth vs. Mars | 6 | 880L | 233 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Margaret | 6 | 880L | 461 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The First Human-Like Robot | 6 | 910L | 230 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Fun at the Beach | 6 | 980L | 251 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Sweden's Ice Hotel | 6 | 990L | 277 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Checkers | 6 | 1050L | 302 | Main Idea | Original, Informational |
| The Golden Eagle | 6 | 1150L | 1114 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Bed Bugs | 6 | 1180L | 419 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Wild Boar | 6 | 1200L | 797 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Plastic Cups | 7 | 830L | 195 | Main Idea | Fiction |
| The Great Debate | 7 | 870L | 209 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Think Before You Share | 7 | 880L | 391 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Butterfly Garden | 7 | 890L | 483 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Mosquito Control | 7 | 920L | 180 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Michael Jordan | 7 | 930L | 374 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| An African Spiritual | 7 | 950L | 66 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Blackfoot Creation Myth | 7 | 950L | 941 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Exotic Creatures | 7 | 960L | 242 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The World's Quietest Place | 7 | 990L | 235 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Mary Lennox - Secret Garden Excerpt | 7 | 1000L | 331 | Character Study | Fiction |
| Joining the Choir | 7 | 1010L | 268 | Cause and Effect | Fiction |
| Global Warming | 7 | 1040L | 272 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Tornadoes and Hurricanes | 7 | 1040L | 285 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Managing Spam | 7 | 1130L | 310 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Presentation | 7 | 1170L | 229 | Main Idea | Fiction |
| The Street Fair | 7 | 1180L | 162 | Drawing Conclusions | Fiction |
| Worms and Viruses | 7 | 1200L | 177 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Puberty | 7 | 1250L | 1108 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Charge of the Light Brigade | 8 | 710L | 260 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Irving, Texas | 8 | 800L | 252 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Queen of Hearts | 8 | 890L | 334 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The Wreck of the Hesperus | 8 | 906L | 580 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Muhammad Ali | 8 | 960L | 392 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Serena Williams | 8 | 970L | 259 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Down the Old Street | 8 | 980L | 435 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Igloos | 8 | 980L | 154 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Weeds | 8 | 1000L | 535 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Looking at Mao Zedong | 8 | 1010L | 224 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Pandora's Box | 8 | 1020L | 214 | Drawing Conclusions | Fiction |
| Sleeping on the Space Station | 8 | 1020L | 470 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| E-Readers | 8 | 1050L | 224 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Spring Break | 8 | 1050L | 270 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Editing a Newspaper | 8 | 1180L | 576 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Washing and Dyeing Wool | 8 | 1180L | 560 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Table Etiquette | 8 | 1200L | 1079 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Underage Drinking | 8 | 1220L | 336 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Huck Finn Excerpt | 9 | 900L | 298 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| The Lotos-Eaters | 9 | 980L | 356 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Buenos Aires | 9 | 1110L | 260 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Beekeeping | 9 | 1160L | 168 | Drawing Conclusions | Fiction |
| A Beautiful Shawl | 9 | 1180L | 290 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Exploring Space | 9 | 1190L | 294 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Moths vs. Butterflies | 9 | 1220L | 219 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| On the Stage | 9 | 1240L | 219 | Main Idea | Fiction |
| Rainforest Frogs | 9 | 1290L | 269 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| O Captain! My Captain! | 10 | 820L | 202 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Measuring Weather | 10 | 1000L | 306 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Stinky Shoes | 10 | 1010L | 206 | Main Idea | Fiction |
| Debating Books | 10 | 1060L | 319 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Pedal or Motor? | 10 | 1210L | 272 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| The Sled Race | 10 | 1210L | 240 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| A Dose of Energy or Sugar? | 10 | 1230L | 308 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Interview | 10 | 1240L | 154 | Drawing Conclusions | Fiction |
| To the Extreme | 10 | 1240L | 313 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Villanelle of His Lady's Treasures | 11 | 460L | 146 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Faith Cure Man - Excerpt | 11 | 800L | 583 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| In Flanders Fields | 11 | 950L | 97 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Sestina | 11 | 1030L | 273 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Extreme Temperatures | 11 | 1130L | 276 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Facing Facebook | 11 | 1150L | 300 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Pros and Cons of Obamacare | 11 | 1180L | 273 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Benefits and Risks | 11 | 1270L | 271 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| If | 11 | 1310L | 288 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| Pets -or Threats? | 11 | 1320L | 315 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Job Search | 11 | 1330L | 299 | Compare and Contrast | Fiction |
| Human Trafficking | 11 | 1690L | 394 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Dirge Without Music | 12 | 480L | 184 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The World is Too Much With US | 12 | 590L | 117 | Poem Analysis | Poetry |
| The Dark Forest | 12 | 1110L | 569 | Multi-Skill | Fiction |
| Watching the Tube | 12 | 1220L | 207 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Time Management 101 | 12 | 1260L | 453 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Caring for a Baby | 12 | 1270L | 521 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| Trains vs. Planes | 12 | 1290L | 325 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Goodbye Pencil, Hello Keyboard | 12 | 1330L | 317 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| With and Without Words | 12 | 1330L | 207 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |
| The Tooth Tattoo | 12 | 1360L | 216 | Drawing Conclusions | Original, Informational |
| Making the Most of the Summer | 12 | 1390L | 289 | Compare and Contrast | Original, Informational |
| Amusement Park Labor | 12 | 1470L | 794 | Multi-Skill | Original, Informational |