Summary/Plot/Theme

Master summary, plot, and theme! Practice reading comprehension skills with this engaging worksheet.

Level 2: Vocabulary Terms Match the vocabulary words to the correct definition. summary restatement of the important ideas or major parts of the text sequence Putting the events of the text in order plot The events that make up the main parts of the story theme message or lesson about life that can be learned through the characters Read the following short passage. Adam paddled as hard as he could, but it was too difficult. This was a big problem. Adam was in a little boat in the middle of the lake, and he was stuck. He motioned to his dad who was standing at the edge of the lake. His dad just gave Adam a thumbs up sign and encouraged him, "You can do it, Adam!" he said. In preparation for this boat trip, Adam had practiced paddling with an oar when he and his dad visited the lake. He took a deep breath and tried again thinking about what his dad had taught him. Adam slipped the oar into the water like it was a knife cutting a piece of cake. Then he turned the oar and tried to scoop the water out of the lake. It worked! The boat started to move. Adam did the same motion again. He slipped the oar into the water and scooped. He paddled on one side of the boat and then the other side. Adam raised his head to look at his dad. He could not believe it, but he was actually almost to the edge of the lake. He could see the enormous smile on his dad's face. "I knew you could do it son!" Level 2: Identifying Important details Sort the important and unimportant details under the correct heading. Important Detail Adam was stuck in a little boat in the middle of the lake. Adam slipped the oar in the water like it was a knife, then turned it to scoop the water out. He couldn't believe it, but he was actually almost to the edge of the lake. Not Important Detail His dad just gave Adam thumbs up sign. He took a deep breath and tried thinking. He could see the enormous smile on his dad's face. Level 3: What is the best summary for this passage? Adam practices paddling his boat with his dad. He scoops the water with the oars over and over. The boat finally starts to move to the edge of the water. Adam wants to get his boat back to the edge, but he was stuck in the middle. So he remembers what his dad taught him and begins paddling. Then he looks up to see he is almost to the edge and his dad's enormous smile. Adam finally gets his boat to start moving to the edge of the water. He sees his dad as an enormous smile on his face. He can tell his dad is proud. Adam wanted to get his boat unstuck, so he tries to get his dad to come and help. But his dad tells Adam that he can paddle the boat by himself. Level 3: Plot Sequence the events in order for the plot of this passage. Adam is stuck in the middle of the lake. first He took a deep breath and thought about what his dad taught him. second He put the oar in the water like it was a knife cutting the cake and tried to scoop the water out. third The boat started to move. fourth Adam raised his head and couldn't believe he was almost to the edge of the lake. fifth His dad was smiling, "I knew you could do it, son!" sixth Which sentence best states the theme? Be careful what you wish for Be happy with what you have Believe in yourself Use what you know to overcome difficulties