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The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse | Reading Comprehension Worksheet | Grades 3-4
The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse | Reading Comprehension Worksheet | Grades 3-4
The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse is a printable reading comprehension worksheet for grades 3 and 4. Students read an original mystery story, then answer fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice and written questions about main idea, vocabulary, inference and text evidence. A full answer key with a scoring guide is included.
- Grades 3-4
- Original story
- 17 questions
- Answer key + rubric
- 8-page PDF
What is the story about?
Emma and her grandpa build a bright blue birdhouse and hang it on an oak tree. The next morning it is gone. Emma follows a trail of blue paint chips past the garden fence, finds the birdhouse in the tall grass and works out what probably knocked it down. The story has a clear problem, a trail of clues and a solution, which makes it easy for students to track the plot and find evidence.
What is inside the worksheet?
- Page 1Cover
- Page 2The story, about 400 words
- Page 3Fill in the blank with a word bank (5) and multiple-choice questions, first set (4)
- Page 4Multiple-choice questions, second set (4): evidence, inference and character
- Pages 5-6Written responses (4): students answer in complete sentences and support their ideas with details from the story
- Pages 7-8Teacher answer key, sample written answers and a 16-point scoring guide
Which skills do students practice?
Finding the main idea and the details that support it, working out word meaning from context (for example observation and secured), making inferences about what caused the birdhouse to fall, and explaining their thinking with text evidence. The questions match Common Core RL.3.1, RL.3.2, RL.4.1 and RL.4.2.
How can I use it?
As a whole-class lesson, in a small reading group, as homework, for a substitute teacher or as a quick reading check. The word bank and the two sets of multiple-choice questions make it easy to start, and the written questions stretch stronger readers.
Questions teachers ask
What grade is The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse for?
It is written for grades 3 and 4. The story is about 400 words long and uses everyday vocabulary, with a word bank for the five key words.
Is there an answer key?
Yes. Two pages give the fill-in-the-blank answers, all eight multiple-choice answers, sample answers for the four written questions and a simple scoring guide (16 points).
Which reading skills does it practice?
Main idea, supporting details, vocabulary in context, inference, cause and effect, and citing text evidence in written answers. These match Common Core RL.3.1, RL.3.2, RL.4.1 and RL.4.2.
How long does it take in class?
Plan one lesson of about 45 to 60 minutes: reading the story, then the questions. It also works split over two days or as homework.
What file do I get?
One printable PDF with 8 pages (A4). It prints on US Letter with the printer's fit-to-page setting.
Created by The Learning Edit and sold on TeachLessons. More reading resources: grades 3-4 mystery story reading comprehension and main idea and text evidence practice.
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Review: The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse | Reading Comprehension Worksh...
The Mystery of the Missing Birdhouse | Reading Comprehension Worksheet | Grad... is a fully worked-out teaching resource for Reading & Phonics at Elementary School level (Grades 3–4). Its strength is that it is finished: worksheets, answer keys and teacher notes are all there, so a lesson can start without extra prep.
Teachers covering a topic at short notice, early-career teachers under planning pressure, and anyone picking up a cover lesson — and any situation where a lesson has to be ready today.
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