Tag Archives: Grades 2-3

Comprehension Questions – Jigsaw Jones Mysteries #11 The Case of the Marshmallow Monster

The Case of the Marshmallow Monster

by James Preller

Grades 2-3; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Jigsaw goes camping with family and friends and solves a monster mystery.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize the introduction to this story. Jigsaw is going camping with his family and friends and will solve a mystery with marshmallows and a lake monster p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Have you ever gone camping? If you have, share your experience. If you haven’t, share a fun experience you’ve had in the out of doors. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. List the steps to build a fire. 1) Place tinder in a pile in a fire pit; 2) Place kindling on top of the tinder in a pyramid; 3) after the kindling starts burning, put on larger pieces of wood p.16

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Mr. Hitchcock told a spooky story around the fire about a lake monster p.19

Chapter 5

  1. Should the children have left food out? Why, or why not? No; animals will come and cause trouble p.28

Chapter 6

  1. What convinced Jigsaw to take the case? He went swimming in the lake and became creeped out after something brushed his leg and his feet got stuck in the mud p.39

Chapter 7

  1. Why did Jigsaw stay back from the waterfall hike? He needed to work on the case p.43

Chapter 8

  1. How did Wingnut and Freddy become suspects? They have stomach aches, and it could have been from eating too many marshmallows p.51

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Jigsaw cross the boys off the suspect list? They were sick from eating candy not marshmallows p.56

Chapter 10

  1. Describe how Mila is a good friend to Jigsaw. She supports him and helps him p.64

Chapter 11

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Mila and Jigsaw heard footsteps and saw something, they threw a rock at it, screamed and blew the whistle; it was Jigsaw’s dad; he put the marshmallows in the car p.66

Comprehension Questions – Jigsaw Jones Mysteries #8 The Case of the Great Sled Race

The Case of the Great Sled Race

by James Preller

Grades 2-3; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Someone steals Bigs Maloney's sled two days before the Great Sled Race, and Jigsaw and Mila are on the case.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Bigs. Roughest and toughest kid in 2nd grade; wants help getting his Velma back p.4

Chapter 2

  1. Who is Velma and why did Bigs name her that? A sled; the first part of Velocity and the first part of Machine p.10

Chapter 3

  1. What could be the motivation behind someone stealing the sled? Prevent Bigs from winning a sledding race p.18

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Jigsaw went to school the next day and learned that reading is like solving a mystery…answering who, what, when where and how p.20

Chapter 5

  1. What word is the root of the word motivation that explains why? Motive p.30

Chapter 6

  1. Why is Jigsaw the main character’s name? He likes to solve puzzles p.35

Chapter 7

  1. What is suspicious about the conversation with Jasper? He acted like he had a cold and didn’t open the door; he seemed nervous and asked if Bigs would really clobber someone p.43

Chapter 8

  1. Why does Jigsaw want to watch the video of Joey sledding? It’s filmed the same day and location the sled went missing; he might find a clue p.51

Chapter 9

  1. Predict what Jigsaw spotted on the video. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 10

  1. Are you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer; Jigsaw saw Lucy and Jasper take the sled p.66

Chapter 11

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Jigsaw realized that Jasper just wanted to try the sled but didn’t return it before Bigs noticed it was gone; Lucy and Jasper were scared Bigs would hurt him, so they hid it; Jigsaw didn’t tell Bigs who took it and returned it to him; Bigs won the singles race and Mila and Jigsaw won the doubles race p.67

Comprehension Questions – Jigsaw Jones Mysteries #1 The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster

The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster

by James Preller

Grades 2-3; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Wingnut's hamster is missing! Jigsaw and his partner, Mila, are on the case.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Wingnut. 6-year-old neighbor to Jigsaw: his nickname came from his large ears; his hamster is lost p.2

Chapter 2

  1. Why does Jigsaw and Mila think Jake’s pet snake is a suspect? Snakes eat hamsters p.13

Chapter 3

  1. What resources are available if you need to do research like Jigsaw and Mila? Library; internet; people
  2. Why didn’t Ms. Gleason give Jigsaw and Mila the information they needed? It’s important to learn how to find information

Chapter 4

  1. What did Jigsaw learn at the pet store? Snakes eat rabbits, mice and hamsters; hamsters can escape if the lid of their cage is off; they can’t climb walls, but they can jump high and hang on to the lid p.23

Chapter 5

  1. Define the word constricting. To squeeze or wrap around 

Chapter 6

  1. What could be a clue in this chapter. The new vacuum that sucks everything up p.36

Chapter 7

  1. What happened to Jigsaw when Jake held the snake up to his face? He threw up p.44

Chapter 8

  1. How is Billy a good brother? He’s kind and supportive; a good friend; takes care of Jigsaw; encourages him p.45
  2. Find a simile on page 49. “Then it hit me. KLUNK! Like a baseball bat smashed on my head.”

Chapter 9

  1. Have you used a phone book before? Describe one. White and yellow pages; tiny writing to fit all the numbers; residential and business numbers; used before we had the internet to look things up

Chapter 10

  1. Why is Wingnut’s mom upset at the end of this chapter? They took apart her new vacuum cleaner; broke plastic on the vacuum and spilled dust everywhere p.62

Chapter 11

  1. Summarize this chapter. Mila is allergic to fur and because of her sneezing, they found Hermie in the closet; Hermie’s a girl and had babies p.63

Chapter 12

  1. Why is Jigsaw student of the week? He made the class a nicer place by donating two baby hamsters p.74

Comprehension Questions – Little House: #1 Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 2-3; Genre - Historical Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts. 5.0

The Ingalls family is snug in their Wisconsin house in spite of blizzards, wolves, and the lonely forest.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting in this story. 1800’s; Wisconsin when only a few settlers had begun to develop the land
  2. Who’s the main character and her family? Laura, her older sister Mary, Carrie her younger sister, and her Ma and Pa p.2

Chapter 2

  1. List and describe the chore/day you would enjoy the best. Listen to your child’s answer p.29
  2. What’s comforting to Laura during the long cold winter? Safely being inside the cozy cabin with the fire p.38

Chapter 3

  1. Summarize this chapter. Laura and Mary helped Pa clean and load his gun; Pa told a story when he was young about how he should have listened to his father and being alone in the woods in the dark p.45

Chapter 4

  1. Compare how traveling was back in the early settler days to our day today. Early days, they traveled in sleds pulled by horses all covered in blankets and bundled up; today, we can jump in a vehicle, train, or plane and have a heater to keep us warm p.64
  2. Describe how the children made “pictures”. They’d fall from a stump and land in the snow, trying not to touch and make other prints in the snow p.65
  3. Summarize the story Uncle Peter shared and why it was so scary. Aunt Eliza wanted to go to the spring, but the dog wouldn’t let her; later they found a panther had been in the tree above the spring; the dog saved her from the panther p.68

Chapter 5

  1. Describe a Sunday for Mary and Laura and compare it to your Sunday. Mary and Laura’s-take bath Saturday night; sit quietly all day; couldn’t play with toys or each other; couldn’t sew; could look at pictures in the Bible or animal book; listen to your child’s answer p.84

Chapter 6

  1. Tell me the stories of the two bears in this chapter. 1st bear: It was dark, and Laura went to help her mother milk the cow; they thought the cow had gotten out of the barn; there was a gate, but mother couldn’t open it all the way to get to the cow, so she slapped the cow and realized it was a large bear; she and Laura hurried to the house and made it safely in; 2nd bear: Pa was coming home from town in the dark and saw a bear standing in his way off the road; Pa didn’t have his gun, so he picked up a branch and ran at the bear; when he hit the bear he realized it was just a large stump p.104

Chapter 7

  1. Explain sugar snow. It’s a spring snow that keeps the trees just cold enough to extend the the maple syrup harvest p.127

Chapter 8

  1. Was this a fun chapter to read? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 9

  1. Why hadn’t Laura known the sky was so large? She and her family lived in the woods with trees all around them, they couldn’t see the vastness of the sky p.164

Chapter 9

  1. Why is Laura jealous of Mary? Mary has golden hair, she looked good and sweet, the storekeeper commented how pretty she was, she kept her dress clean and minded her manners, her candy had a poem on it p.175

Chapter 10

  1. How did Pa get honey in this chapter? He found a bear eating honey from a tree; he chased the bear away, cut down the tree and filled all the containers he brought from home p.195

Chapter 11

  1. Can you answer Laura’s question? How is Charlie a liar? He cried out like he was in trouble three times and there wasn’t anything wrong p.211
  2. Does this remind you of another story? The boy who cried wolf

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize this chapter. Ma and Laura made hats out of straw; It was time to harvest the garden and grain; Pa convinced his neighbor to hire a threshing machine to come and separate the wheat; it took all day and the girls helped their Ma prepare dinner p.221

Chapter 13

  1. Why didn’t Pa shoot any animals when he went hunting? He was too curious watching them p.232
  2. Tell me a part of this story you really enjoyed. Why? Listen to your child’s answer 

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #13 Under the Lagoon

#13 Under the Lagoon

by Kiki Thorpe

Grades 2-3; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

The fairies in Never Land think that mermaids are nothing but trouble. When Gabby befriends a mermaid, Kate, Mia, and Lainey warn her to stay away, but Gabby doesn't want to lose her new friend.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1 

  1. Explain what happened to Gabby in this chapter? She stayed back on the beach while the other girls went on the raft to visit Sunny; she made a sand castle but water kept splashing her; the water swallowed up her barrettes and her sand castle; she thought she saw someone hiding on the rocks in the water p.8
  2. Predict who you think that someone is. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 2

  1. What saved Gabby from drowning in the cauldron? A mermaid came in and with magic lowered the water level p.25
  2. What did Gabby make that day? A friend p.25
  3. What evidence shows you she made a friend? They enjoyed being together; they played games and talked; they were happy to find out they had many things in common p.27

Chapter 3

  1. Who saw Gabby playing with a mermaid and why did she think it strange? Rosetta; mermaids don’t like humans p.40
  2. Do you think it’s strange that Gabby and Yooni want to be friends? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 4

  1. Define the word grudge. to be unwilling to give or admit: give or allow reluctantly or resentfully p.45
  2. What happened when the fairies told and retold what Rosetta saw? The story got more elaborate with each telling and started to be misleading and not true and turned into gossiping p.46
  3. Explain a time when you have experienced something like this. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 5

  1. Why did the other girls assume Yooni was bad? The fairies assumed she was since she was a mermaid and had told them so p.54
  2. Why was Gabby sad in this chapter? The other girls had been mean and scared Yooni away p.59

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Rosetta agree to take the sea rose to the mermaids? Gabby missed Yooni and she felt guilty she had let the rumor get out of hand p.65
  2. What attitude did both the mermaids and fairies have toward each other? They thought they were better than the other p.71

Chapter 7

  1. Was Gabby making a good choice to go see Yooni or follow her to the mermaid party? Why, or why not? No; she has been sneaky and didn’t tell her sister p.74
  2. Why will Gabby’s sister be upset she went to the mermaid party? She can’t trust the mermaids; she’ll worry that Gabby’s in danger; Gabby should have told her where she was going p.80
  3. From what you’ve learned about mermaids in this story, predict what will happen at the party. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 8

  1. Why was Rosetta in angst this chapter? She realized she’s having a hard time always knowing what to do and when to talk about things p.88
  2. Have you ever felt this way? Listen to your child’s answer.
  3. Why are the fairies worried Gabby’s with the mermaids? They’re singing their most powerful song which can turn fairies into bats, and they don’t know what it’ll do to humans p.90

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize what happened in this chapter. The fairies and girls went to the mermaid lagoon to find Gabby; they got there and found they were in the eye of the storm; they saw Gabby and she saw them; she fell from the rock into the water p.101

Chapter 10

  1. Were the fairies right to believe that something bad can happen during the mermaids’ powerful music? Yes p.108
  2. What did Gabby learn in this chapter? That’s not all mermaids are bad, but she needs to listen to her sister and the other fairies p.108
  3. What did the mermaids and fairies learn in this chapter? That they can be nice to each other and be friends p.109

Comprehension Questions – Calendar Mysteries January Joker

January Joker

by Ron Roy

Grades 2-3; Genre - Fiction; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

In the first book of the Calendar Mysteries — an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives — Green Lawn has a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he wonders if there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed tracks in the snow, he's sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren't so certain. But then Lucy's cousin Dink, the twins' brother Josh, and Nate's sister Ruth Rose all disappear. Are there "really "aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story? In Brian and Bradley’s bedroom in the middle of the night p.1
  2. Who did the kids see outside by the barn? Two aliens p.4
  3. Why did the kids think Nate was playing a trick on them? Nate likes to do practical jokes on people; they knew it couldn’t be aliens p.6

Chapter 2

  1. Who was babysitting the four friends? Their older siblings and cousin; Dink, Ruth Rose & Josh p.9
  2. What did the kids have to do before they could ride Polly? Clean up breakfast p.10
  3. What did the kids see in the snow that was proof Bradley saw a spaceship? A big circle p.13

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Bradley think Josh, Ruth Rose and Dink had been taken by aliens? They couldn’t find them anywhere p.17
  2. What did the kids find on Josh’s printer? A newspaper article about aliens taking children and animals back to their planet; it described a circle and funny footprints p.19
  3. What does Bradley think happened to Polly? She was taken by the aliens p.20

Chapter 4

  1. What did Ruth Rose and Josh tell the kids when they talked to them on the phone? That aliens kidnapped them and they’re in a spaceship p.21
  2. Where do you think Pal was? Listen to your child’s answer p.24

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Lucy want to write down the clues they’ve found? To organize her thoughts and help figure out the mystery p.26
  2. What peered at the kids through the window? A green face with big teeth and a yellow face with big eyes staring at them p.28
  3. Where did the kids hide? Under the stairs in a closet p.30

Chapter 6

  1. What did the kids do to secure the house and make sure aliens wouldn’t come in? lock the doors and close the shades p.33
  2. What funny prints did Lucy find in the alien book? The same ones they saw outside p.34
  3. How was Lucy planning to capture the aliens? Make them lunch; give them food p.36

Chapter 7

  1. What food did Lucy use as bait? Grapes p.40
  2. Where were the kids hoping to catch the aliens? In the closet under the stairs p.40

Chapter 8

  1. Who was in the closet and why? Brian; he said the aliens put him there p.44
  2. Why did Bradley pinch Brian? To show him he wasn’t dreaming p.46
  3. Why did Bradley write a note to his friends instead of just talking to them? he thought the aliens were listening to them p.48

Chapter 9

  1. What makes Bradley think the aliens are hiding in the attic? They found Pal’s rubber toy on the bed and they think it must have dropped from the heat vent in the attic p.49
  2. Why haven’t the kids turned on the TV to see what was going on with the aliens? They’ve been busy; haven’t thought of it p.53

Chapter 10

  1. How did the kids get the note up to the attic? They stuck it to the mop stick and put it through the heat vent p.55
  2. What did the aliens do that made Lucy mad? They tore up her note and dropped the pieces back through the vent p.58

Chapter 11

  1. Why did Officer Fallon come to the house? Bradley called him p.60
  2. Why did the police tell the kids to keep the door to the attic locked? To keep whoever was hiding there wouldn’t escape; to keep the kids safe p.60
  3. Why was the twins’ mom upset? Policemen and firemen had come to the house p.65

Chapter 12

  1. What did the police find in the attic? Two stuffed aliens and Dink, Ruth Rose and Josh p.68
  2. Why did the older kids pull this prank on the first graders? Because Nate had played a practical joke on them and they wanted to get him back p.70
  3. Why did the older kids plan the joke for that day? They knew the parents would be out at breakfast together p.72

Chapter 13

  1. Who got to decide the punishment for the older kids? The younger kids p.73
  2. What punishment did the younger kids agree on? The older kids had to sit in Ellie’s diner dressed up as aliens, and they couldn’t talk p.74
  3. When Officer Fallon asked for an autograph what was Josh’s response? He wanted ice cream, so if Officer Fallon bought it for him, then he’d sign anything p.77

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #11 Dark Day in the Deep Sea

Dark Day in the Deep Sea

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-3; Genre - Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie adventure to an island where they meet sailors who are exploring the sea.  Jack and Annie get to go on board their ship and get washed overboard during a squall.  An octopus saves them and they save the octopus from getting hurt by the explorers. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House #20 Dingoes at Dinnertime

Dingoes at Dinnertime

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-3; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Jack and Annie go to Australia to find the last gift they need to find to help Teddy break a magic spell. Continue reading →