Welcome to englishlanguagestudies.com! Learning to read is an exciting adventure. To help your early readers build confidence, recognize basic sight words, and understand the main idea of a short story, we have created this free grade 1 reading comprehension worksheet.
This printable activity is perfect for 1st graders or young ESL beginners. It features three very short, fun stories followed by simple questions to test their understanding. Parents and teachers can read along with their students or let them try it on their own!
Instructions for Parents/Teachers:
- Have your child read the short story out loud.
- Help them read the questions if they get stuck.
- When they finish all three stories, click the “Reveal Answer Key” button at the bottom of the page to check their work!
Grab a pencil and some paper, and let’s start reading!
3 Easy Tips to Improve Grade 1 Reading Comprehension
Before your child starts this grade 1 reading comprehension worksheet, here are a few simple strategies to help them get the most out of their reading practice:
- Read Aloud Together: Have your child read the text out loud. This helps them practice sounding out difficult words and improves their reading fluency. If they stumble on a word, gently help them sound it out.
- Ask “Wh” Questions: Before looking at the worksheet questions, pause at the end of the story and ask your own questions. Who is the story about? What did they do? Where did they go? * Look for Sight Words: Grade 1 reading relies heavily on recognizing common sight words (like the, is, and, to, my). Before reading the story, scan it together and see how many sight words your child can find and point to!
Grade 1 Reading Comprehension
Story 1: Sam’s Pet
My name is Sam. I have a pet cat. Her name is Bella. Bella is black and white. She likes to play with a red ball. Bella sleeps on my bed.
Choose the correct answer:
- What kind of pet does Sam have?
A) A dog
B) A cat
C) A fish - What color is Bella?
A) Brown and white
B) All black
C) Black and white - What does Bella play with?
A) A red ball
B) A blue toy
C) A stick
Story 2: A Trip to the Park
Tom goes to the park. He goes with his dad. Tom sees a big tree. A little bird is in the tree. The bird sings a happy song. Tom likes the park.
Is the sentence True or False?
- Tom goes to the park with his mom.
[ True / False ] - Tom sees a big tree.
[ True / False ] - The little bird sings a happy song.
[ True / False ]
Story 3: Lunch Time
It is time for lunch. Mia has a red apple. She has a sandwich, too. The sandwich has cheese. Mia drinks milk with her lunch. Yummy!
Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the story:
- It is time for __________.
- Mia has a red __________.
- Mia drinks __________ with her lunch.
Story 4: The Big Yellow Bus
Leo waits at the corner. He sees a big yellow bus. The bus stops. Leo gets on the bus. He sits by the window. The bus takes him to school.
Choose the correct answer:
- What color is the bus?
A) Red
B) Yellow
C) Blue - Where does Leo sit?
A) By the window
B) In the back
C) Next to the driver - Where does the bus take Leo?
A) To the park
B) To the store
C) To school
Story 5: Rainy Day Fun
Look at the sky! It is dark and gray. It is raining. Emma puts on her yellow coat. She puts on her blue boots. Emma jumps in a big puddle. Splash!
Is the sentence True or False?
- The sky is sunny and blue.
[ True / False ] - Emma wears a yellow coat.
[ True / False ] - Emma jumps in a puddle.
[ True / False ]
🌟 Parents/Teachers: Click Here for the Answers! 🌟
Story 1: Sam’s Pet
1. B) A cat
2. C) Black and white
3. A) A red ball
Story 2: A Trip to the Park
4. False (He goes with his dad)
5. True
6. True
Story 3: Lunch Time
7. lunch
8. apple
9. milk
Story 4: The Big Yellow Bus
10. B) Yellow
11. A) By the window
12. C) To school
Story 5: Rainy Day Fun
13. False (It is dark and gray)
14. True
15. True
Great job! You are a super reader! 📚✨
Amazing job completing the worksheet! For 1st graders, practicing reading comprehension a little bit every day makes a huge difference. By answering questions about what they just read, young learners develop critical thinking skills and better memory retention.
If your child got all 9 questions correct, give them a big high-five!
Parents, let us know in the comments below: Did your child enjoy these short stories? What kind of reading topics would they like to see next on englishlanguagestudies.com?
Check out more reading comprehension worksheets: English Reading Comprehension