R.Comp

​Reading Comprehension

By Kelly Osmolia

3rd: Benny’s Big Balloon

Benny loved balloons. He had red ones, blue ones, and even a giant green one shaped like a dinosaur. On Saturday morning, Benny and his family went to the park for a picnic. Benny brought his favorite balloon with him.

While they were eating sandwiches, a strong wind blew through the park. Benny’s balloon slipped out of his hand and floated up into the sky! “Oh no!” Benny shouted, running after it.

The balloon flew higher and higher until it was just a tiny dot in the sky. Benny was sad, but his mom gave him a hug and said, “Sometimes things fly away, but we still have fun together.”

Later, Benny played on the swings and shared cookies with his little sister. Even though he lost his balloon, he still had a great day at the park.

4th: The Rainy Day Surprise

It was a rainy Thursday afternoon, and Emma was feeling disappointed. Her class had planned to go outside for a nature walk, but the weather had changed their plans. Instead, they stayed inside the classroom, listening to the sound of raindrops tapping on the windows.

Just when Emma thought the day would be boring, her teacher, Mr. Lopez, brought out a big box. “Today,” he said with a smile, “we’re going to build mini terrariums!”

The students gathered around as Mr. Lopez explained how to layer soil, rocks, and plants inside clear containers. Emma worked with her friend Lily to create a tiny garden with moss and a small plastic frog.

By the end of the afternoon, the classroom was filled with green, glowing terrariums. Emma looked at hers and smiled. The rainy day had turned into something special after all.

​5th: The Great Garden Rescue

Last Saturday morning, Olivia and her brother Max were helping their grandmother in her backyard garden. The garden was full of colorful flowers, juicy tomatoes, and tall sunflowers. It was one of Grandma’s favorite places, and she spent hours taking care of it.

As they were pulling weeds, Max noticed something strange—the tomato plants were drooping, and some leaves had holes in them. Olivia looked closer and saw tiny bugs crawling on the stems. “Grandma, I think your garden has pests!” she said.

Grandma nodded. “I’ve been worried about that. We need to act fast before they ruin everything.”

The kids rushed to the local gardening store and bought natural pest spray and gloves. They spent the afternoon carefully treating the plants and checking each one for bugs. By the end of the day, the garden looked much healthier.

Grandma was so proud of Olivia and Max. “You two saved my garden!” she said with a big smile. The kids felt proud too, knowing they had helped protect something special.

​6th: The Mystery of the Missing Lunch

It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Maple Grove Middle School. The bell had just rung for lunch, and students rushed to the cafeteria, excited for a break from classes. Among them was Jordan, a sixth grader who had packed his favorite lunch: a turkey sandwich, apple slices, and a chocolate chip cookie.

Jordan placed his lunchbox on the table and went to get a drink. When he returned, his lunchbox was still there—but the cookie was gone! He looked around, puzzled. “Did someone take my cookie?” he asked his friends.

His best friend Maya pointed to a trail of crumbs leading toward the playground. Jordan and Maya followed the trail, which ended near the swings. Sitting there was Max, a third grader, happily munching on a chocolate chip cookie.

Jordan approached Max and asked, “Hey, did you take my cookie?”

Max looked up, surprised. “I found it on the table and thought someone left it behind,” he said. “I didn’t know it belonged to someone.”

Jordan sighed but smiled. “It’s okay. Next time, just ask.”

The two shook hands, and Jordan went back to finish his lunch—minus the cookie.

7th: The Solar-Powered Solution

In the small town of Clearwater, seventh grader Amina Patel noticed something troubling. Every afternoon, the playground near her school was nearly empty—not because kids didn’t want to play, but because the equipment was too hot to touch. The metal slides and monkey bars absorbed the sun’s heat, making them unsafe during the warmer months.

Amina, who had recently learned about solar energy in science class, came up with an idea. She proposed installing solar panels above the playground to provide shade and generate electricity for the school. With help from her science teacher and the student council, Amina presented her plan to the school board.

After several weeks of discussion and fundraising, the project was approved. By the end of the school year, the solar panels were installed. Not only did they cool the playground, but they also helped power the school’s lights and computers.

Thanks to Amina’s creativity and determination, students could enjoy recess again—even on the hottest days.

8th: The Bridge That Changed Everything

In 1929, the town of Millfield was divided by the wide and fast-moving River Elna. For decades, residents on either side had to travel miles upstream to cross a narrow footbridge, making trade and communication difficult. That all changed when a young engineer named Clara Jensen proposed building a steel suspension bridge directly across the river.

Clara had studied engineering in college and returned to her hometown with a dream of improving life for its people. Her idea was met with skepticism—many believed the river was too dangerous and the cost too high. But Clara didn’t give up. She gathered support from local businesses, raised funds, and worked with a team of builders to begin construction.

After two years of planning and hard work, the Elna Bridge was completed in the spring of 1931. It connected the two halves of Millfield, allowing people to travel, trade, and visit family with ease. The town flourished, and Clara became a local hero.

Today, nearly a century later, the Elna Bridge still stands—a symbol of determination, innovation, and the power of one person’s vision.