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1st Grade Retell Stories With Key Details worksheets

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Retell Stories With Key Details

Grade 1 Reading Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

Read this first
Tara's Tower
On a quiet afternoon, Tara dumps a box of blocks on the rug. She picks the flat ones first. She sets one block on top of another. Slowly, the tower grows taller than her knee. Then it wobbles. Tara stops and thinks. She puts a wide, heavy block at the bottom. Now the tower is steady. Tara adds more blocks. At last, she steps back. Her tall tower is done, and she grins.
1.
Which sentence retells the whole story?
- Tara steps back and grins at her tower.
- Tara picks the flat blocks to start her tower.
- Tara knocks down her tower and walks away.
- Tara builds a tower, fixes it with a wide block when it wobbles, and finishes it.
2.
Which sentence tells only the beginning?
- Tara steps back and grins at her tower.
- Tara picks the flat blocks to start her tower.
- Tara knocks down her tower and walks away.
- Tara builds a tower, fixes it with a wide block when it wobbles, and finishes it.
3.
Which sentence tells only the ending?
- Tara picks the flat blocks to start her tower.
- Tara steps back and grins at her tower.
- Tara knocks down her tower and walks away.
- Tara builds a tower, fixes it with a wide block when it wobbles, and finishes it.
4.
What happens at the beginning?
- She picks the flat ones first.
- Then it wobbles.
- The tower falls over at the end.
- Tara knocks the tower down on purpose.
5.
What happens in the middle?
- She picks the flat ones first.
- The tower falls over at the end.
- Then it wobbles.
- Tara builds the tower outside.
6.
What happens at the end?
- At last, she steps back.
- Then it wobbles.
- Tara builds the tower outside.
- She picks the flat ones first.
7.
Which sentence should NOT be in a retell?
- Then it wobbles.
- Tara picks the flat blocks first.
- She picks the flat ones first.
- Tara builds the tower outside.
8.
What does Tara do in this story?
- reads a book
- draws a picture
- builds a tall tower
- paints a wall
9.
What lesson does this story teach?
- Towers are best when they are short.
- Quit when something wobbles.
- Fix a small problem and keep going.
10.
Which true detail could you add to a retell?
- Tara builds the tower outside.
- The tower falls over at the end.
- Tara knocks the tower down on purpose.
- Tara picks the flat blocks first.

1st Grade Retell Stories With Key Details worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Retelling is a literature standard because it shows whether a reader understands the whole story, not just one remembered detail. First graders learn to include key events in order and, when appropriate, tell the lesson or central message. This worksheet gives compact stories, printed once above the questions that use them, with a clear problem, action, and result. Questions ask children to choose the best retell, identify details that must be included, name a story's message, recognize a retell that covers only part of the story, and put events in order.

Support versions use the shortest stories. Standard and challenge versions move to longer stories that need more careful retelling. Children often retell by naming a favorite detail or repeating the last event only. Ask them to use three fingers for beginning, middle, and end, then add the message after the retell is complete.

What your child will learn

Retell key story events
Keep events in order
Name a central message
Separate important details from small extras

Common Core standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2

Worked example

A strong retell of Ben's fish story says he feeds the fish, checks the water, and washes his hands.

Common mistake

Retelling only the ending and leaving out what caused it.

Helpful hint

Use beginning, middle, and end before naming the message.

Next skill: Poetry Rhythm and Rhyme Earlier: Read With Fluency

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with retell stories with key details?

Retelling only the ending and leaving out what caused it.

How can I help my child with retell stories with key details?

Use beginning, middle, and end before naming the message.

Are these 1st grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 1st grade literature

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