Grade 2 · Reading · Literature

2nd Grade Story Message and Lesson worksheets

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Story Message and Lesson

Grade 2 Reading Worksheet

NameDate

Read the text. Circle the best answer.

Read this first
The Crow and the Jar
A thirsty crow found a tall jar with a little water at the bottom. Her beak was too short to reach it. She tried to tip the jar over, but it was far too heavy.
Then the crow saw some small stones on the ground. She picked one up and dropped it into the jar. The water rose a little. She dropped in another stone, and then another. Soon the water was high enough, and the crow took a long, cool drink.
1.
What lesson does this fable teach?
- Clever thinking can solve a hard problem.
- Water is easier to find than any food.
- Heavy things should never be moved at all.
2.
Why could the crow not drink right away?
- The water in the jar was too hot to drink.
- Her beak was too short to reach the water.
- A bigger bird was already drinking from it.
3.
Which action of the crow shows the lesson?
- She picked the jar up in her beak.
- She tried to tip the very heavy jar over.
- She dropped small stones into the jar.
4.
What happened as the crow dropped in more stones?
- The water in the jar rose higher.
- The jar began to tip over slowly.
- The stones sank and the water dried up.

2nd Grade Story Message and Lesson worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Recounting a story and naming its central message asks second graders to look past one favorite detail and think about what the character's choices show. A fable about a tortoise and a hare, or a folktale about a hummingbird and a forest fire, teaches a lesson through what happens, not through a stated moral. This worksheet uses one fable or folktale, printed once above the four questions that use it, and asks students to name the lesson, connect an event to that lesson, state the main idea, choose a supporting detail, and reject a lesson the story does not support.

Encourage your child to ask what the character learned or showed through their actions, then check that the lesson fits every event, not just the ending. Watch for a child who names a moral from a different, familiar story instead of the lesson this story's own events actually support.

What your child will learn

Recount key story events
Determine a story's central message
Connect an event to a lesson
Reject a lesson the story does not support

Common Core standard: RL.2.2

Worked example

The tortoise keeps walking one slow step at a time and wins the race. The lesson is that slow and steady work can win.

Common mistake

Choosing a favorite detail instead of the lesson shown by the character's actions.

Helpful hint

Think about how the character's actions solved a problem.

Next skill: Story Structure Earlier: Reading Fluency

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with story message and lesson?

Choosing a favorite detail instead of the lesson shown by the character's actions.

How can I help my child with story message and lesson?

Think about how the character's actions solved a problem.

Are these 2nd 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 2nd grade literature

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