Grade 2 · Reading · Literature

2nd Grade Story Message and Lesson worksheets

6 printable versionsBuilding ConfidenceAbout 6 minutes eachFree · no account

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Story Message and Lesson

Grade 2 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Read the text. Circle the best answer.

Read this first
The Long Race
Hare loved to brag about his long legs. "No one in the meadow can beat me," he said. Tortoise looked up from her lettuce. "I will race you to the old oak tree," she said.
All the animals laughed. Hare zoomed off and was soon far ahead. He looked back and could not see Tortoise at all. "I have lots of time," he said. He lay down under a shady bush and fell asleep.
Tortoise kept walking, one slow step at a time. She did not stop to rest. She passed the bush where Hare was snoring.
When Hare woke up, the sun was low. He raced to the oak tree as fast as he could. But Tortoise was already there, and the animals were cheering for her.
After that day, Hare never bragged about his speed again.
1.
What lesson does this story teach?
- Slow and steady work can win.
- It is smart to rest in the middle of a race.
- The fastest runner always wins.
2.
What happened first in the story?
- Hare bragged about his long legs.
- Hare fell asleep under a bush.
- Tortoise passed the sleeping Hare.
3.
Why did Hare lie down under a bush?
- He hurt his leg while running.
- Tortoise asked him to wait for her.
- He thought he had lots of time to win.
4.
Which action of Tortoise shows the lesson?
- She ran far ahead at the start.
- She looked up from her lettuce.
- She kept walking and did not stop to rest.

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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