Levelled Reading: Levels L-O
Grade 3 - Reading - Building Confidence
Read this first
The Compost Bin
The compost bin at the community garden smelled bad. People held their noses when they walked past. Elena wanted to fix it.
She read a library book about compost. The book said a good pile needs two kinds of things. It needs green things, like fruit peels. It also needs brown things, like dry leaves.
Elena looked in the bin. It was full of peels and old lettuce. There were no dry leaves at all.
She put a box of dry leaves next to the bin. She made a sign that said, "Add one scoop of leaves for every scoop of food scraps." At first, some people forgot. Elena mixed in extra leaves herself.
After two weeks, the smell was almost gone. After a month, the pile was dark and crumbly, like soil. Mr. Diaz, who ran the garden, asked Elena to teach the new members.
"It just took patience," Elena said. She smiled at the bin that did not smell anymore.
Who is this story mainly about?
- the new members
- the people walking past
- Elena
Where does most of this story take place?
- at a farm stand
- in a city park
- at the community garden
What problem does the garden have at the start?
- The compost bin smells bad.
- The garden has no water.
- People take the vegetables.
What does Elena learn from the library book?
- A pile needs green things and brown things.
- A pile should be kept in a box.
- A pile needs water every hour.
What does the bin have too little of?
- old lettuce
- dry leaves
- food scraps
What does Elena do first to fix the bin?
- She mixes in extra leaves.
- She teaches the new members.
- She reads a book about compost.
Which of these did NOT happen in the story?
- Elena mixed in leaves herself.
- Elena bought a new compost bin.
- Elena read a library book.
What does the word "crumbly" mean in this story?
- hard like a rock
- breaking into small pieces
- smooth and shiny
What happens at the end of the story?
- Elena reads about compost.
- Mr. Diaz asks Elena to teach new members.
- Elena puts out a box of leaves.
How does Elena feel at the end?
- proud
- scared
- bored