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Sofia's Ballet Recital Letter: Choosing Words for Effect worksheet preview

Worksheet

Sofia's Ballet Recital Letter: Choosing Words for Effect

Read a girl's letter about her first ballet recital, explain the effect of her word choices and pick strong words to revise sentences.

Grade 3ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toL.3.3.a

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What’s included

  • Single worksheet
  • Auto-graded online
  • 1 Common Core standard
  • Printable answer key
  • 10 questions
  • Classroom-ready

Details

Format
Interactive · Printable
Grade
Grade 3
Subject
ELA
Question types
Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

  • Students explain what a writer's word or phrase helps the reader feel, hear or picture.
  • Students choose words and phrases that give a sentence a clear effect.

How to use

Read the letter aloud with expression, then have students circle words that help them picture the recital before they answer the questions.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

L.3.3.a

Choose words and phrases for effect.

Preview

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Name Date

Sofia's Ballet Recital Letter: Choosing Words for Effect

See how a writer's words help you feel, hear and picture a big night.

Read the letter

Dear Abuela

1Dear Abuela, Last night was my first ballet recital, and I wish you could have seen it! Before the show, I peeked out from behind the heavy red curtain. The seats were packed with families, and my knees started to wobble like jelly.

2Then the music began. Soft violin notes floated through the hall, and my group tiptoed onto the stage. We dipped and twirled like leaves in a breeze. During my solo, I leaped so high that I felt like I was flying.

3Near the end, my friend Grace's slipper slid off and skidded across the floor. For one second, the whole room held its breath. Grace just smiled, kicked off her other slipper, and kept dancing in her socks. The crowd cheered so loudly that the floor seemed to shake.

4When we bowed, my cheeks were glowing and my heart was thumping. Mom handed me a bunch of yellow roses. Next year, I hope you can sit in the front row.

5Love, Sofia

Sofia's word choices

Use the letter to answer each question.

1.
In paragraph 1, Sofia writes that her knees "started to wobble like jelly." What does this phrase help you understand?
  • A. She had hurt her leg at practice.
  • B. She was hungry for a snack.
  • C. She felt nervous before the show.
  • D. She felt bored waiting backstage.
2.
Read paragraph 2 again. Underline the sentence with words that tell what the music sounded like.

Then the music began.Soft violin notes floated through the hall, and my group tiptoed onto the stage.We dipped and twirled like leaves in a breeze.During my solo, I leaped so high that I felt like I was flying.

3.
In paragraph 3, Sofia writes that the slipper "skidded" across the floor. Why is skidded a better choice than went?
  • A. It shows the slipper floated up into the air.
  • B. It shows the slipper slid fast along the floor.
  • C. It shows the slipper stayed on Grace's foot.
  • D. It shows the slipper broke into two pieces.
4.
In paragraph 3, Sofia writes that "the whole room held its breath." What does this phrase show?
  • A. Everyone laughed and pointed at Grace's socks.
  • B. Everyone stood up and walked out of the hall.
  • C. Everyone clapped along to the violin music.
  • D. Everyone went quiet to see what Grace would do.
5.
Match each word Sofia used to what it helps you picture.
  1. tiptoed
  2. twirled
  3. leaped
  4. thumping
  1. A. jumped high into the air
  2. B. beating hard and fast
  3. C. walked quietly on the front of their feet
  4. D. spun around and around
6.
Which words from paragraph 4 show that Sofia felt excited and happy after the show?
  • A. "a bunch of yellow roses"
  • B. "sit in the front row"
  • C. "my cheeks were glowing"
  • D. "Mom handed me"

Revise like Sofia

Choose words that give each sentence the effect the writer wants.

7.
Sofia wrote more sentences about the recital. Write the word from the box that fits each sentence best. One word is not used.
Word bank: yawned · shouted · twinkled · bounced

The stage lights   like tiny stars.
My little brother   up and down in his seat.
My teacher   "Bravo!" from the back row.

8.
Sofia wants readers to feel how proud she was at the end of the show. Which sentence does that best?
  • A. I stood tall and beamed at the cheering crowd.
  • B. I looked down at my feet and hid my face.
  • C. I rubbed my sore toes after the last dance.
  • D. I bowed and then walked off to the side.
9.
Sort the words. Does each word help you hear a sound or picture a movement?
twirledcheeredhummedleapedwhisperedtiptoed
A soundA movement
10.
In her first draft, Sofia wrote, "The music was nice." Rewrite the sentence with words that help the reader hear or picture the music.

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