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Dash and the Muddy Bend worksheet preview

Worksheet

Dash and the Muddy Bend

Read an original story about a jealous young kingfisher. Describe his feelings and reasons, and explain how his actions change what happens next.

Grade 3ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toRL.3.3

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What’s included

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

Details

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

About this worksheet

What students practice

  • Students describe a character's feelings, traits and reasons using details from a story.
  • Students explain how a character's actions lead to later events in a story.

How to use

Read the story aloud once, then let students reread it on their own before answering. Discuss the last question together to connect Dash's choices to the ending.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

RL.3.3

Describe a character's traits, motivations, or feelings and explain how the character's actions move the sequence of events along.

Preview

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Name Date

Dash and the Muddy Bend

Read a story about a young kingfisher and answer the questions.

Read the story

Read the story carefully. Then answer the questions.

Dash and the Muddy Bend

1Dash was a young kingfisher with a shaggy blue crest. He lived beside a clear creek with his big sister, Willa, and their papa. Every morning, Papa showed them how to fish. He perched on a low willow branch, watched the water, and dove straight down to grab a minnow.

2One morning, Willa caught her very first fish. "Well done!" Papa cheered. Dash's feathers puffed up. He had tried all week and caught nothing. "It's not fair," he grumbled. "I'll catch a bigger fish than Willa's, and I'll do it all by myself."

3Without telling anyone, Dash flew downstream to Muddy Bend. Papa had warned them not to fish there, but Dash wanted a spot where no one could watch him. He dove again and again, but he came up with only brown water. The water was so cloudy that he could not see a single fish.

4By late afternoon, Dash was tired, wet, and hungry. Then Willa landed on the branch beside him with a small fish in her beak. "Papa and I have been looking everywhere for you," she said. She set the fish down next to him. "I saved this for you."

5Dash looked down at his feet. "I flew away because I was jealous of you," he said quietly. "I'm sorry." Willa fluffed her feathers. "Come back to the clear water," she said. "We can practice together."

6The next morning, Dash sat beside Willa on the willow branch. He watched the water closely, just like Papa did. When a silver flash moved below, he dove. Dash rose with a fish in his beak, flew to Willa, and dropped it at her feet. "This one is for you," he said with a grin.

Get to know Dash and Willa

Use the story to answer each question.

1.
Match each moment to the word that best tells how Dash feels.
  1. Dash has been diving at Muddy Bend until late afternoon.
  2. Willa sets a fish beside Dash, and he looks down at his feet.
  3. Dash drops a fish at Willa's feet and grins.
  1. A. happy
  2. B. tired
  3. C. ashamed
2.
Read paragraph 3. Why does Dash fly to Muddy Bend?
  • A. He knows the biggest fish swim in the muddy water.
  • B. Papa tells him to look for fish downstream.
  • C. He wants a spot where no one can watch him.
  • D. He wants to find Willa and tell her sorry.
3.
Write the word from paragraph 5 that finishes the sentence.

Dash says he flew away because he was   of Willa.

4.
Read paragraph 4. What does Willa's action show about her?
  • A. She wants to show Dash that she fishes better.
  • B. She is angry that Dash flew away from home.
  • C. She is too tired to eat her own small fish.
  • D. She cares about her brother and wants to help.

How actions move the story

Use the story to answer each question.

5.
Read paragraph 3 again. Underline the sentence that tells why Dash could not catch a fish at Muddy Bend.

Without telling anyone, Dash flew downstream to Muddy Bend.Papa had warned them not to fish there, but Dash wanted a spot where no one could watch him.He dove again and again, but he came up with only brown water.The water was so cloudy that he could not see a single fish.

6.
Match each action to what happens because of it.
  1. Papa cheers for Willa's first fish.
  2. Dash flies off without telling anyone.
  3. Willa gives Dash the fish she saved.
  4. Dash watches the water closely.
  1. A. Papa and Willa look everywhere for him.
  2. B. Dash spots a silver flash and catches a fish.
  3. C. Dash grumbles that it is not fair.
  4. D. Dash looks down and tells her he is sorry.
7.
How is Dash different at the end of the story than at the beginning?
  • A. He stops fishing at the creek and moves to Muddy Bend.
  • B. He stops trying to beat Willa and shares with her.
  • C. He stops listening to Papa and teaches Willa instead.
  • D. He stops catching fish and lets Willa feed him.
8.
How does Dash's choice to fly to Muddy Bend lead to the ending of the story? Use details from the story.

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