Worksheet

Ravi's Bowl: A Story, a Poem and a Play

Read a short story, a poem and a play about a pottery class, then answer questions about events, word meanings, feelings and theme.

Grade 4ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toRL.4.10

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What’s included

Single worksheet
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1 Common Core standard
Printable answer key
13 questions
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Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 4
Subject: ELA
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students read and understand a grade-level story, poem and play.
Students use details from each text to explain events, word meanings and characters' feelings.

How to use

Have students read one text at a time and answer its questions before moving on. Read the play aloud in parts to practice expression.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

RL.4.10

By the end of the year, read and understand stories, dramas, and poems at the grades 4-5 level, with support at the high end.

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Ravi's Bowl: A Story, a Poem and a Play

Read three short texts about a pottery class.

Read the story

The Wobbly Bowl (a story)

1Ravi had waited all summer for the pottery class at the community center. On the first day, Ms. Adeyemi showed the class how to press a lump of wet clay onto the spinning wheel. Her hands moved calmly, and in a minute a smooth bowl rose up between her fingers.

2Ravi's turn did not go so well. He pushed the pedal hard, and the wheel spun faster and faster. The clay wobbled, leaned to one side and then flopped over like a tired flower. Ravi felt his face grow hot. Gray splashes of clay dotted his shirt and arms.

3"Clay doesn't like to be rushed," Ms. Adeyemi said with a smile. "Slow the wheel down while you shape it, and keep your elbows close to your body. Let your hands stay steady while the clay does the turning."

4Ravi took a deep breath and tried again. This time he spun the wheel slowly and held his hands still. The lump began to rise, a little crooked at first, then rounder. When he finally lifted his foot from the pedal, a small bowl sat on the wheel. One side was slightly lopsided, but it was his.

5"It will be just right for holding my marbles," Ravi said, grinning.

Why does Ravi's first try flop over?

A. He uses clay that is much too dry.
B. He makes the wheel spin much too fast.
C. Ms. Adeyemi bumps his wheel by mistake.
D. He forgets to put the clay in the middle.

In paragraph 4, one side of the bowl is "slightly lopsided." What does lopsided mean?

A. smooth and very shiny
B. cracked down the middle
C. uneven, higher on one side
D. too heavy to pick up

Read paragraph 2. Underline the sentence that shows Ravi feels embarrassed.

Ravi's turn did not go so well.He pushed the pedal hard, and the wheel spun faster and faster.The clay wobbled, leaned to one side and then flopped over like a tired flower.Ravi felt his face grow hot.Gray splashes of clay dotted his shirt and arms.

Sort the events by when they happen in the story.

Ravi takes a deep breath.The clay flops over.Ms. Adeyemi makes a smooth bowl.Ravi spins the wheel slowly.A small bowl sits on Ravi's wheel.Ravi pushes the pedal hard.

Before Ms. Adeyemi gives Ravi advice	After Ms. Adeyemi gives Ravi advice

Which lesson does Ravi learn in the story?

A. Some jobs go better when you slow down.
B. Asking for help makes a job take longer.
C. A bowl has to be perfect to be useful.
D. A fast wheel makes a stronger bowl.

Read the poem

The Potter's Wheel (a poem)

1The wheel begins its gentle spin,
it hums a sleepy tune,
and in the center sits the clay,
as heavy as a moon.

2My fingers press, my thumbs dig in,
I hold my elbows tight;
the lump climbs up between my hands
and slowly grows in height.

3I lift my foot, the humming stops,
the wheel has gone to sleep,
and there, still damp, a little bowl:
a treasure I will keep.

In stanza 1, which word at the end of a line rhymes with tune? Write the word.

In stanza 3, what does the speaker mean by "the wheel has gone to sleep"?

A. The wheel is old and broken.
B. The speaker feels very sleepy.
C. The wheel is spinning quietly.
D. The wheel has stopped spinning.

How does the speaker feel about the bowl at the end of the poem?

A. Upset that the bowl is still damp
B. Proud and glad to keep the bowl
C. Worried that the bowl will break
D. Bored with making little bowls

Read the play

The Dancing Bowl (a play)

Characters: MS. ADEYEMI, the pottery teacher; RAVI; JUNE, a student in the class

Setting: The pottery room, two weeks later. A shelf holds rows of bowls that have been baked hard in a very hot oven called a kiln.

MS. ADEYEMI: (holding up a small bowl) Whose bowl is this? It came out of the kiln this morning.

RAVI: (stepping forward slowly) It's mine. I know it leans a little.

JUNE: (leaning closer) I like the way it leans. It looks like it's dancing!

RAVI: (smiling) Dancing? I never thought of that.

MS. ADEYEMI: Every bowl made by hand is a little different. That is what makes each one special.

RAVI: (holding the bowl carefully in both hands) Then next week, I'll make it a dancing partner!

Ravi steps forward slowly and says, "I know it leans a little." What do these details show about Ravi?

A. He is angry at Ms. Adeyemi.
B. He is in a hurry to go home.
C. He is unsure about showing his bowl.
D. He is sure his bowl will win a prize.

10.

What does June say Ravi's bowl looks like it is doing? Write the word from the play.

June says the bowl looks like it is .

11.

Which text tells each detail? Sort the details.

The clay is as heavy as a moon.Gray splashes of clay dot Ravi's shirt.The bowls are baked in a kiln.Ravi plans to keep marbles in his bowl.Ms. Adeyemi says every handmade bowl is different.The wheel hums a sleepy tune.