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Short Stories for 1st Graders

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Eight original illustrated stories and two poems, each with a page of questions and an answer key.

Download the short stories worksheets

Short stories

Original illustrated stories with a page of questions and an answer key.

Poems

Short original poems with questions about rhyme, the senses and feelings.

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these short stories worksheets

Short stories give first graders a reason to keep reading: a character they care about, a small problem and an ending that feels right. These short stories for 1st graders are original and written at a late first grade level, about 150 to 190 words each.

Each story fills page 1 with a big picture and the text. Page 2 asks about the characters, the setting, the problem and how it was solved, what happened in order, and the lesson or the feeling words in the story. Two stories are told by the main character in their own voice, so children can practice telling who is telling the story. Page 3 is the answer key.

The two poems are short and rhyming, with questions about rhyming words and words for the senses. All the stories are about things children know well: a runaway puppy, a first visit to the dentist, a new baby, a class pet, a lemonade stand, a rainy day picnic, a sunflower and the first day at a new school.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.10With prompting and support, read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for grade 1.

How to use them

  1. Read the story together first, or let your child read it on their own if they are ready.
  2. Talk about the picture before reading. What might happen in this story?
  3. After reading, ask your child to retell the story in three parts: beginning, middle and end.
  4. Answer the questions on page 2, looking back at the story when needed.
  5. Read the poems out loud more than once. Clap the rhythm and listen for the rhyming words.

Teaching tips

  • Short stories work well for partner reading: each child reads every other paragraph.
  • Ask how the character felt at the start and at the end. Feelings often change in a good story.
  • For lesson questions, ask: what did the character learn? What could we learn from it?
  • Keep the story page and the questions page together, or use the story alone for fluency practice.
  • Poems are great for reading aloud with expression. Read them again on another day.

Questions teachers and parents ask

How long are these short stories?

Most are 150 to 190 words, about one page. They suit readers at the end of first grade, or younger children listening to an adult read.

Do the stories come with questions?

Yes. Each story has a page of questions about characters, setting, events, feelings and the lesson, plus an answer key.

Are these stories free to print?

Yes. All the stories are original and free to print for home or classroom use.

What makes a good short story for a first grader?

A character children can relate to, a clear problem, a few events in order and an ending that solves the problem. Simple dialogue and feeling words help too.