Finding the Central Message
A Grade 1 ELA worksheet focused on identifying the central message or lesson in short stories.
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Finding the Central Message
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Read each short story carefully. Then, answer the questions to find the central message or lesson of the story.
The Little Red Hen found some grains of wheat. She asked her friends, the Pig, the Cat, and the Dog, for help planting the wheat. They all said no. So, the Little Red Hen planted it herself. When the wheat grew, she asked for help cutting it, but her friends still said no. She cut it herself. Then she asked for help taking it to the mill, and again, her friends said no. She took it herself. Finally, she asked for help baking the bread, and her friends said no. She baked it herself. When the bread was ready, she asked, "Who will help me eat this delicious bread?" This time, all her friends said, "I will!" But the Little Red Hen said, "No, I will eat it myself!" And she did.
1. What did the Little Red Hen's friends say when she asked for help?
Yes, we will help!
No, we won't help.
Maybe later.
Help yourself!
2. What is the central message of this story?
It's good to have many friends.
If you don't help, you don't get the reward.
Baking bread is hard work.
Hens are very clever animals.
A shepherd boy was bored watching his sheep. He decided to play a trick on the villagers. He ran into the village shouting, "Wolf! Wolf!" The villagers rushed out to help him, but there was no wolf. The boy laughed. He played the trick again the next day, and again the villagers came running only to find no wolf. The boy laughed again. On the third day, a real wolf came to attack the sheep! The boy cried, "Wolf! Wolf!" but the villagers thought it was another trick and did not come. The wolf ate some of the sheep.
3. What happened when the boy cried 'Wolf!' the third time?
The villagers saved the sheep.
The wolf ran away.
The villagers did not come to help.
The boy caught the wolf.
4. What is the central message of this story?
It is fun to play tricks.
Always tell the truth.
Sheep need a lot of watching.
Wolves are very tricky.
5. Think of a time you learned a lesson from something that happened. What was the lesson?