A New Friend at School

PicoBuddy1st GradeDiary Entry1 min read205 words
Image for A New Friend at School

Tuesday, October 10

Dear Diary,

Today was a very big day at school. A new boy came to our first grade class.

His name is Leo. He stood near the door and looked around the room.

Leo had a blue backpack and a quiet face. He held his bag very tight.

Our teacher, Mrs. Green, gave Leo a warm smile. She said Leo needed to find his desk.

I waved my hand at him. I pointed to the empty desk right next to me.

"You can sit here!" I said.

Leo walked across the carpet. He put his blue backpack on his chair.

Then he looked at his desk. He did not have any paper or pencils yet.

I opened my red pencil box. I gave Leo a bright yellow pencil and a clean sheet of paper.

Leo looked at the pencil. Then he looked at me and smiled a big smile.

"Thank you," Leo whispered.

We drew funny pictures together before reading time. I drew a brown dog, and Leo drew a green turtle.

At lunch, we sat together and ate our apples. Leo said he likes first grade now.

I felt happy inside my heart. It is nice to help someone feel welcome.

Glossary
tight:
Held firmly or close to the body.
empty:
Having nothing or no one inside or on it.
carpet:
A thick, soft floor covering.
whispered:
Spoke in a very soft and quiet voice.
welcome:
Made to feel happy, comfortable, and accepted in a new place.

Educational example text · Diary Entry

One passage, many ways to practice

Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.

  • Main Idea

    Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.

  • Summarize

    Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.

  • Point of View

    Identify who presents the text and analyze how perspective shapes what the reader receives.

  • Purpose

    Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.

  • Structure

    Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.

  • Vocabulary

    Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.

  • Writing Prompts

    Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.

  • Fix the Sentence

    Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?

Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.

Sign up with emailLog in

Preview questions from this passageShow
  1. 1What is the name of the new boy in class?
  2. 2What color was Leo's backpack?

About this diary entry passage for 1st Grade

“A New Friend at School” is a diary entry reading passage about welcoming a new classmate, written for 1st Grade. It takes about 1 minute to read (205 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. With a free account, you can read “A New Friend at School” online and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is “A New Friend at School”?

It’s written for 1st Grade — a diary entry text about welcoming a new classmate, about a 1-minute read (205 words).

What’s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

Yes. Remix is included with Pro and Max for adapting it to another grade level or language.
    A New Friend at School | 1st Grade Reading Activity | PicoBuddy