Charlotte's New Home in Santa Fe
Charlotte packed her bags and moved to a new city. Her new home was in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The houses here looked like warm brown mud cakes. They had smooth walls made of adobe bricks. Wooden beams stuck out near the roofs. Charlotte thought the houses looked very cozy.
The next day, Charlotte walked down a sunny street. She saw bright red peppers hanging in long strings on doors. People called these red peppers ristras. A lady gave Charlotte a hot corn tortilla to try. It was filled with melted cheese and warm beans. The food was warm and delicious.
In the evening, Charlotte heard happy music playing in the town square. People were smiling and dancing together under colorful lights. Charlotte tapped her feet to the fun song. She loved her new town so much. Santa Fe was full of color, art, and friendly people. Charlotte felt very happy in her new home.
- adobe:
- A sun-dried mud brick used for building houses.
- beams:
- Long, thick pieces of wood used to support a roof or ceiling.
- ristras:
- Strings or bunches of dried chili peppers hung up as decorations.
- tortilla:
- A thin, round flatbread made from corn or flour.
- square:
- An open public area in a town where people can gather.
One passage, many ways to practice
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Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
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Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Vocabulary
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Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where did Charlotte move?
- 2What did the houses in Santa Fe look like to Charlotte?
Where this passage belongs
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About this short story passage for Lower Elementary
“Charlotte's New Home in Santa Fe” is a short story reading passage about Moving to a New City, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (155 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.