Leo and the Little River
Leo put on his red boots. He was on a camping trip with his family.
They walked on a wooden path in Itasca State Park. The sun was warm and bright.
"We are going to find a river," said Dad. "It starts right here!"
Leo looked down at his feet. He saw a small stream with clear water.
Big rocks lay in a row across the water. Leo stepped from rock to rock.
"Is this the huge Mississippi River?" asked Leo. He was very surprised.
"Yes, it is!" said Mom with a big smile. "The long river starts as a little stream."
Leo splashed his toes in the cool water. He was glad he found where the big river begins.
- camping:
- Living outdoors in a tent or camper for fun.
- wooden:
- Made out of wood from trees.
- stream:
- A small, narrow river of moving water.
- surprised:
- Feeling wonder or shock because something unexpected happened.
- splashed:
- Moved around in water so that it sprayed or scattered.
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
- 1What color were the boots that Leo put on at the start of the story?
- 2Where was Leo camping with his family?
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About this short story passage for Lower Elementary
“Leo and the Little River” is a short story reading passage about Finding the Source of the Mississippi River, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (120 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.