Leo's Carnival Dance
Leo lived in Rio. He loved the bright sun.
The big Carnival parade was coming soon. Leo wanted to dance in the street.
He had to learn the samba step. It was a fast dance.
Leo put on his blue shoes. He stood on the warm grass.
"Step back, step front," he said. His feet did not go the right way.
He tripped on a small rock. Leo sat down with a sigh.
His sister, Ana, came out. She smiled and tapped her feet.
"Listen to the drum," Ana said. "One, two, three, step!"
Leo closed his eyes. He heard the beat in his heart.
He stood up to try again. He moved his left foot back.
Then he moved his right foot fast. He did not trip this time.
"You did it!" Ana clapped. Leo danced all around the yard.
Now he was ready for the big parade. He could not wait to shine.
- Carnival:
- A big, colorful festival with music, dancing, and parades held in the streets.
- Samba:
- A lively, fast-paced dance and style of music that is very popular in Brazil.
- Sigh:
- A deep breath let out slowly to show that you are tired, sad, or disappointed.
- Beat:
- The steady rhythm or pattern of sounds in music.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where does Leo live?
- 2What exciting event was coming to Leo's city soon?
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About this short story passage for Lower Elementary
“Leo's Carnival Dance” is a short story reading passage about Samba and Carnival in Brazil, 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.