Stan the Scarecrow's Big Laughs


Stan the Scarecrow's Big Laughs
Stan was a scarecrow, but he was not like the others. He didn't want to scare crows. Stan wanted to make people laugh. He wanted to be a funny comedian!
Every day, Stan would tell jokes to the corn. The corn did not laugh. It just stood tall and still. Stan would say, "Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!" The corn didn't even smile.
One sunny day, a hayride came by. Children were laughing and singing. Stan thought, "This is my chance!" He stood up straight and told his best joke. "What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry!"
The children giggled. They thought Stan was very funny! They asked him to tell more jokes. Stan told jokes all afternoon. The children laughed and laughed. Stan was so happy.
From that day on, Stan was the farm's funniest scarecrow. He made everyone smile. He learned that even a scarecrow could have big dreams. And he showed everyone that laughter is the best sound of all.
- Scarecrow:
- A figure made to look like a person, put in a field to scare birds away.
- Comedian:
- A person who makes people laugh by telling jokes.
- Hayride:
- A ride on a wagon filled with hay.
- award:
- A prize given to someone for doing something special or good.
- giggled:
- Laughed in a quiet or silly way.
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.
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
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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 did Stan want to be?
- 2Who did Stan tell his jokes to at first?
Where this passage belongs
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About this fiction passage for Lower Elementary
“Stan the Scarecrow's Big Laughs” is a fiction reading passage about Scarecrow Dreams, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (179 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.


