The Case of the Missing Watering Can
At the school garden, two members of the garden team stand beside a row of young bean plants.
Maya: The soil around these beans is dry. I’ll get the watering can.
Eli: I already looked on the tool shelf. The trowels are there, but the can is gone.
Maya: We need it before recess ends. Let’s look for clues instead of searching everywhere at once.
Eli: Good plan. I’ll check near the shelf.
Maya: And I’ll look by the garden gate.
[They search on opposite sides of the garden.]
Maya: Here’s our first clue! There’s a damp circle on the path, with a little trail of water leading toward the compost bin.
Eli: That circle is about the size of the bottom of our can. Someone might have set it down there.
Maya: The trail disappears in the dirt, though. Let’s follow it as far as we can.
[They walk to the compost bin.]
Eli: Look at this green ribbon caught on the corner. That’s our second clue.
Maya: The can has a green ribbon tied to its handle so we can spot it among the other tools. Is this piece from the ribbon?
Eli: I think so. The end is torn, and the loose threads are caught on this nail.
- clues:
- Facts or signs that help solve a mystery or problem.
- damp:
- Slightly wet.
- trail:
- A line of marks or signs that shows a path.
- compost:
- Decayed plant material used to help soil.
- seedlings:
- Young plants that have recently grown from seeds.
- faucet:
- A device that controls the flow of water from a pipe.
- borrowing:
- Taking something to use for a while, with the intention of returning it.
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Main Idea
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Purpose
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Structure
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 11. Why do Maya and Eli decide to look for clues rather than search everywhere at once?
- 22. How do the damp circle and water trail help Maya and Eli begin their search?
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“The Case of the Missing Watering Can” is a reader's theater reading passage about Sharing and Cooperation, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (589 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.