The Hero of the Woods
Leo was known as the class clown of the third grade at Sunnyvale Elementary. He had a loud laugh and a fast run, but he also had a habit that wasn't very kind. Leo loved to make fun of other students to make himself feel important. His favorite person to tease was Sam.
Sam was the complete opposite of Leo. He was quiet, wore thick glasses, and always carried a book about rocks or insects. Leo called him "Silly Sam" or "Bug Boy." Whenever Sam shared an interesting fact in class, Leo would roll his eyes or whisper a joke to his friends. Sam would usually just look down at his desk and stay silent, which made Leo think he didn't mind the teasing.
One crisp autumn morning, the class took a bus to the Great Oak Nature Preserve. Mrs. Gable, their teacher, was excited. "Today, we are going to be nature detectives!" she announced. "Everyone needs to find five different types of leaves and sketch them in their journals. Stay on the marked paths, and stay with your partners."
- Embankment:
- A slope or mound of earth or stone.
- Briars:
- Bushes or plants that have sharp thorns or prickles.
- Reckless:
- Acting without thinking about danger or consequences.
- Sturdy:
- Strong, firm, and not easily broken.
- Shame:
- An uncomfortable feeling of guilt for doing something wrong.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts â all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
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
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did Leo tease other students at the beginning of the story?
- 2What subjects did Sam enjoy reading about?
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About this short story passage for 3rd Grade
âThe Hero of the Woodsâ is a short story reading passage about Friendship, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 5 minutes to read (682 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.