The Plan for the Day
Mia sat at the kitchen table with Mom and Uncle Ben. Rain tapped on the window.
Mom put on her coat. “I have to go to work,” she said. “I’ll be home in time for supper.”
“I’ll stay with Mia,” said Uncle Ben. “Let’s make a plan for our day.”
Mia drew a sun on a sheet of paper. Next to it, she drew a bowl, a book, and a big flower.
“First, lunch,” she said. “Then we can read. And we can pick flowers for the table!”
Mom gave Mia a hug and left for work. Mia waved until Mom was out of sight.
At lunch, Uncle Ben cut up an apple. Mia set out the plates and napkins.
After they ate, they washed the dishes. Then Uncle Ben read a book while Mia sat close by.
At last, Mia ran to the window. The rain was still falling hard.
“Oh no,” she said. “We can’t pick the flowers.”
Uncle Ben looked at the rain. “We could wait and see if it stops.”
Mia waited, but the rain kept coming. She looked at her plan again.
“I know!” she said. “We can make flowers out of paper.”
Uncle Ben found red and yellow paper. Mia cut out petals, and he helped her tape them to green stems.
- supper:
- The meal eaten in the evening.
- plan:
- An idea of what you will do.
- napkins:
- Pieces of paper or cloth used to wipe your hands or mouth.
- petals:
- The parts that make up a flower, often brightly colored.
- stems:
- The parts of plants that hold up flowers and leaves.
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
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?
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Who stayed with Mia while Mom was at work?
- 2What did Mia draw on her plan besides a sun?
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About this short story passage for Lower Elementary
“The Plan for the Day” is a short story reading passage about Family Life, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (280 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.