Zarnok Goes to School
Zarnok Goes to School
Zarnok wasn't like the other kids on his planet, Glorp. While they loved playing in the purple goo puddles and collecting sparkly space rocks, Zarnok dreamed of Earth. He had seen pictures of schools in a discarded Earthling comic book, and they looked amazing!
One day, Zarnok packed a bag with his favorite space snacks (glow worms and fizzing moon cheese), put on his coolest human disguise (a yellow jacket, blue shorts, and big sunglasses), and hopped onto his rocket-powered scooter. "Time for school!" he beeped, zooming toward the nearest Earth school.
At Harmony Elementary, the kids were lining up for class. Zarnok tried to blend in. He watched as a girl with pigtails dropped her pencil. "Can I help?" Zarnok asked, trying to sound like a regular Earth kid. But his voice came out as a series of squeaks and whistles. The girl stared, her eyes wide.
Suddenly, a small Earth boy with bright red hair approached. "Cool glasses!" he said, grinning. "I'm Max. Are you new here?"
Zarnok gulped. This was it. "Uh, yes. I'm... Zack," he said, making up a name. "I just moved here from... far away."
Max didn't seem to notice anything strange. "Awesome! Come on, Zack. Mrs. Davis is really fun. We're learning about planets today!"
- Glorp:
- Zarnok's home planet.
- Disguise:
- Clothes that hide who someone really is.
- Earthling:
- A person from Earth.
- discarded:
- Thrown away or gotten rid of because it was no longer needed.
- approached:
- Came closer or walked up to someone or something.
- curious:
- Eager to learn or know more about something.
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.
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
- 1What did Zarnok dream of doing that was different from the other kids on Glorp?
- 2What did Zarnok pack in his bag when he went to Earth?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“Zarnok Goes to School” is a fiction reading passage about Alien Adventure, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (290 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.