Comprehension: Surprise Party

Level: Standard 1 & 2

Comprehension

Surprise Party

By Kelly Hashway.

Emma hung the streamers, not really paying attention to where she was placing them. She was too disappointed to focus. After all, it was her birthday too and no one in her class had even said happy birthday. They were all busy planning the surprise party for Mr. Stinton, the janitor. Emma knew Mr. Stinton deserved a surprise party, but she wished just one person would have remembered it was her birthday too.

Emma glanced at the giant card the class had made. It was the length of the blackboard. Mr. Stinton wouldn’t like it if they bought presents for him, so Emma had suggested the class make a card and bake goodies just like he did for them. She’d spent a lot of time planning the surprise party. She wanted Mr. Stinton to feel special. “I’m going to call Mr. Stinton now,” Mrs. Bowman, the teacher, said. “Emma will you turn off the lights please?”

Mrs. Bowman called Mr. Stinton saying that someone spilled juice in the classroom.  As soon as Mrs. Bowman hung up, Emma took one last look around the room and turned the lights off with a sigh.

Emma heard Mr. Stinton’s boots thumping down the hallway. The doorknob

turned and Emma flicked on the light. Everyone yelled, “Surprise!”

Mr. Stinton was overjoyed to see all of the wonderful things the children had planned for him. He was very happy when Emma gave him the big card that the class had made for him.

“This is the most beautiful card I’ve ever seen.” He turned to Emma and handed her a card. “It makes my birthday card for you look kind of small.” He gave Emma three balloons and a tray of cookies. “Happy Birthday, Emma. I was so excited when I found out we have the same birthday.”

“Happy birthday, Emma,” her classmates said.

“I’m glad we share the same birthday, too,” Emma said, smiling at Mr. Stinton.

Questions and Answers:

1)    Why was Emma disappointed in the beginning of the story?

None of her classmates remembered that it was her birthday

2)    Who was Mr. Stinton?

Mr. Stinton was the janitor.

3)    What did Ms. Bowman tell Mr. Stinton when she called him?

She told him that someone spilled juice in the classroom.

4)    How long was Mr. Stinton’s card?

It was about the size of the Black Board.

5)    What three items did Mr. Stinton give to Emma for her Birthday?

He gave her a card, three balloons and a tray of cookies.

6)    Do you like this story? Why?

Yes I like this story. It was very entertaining.