Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Understand Differences Between Types Of Texts
Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
One little monkeys jumping on the bed,
He fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their head,
Papa called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”
How do you know this is a fictional story and not a true story?
Monkeys can’t call the doctor
When you fall down you don’t bump your head
Monkeys don’t jump
Monkeys don’t live together in families
Monkeys can’t call the doctor
Monkeys are real animals that can jump and live together but a monkey cannot use a phone to call a doctor because a monkey cannot talk.
Example Question #271 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
Dear Archie,
Happy birthday! I hope you are having a good day. Today I went for a run and swam at the beach. I love summer because I can go to the beach every day. What do you like to do in the summer? What is your favorite season? I hope you write back soon!
From,
Anya
What type of text is this?
Informational text
Fiction
Letter
Nonfiction
Letter
A letter includes a heading (Dear the person who the letter is to), a closing (From) and a signature (the person who wrote the letter). An informational and nonfiction text includes true facts and information. A nonfiction text is a made-up story with made up characters. A fiction story has characters, a setting, and a beginning, middle and end.
Example Question #2 : Understand Differences Between Types Of Texts
All About Dolphins
Dolphins live in the water, but they are not fish. Dolphins are mammals. A mammal is an animal that gives birth to their young, drinks milk, and is warm-blooded. Elephants, dogs, and even humans are mammals.
Dolphins live in the water, but they have to come up to the air to breathe. Dolphins breathe through a hole on top of their heads called a blowhole. Dolphins must swim to the surface multiple times a minute to breathe air.
Dolphins eat fish and other sea creatures like squid. Dolphins have teeth but they do not chew their food. Dolphins swallow fish whole.
Dolphins are very social animals. Dolphins live in groups called pods. Dolphins are very smart. They can learn fun tricks. Dolphins love to play with each other. They play with seaweed and jump above the waves. Dolphins communicate with each other by making clicking and whistling noises.
Dolphins are excellent swimmers. They have a sleek body to help them move through the water. They move their tails up and down and use their flippers to help then swim and steer. The two fins on a dolphin’s tail are called flukes.
Dolphins live in many places around the world. There are many different types of dolphins. Dolphins come in many shapes and colors. Some dolphins in South America are even pink.
Dolphins are amazing animals.
What type of text is this?
Fiction
Fairytale
Poem
Informational text
Informational text
An informational text includes true information and facts. This text informs the reader about true information and facts about dolphins. A poem has stanzas and rhyming words. A fiction story is made up and includes characters, a setting, a beginning, middle and end. A fairytale usually includes magic and talking animals. An Informational text includes true facts and information.
Example Question #4 : Understand Differences Between Types Of Texts
All About Dolphins
Dolphins live in the water, but they are not fish. Dolphins are mammals. A mammal is an animal that gives birth to their young, drinks milk, and is warm-blooded. Elephants, dogs, and even humans are mammals.
Dolphins live in the water, but they have to come up to the air to breathe. Dolphins breathe through a hole on top of their heads called a blowhole. Dolphins must swim to the surface multiple times a minute to breathe air.
Dolphins eat fish and other sea creatures like squid. Dolphins have teeth but they do not chew their food. Dolphins swallow fish whole.
Dolphins are very social animals. Dolphins live in groups called pods. Dolphins are very smart. They can learn fun tricks. Dolphins love to play with each other. They play with seaweed and jump above the waves. Dolphins communicate with each other by making clicking and whistling noises.
Dolphins are excellent swimmers. They have a sleek body to help them move through the water. They move their tails up and down and use their flippers to help then swim and steer. The two fins on a dolphin’s tail are called flukes.
Dolphins live in many places around the world. There are many different types of dolphins. Dolphins come in many shapes and colors. Some dolphins in South America are even pink.
Dolphins are amazing animals.
How do you know this is a non-fiction, informational text and not a fictional, made-up story?
It has made-up characters
It has talking animals
It has rhyming words
It has true facts
It has true facts
An informational text includes true information and facts. This text informs the reader about true information and facts about dolphins. This text gives information about how dolphins move, what dolphins eat, what dolphins look like and more.
Example Question #8 : Understand Differences Between Types Of Texts
Bella’s Birthday Surprise
Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.
Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”
“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.
“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.
“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!
“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.
What type of text is this?
Fiction
Fairytale
Poem
Informational text
Fiction
A fiction story is a made-up story with made-up characters, a setting, and a beginning, middle, and end. In this story the characters are Bella and her friends. In the beginning she is excited because it is her birthday. In the middle she is sad because she thinks everyone forgot her birthday. At the end her friends surprise her and they all celebrate together. A poem has stanzas and rhyming words. The last word of each set of lines rhymes. An informational text includes true facts and information. A fairytale usually includes magic and talking animals.
Example Question #272 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
Bella’s Birthday Surprise
Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.
Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”
“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.
“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.
“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!
“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.
How do you know this is a fictional story and not a true story?
It has made-up characters
It has true facts
It has rhyming words
It has talking animals
It has made-up characters
A fiction story is a made-up story with made-up characters, a setting, and a beginning, middle, and end. In this story the characters are Bella and her friends. In the beginning she is excited because it is her birthday. In the middle she is sad because she thinks everyone forgot her birthday. In the end her friends surprise her and they all celebrate together.
Example Question #10 : Understand Differences Between Types Of Texts
Ants
Ants live in many different places around the world. There are many different species of ants. Ants come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be black, brown, red, and yellow.
Ants are insects. They have six legs and their bodies have three parts. Ants have two large eyes and two antennae on the top of their heads. They use their antennae to touch and feel. Ants communicate using their antennae. Ants also have a strong jaw. They use their jaw to cut food and wood and to fight.
Ants live in trees, grass, dirt, and in tunnels underground. A group of ants living together is called a colony. Thousands of ants can live together in one colony. Ants living in a colony have many different jobs.
The queen ant lays the eggs. Some colonies have only 1 queen ant while others have many queens. Drone ants are all males. Their job is to mate with the queen. Only the queen ant and male ants have wings. Almost all ants in a colony are females. Worker ants are all females. They take care of the eggs and baby ants. Worker ants also find food. Soldier ants guard and protect the nest. They also collect food and find places to build nests.
Ants are amazing insects.
What type of text is this?
Informational text
Fiction
Poem
Letter
Informational text
An informational text includes true information and facts. This text informs the reader about true information and facts about dolphins. A poem has stanzas and rhyming words. A fiction story is made up and includes characters, a setting, a beginning, middle, and end. A letter includes a heading (Dear the person who the letter is to), a closing (From) and a signature (the person who wrote the letter).
Example Question #21 : Craft And Structure
Ants
Ants live in many different places around the world. There are many different species of ants. Ants come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be black, brown, red, and yellow.
Ants are insects. They have six legs and their bodies have three parts. Ants have two large eyes and two antennae on the top of their heads. They use their antennae to touch and feel. Ants communicate using their antennae. Ants also have a strong jaw. They use their jaw to cut food and wood and to fight.
Ants live in trees, grass, dirt, and in tunnels underground. A group of ants living together is called a colony. Thousands of ants can live together in one colony. Ants living in a colony have many different jobs.
The queen ant lays the eggs. Some colonies have only 1 queen ant while others have many queens. Drone ants are all males. Their job is to mate with the queen. Only the queen ant and male ants have wings. Almost all ants in a colony are females. Worker ants are all females. They take care of the eggs and baby ants. Worker ants also find food. Soldier ants guard and protect the nest. They also collect food and find places to build nests.
Ants are amazing insects.
How do you know this is an informational text?
It has rhyming words
It has true facts
It has talking animals
It has made-up characters
It has true facts
An information text includes true information and facts. This text informs the reader about true information and facts about dolphins. This text gives information about what ants look like, where ants live, the body parts of ants, and what ants do.
Example Question #1 : Identify The Narrator
The Cats
Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by.
Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue.
Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.
Who is telling this story?
The cats
An unknown narrator
Pam
Tom
An unknown narrator
A narrator tells a story. This story is about two cats, Tom and Pam. Someone is telling the reader what Pam and Tom like to do in the park. Pam and Tom are not telling the story because neither of them say "I" in the passage. They are also the cats, so that is not the correct answer.
We aren't introduced to the person who is telling us about the cats, Tom and Pam, so an unknown narrator is telling the story.
Example Question #2 : Identify The Narrator
Fox and Friends
Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.
As I walk to the pond, I hear laughing and a lot of splashing. I see a deer and a rabbit playing in the water. The deer is laughing and smiling. He looks very happy.
I decide to hide behind a bush and ask them if I can play. This way they can hear me but not see me. “Can I come play with you?” I yell.
The deer and rabbit look for me, but they cannot see me. The deer says, “Yes, but you have to stop hiding!”
When I come out the rabbit seems scared, but the deer comes straight to me and gives me a big hug. As I play in the pond with my two friends, I feel so happy.
Who is telling the story?
The fox
The deer
The forest
The rabbit
The fox
The person who is telling the story is called a narrator. We learn in the first section of the story that the fox is telling this story. He uses the word "I" and then we find out that he is a fox.
Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.
All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
