Short Narrative Passage for Question Quest

Olivia crept up the narrow stairs to the attic above her grandmother’s old farmhouse. The air was thick with dust, and a single beam of sunlight pierced through a cracked window, illuminating a trunk draped in faded cloth. Her heart pounded as she approached the chest, remembering the tales of hidden family treasures and long-lost letters. Taking a deep breath, she lifted the lid.

[Stop Here and Ask Questions]

Inside the trunk, Olivia discovered an assortment of objects: a tarnished pocket watch, a yellowed photograph of a young woman she didn’t recognize, and a small, locked jewelry box. She ran her fingers over the photograph, trying to piece together the connection between the woman smiling back and the family stories she’d heard. What secrets might the pocket watch hold? Who was the mysterious woman?

[Stop Here and Ask Questions]

With trembling hands, Olivia picked up the jewelry box. It resisted her gentle tug, as though guarding its contents. She searched the attic for something to pry it open, her mind racing with possibilities. Would she uncover a heartfelt letter, an heirloom of great value, or perhaps a clue to a forgotten chapter of her family’s past?

[Stop Here and Ask Questions]

Student Question Chart

Use this chart to record your questions as you read the passage. Fill in the Text Part (e.g., Paragraph 1), write your question, choose the question type (Who, What, Why, How), and indicate if it’s a Before, During, or After question.

Question Quest Cool Down

Name: ___________________________ Date: ________________

1. During Question & Reflection

• Write one "During" question you asked while reading:

• Explain how answering this question helped you understand the text:

1. After Question & Insight

• Write one "After" question you had once you finished reading:

• Describe how this question made you think differently about the story:

1. Future Strategy Use
   How will you use the Ask & Answer Questions strategy in your future reading? Give a specific example (e.g., reading homework, a book club, or another subject):

1. Self-Assessment & Goal

• Rate your comfort with this strategy (1 = Not comfortable, 5 = Very comfortable): ___
• One thing you’d like to practice or improve next time:

Question Quest Script

Introduction & Activate Prior Knowledge (5 minutes)

Teacher (slide 1 on projector): “Good morning, everyone! Welcome to Question Quest. Today we’re going to learn a powerful reading strategy called Ask & Answer Questions. By the end of our 30 minutes, you’ll see how asking questions before, during, and after reading can make any text more clear and fun.”

Teacher (slide 2): “Our learning objective is: Students will learn how to ask and answer questions before, during, and after reading to deepen comprehension. Think about the last time you read a story or an article—what questions popped into your head? Let’s find out how to capture those questions.”

Teacher (slide 3): “First, what kinds of questions do you ask when you read? Raise your hand if you’ve ever wondered ‘Why did the character do that?’ or ‘What will happen next?’”

[Wait for 3–5 student responses]
Teacher writes each response on the whiteboard under the heading “Our Reading Questions.”

Teacher: “Great thinking! We’ll use our Student Question Chart to organize questions as Before, During, and After reading. This chart helps us keep track of our thinking and share ideas with classmates.”

Model Asking Questions (7 minutes)

Teacher (slide 4): “Now I’ll show you how I ask questions as I read. Watch my thinking.”
Teacher projects the first paragraph of the Short Narrative Passage:

"Olivia crept up the narrow stairs to the attic above her grandmother’s old farmhouse. The air was thick with dust, and a single beam of sunlight pierced through a cracked window, illuminating a trunk draped in faded cloth. Her heart pounded as she approached the chest, remembering the tales of hidden family treasures and long-lost letters. Taking a deep breath, she lifted the lid."

Teacher (thinking aloud): “I wonder why Olivia is creeping up the stairs—Is she scared or excited? (Why question.)
I’m also curious what older stories her grandmother told—Could those stories explain the treasures? (What question.)
And how did those letters get lost in the first place? (How question.)
I’ll add these to our chart under Paragraph 1 as During questions.”
Teacher writes on the Student Question Chart.

Teacher: “Notice I used Who, What, Why, and How to guide my questions. Good readers use these prompts to dig deeper.”

Guided Practice (8 minutes)

Teacher (slide 5): “Now you’ll try this with a partner. I’m assigning you Paragraph 2 of the passage.”
[Distribute sticky notes and copies of Paragraph 2]

Teacher: “With your partner, read the paragraph aloud together. Each of you write at least two questions on sticky notes—don’t forget to choose Who, What, Why, or How. Then pick your strongest question and place its sticky note on our chart.”

[Circulate, listen, and prompt:]
• “Can you turn your question into a Why or How question?”
• “What makes you wonder that? Ask a follow-up question.”
• “Great! Where on the chart will you put this question—Before, During, or After?”

Independent Practice (7 minutes)

Teacher (slide 6): “Now for your own reading. Take the final paragraph on your desk. First, write one question before you read it—this is a prediction question, so label it ‘Before.’ Then read the paragraph silently. After reading, write one ‘After’ question to clarify or analyze what you read.”

[Students work independently, teacher monitors quietly for 5 minutes, offering nudges:]
• “What do you expect to happen next?”
• “After reading, what detail surprised you?”
• “Label your note clearly so we know if it’s Before or After.”

Share & Reflect (3 minutes)

Teacher (slide 7): “Time’s up! Let’s hear from three volunteers. Share your question—tell us if it was ‘Before’ or ‘After’—and explain how it helped you understand the story better.”

[Invite 3 students, listen and respond:]
Teacher: “Thank you, Maria, for your After question. How did that help you see a new detail?
Teacher: “Darnell, your Before question was excellent—what made you predict that?”

Teacher (slide 8): “You all did fantastic. How did asking questions change your reading experience today?”

[Accept 1–2 quick responses.]
Teacher: “Remember, asking questions keeps your mind active and curious. You can use this strategy in all your reading—novels, science texts, history chapters.”

Teacher: “For homework or your reading journal, keep your own Question Chart. Write at least two questions whenever you read for another class or for fun. Congratulations—your Question Quest is a success!”

Question Quest Comprehension Worksheet

Read the Short Narrative Passage carefully. Then choose the best answer for each question. Write the letter of your choice on the line.

1. When Olivia ascends the narrow stairs to the attic, she most likely feels:
   A. angry and resentful
   B. excited and nervous
   C. bored and indifferent
   D. calm and confident

______

1. Which detail in the passage best shows the attic had been unused for a long time?
   A. a single beam of sunlight
   B. a trunk draped in faded cloth
   C. the trunk’s tarnished lock
   D. Olivia’s pounding heart

______

1. In the passage, the word “tarnished” most nearly means:
   A. polished until shiny
   B. covered in cloth
   C. dull or discolored
   D. broken into pieces

______

1. What can the reader infer about the photograph Olivia finds inside the trunk?
   A. It depicts someone unrelated to her family.
   B. It could reveal a hidden family secret.
   C. It shows Olivia as a child.
   D. It was taken very recently.

______

1. Why did the author include the prompts [Stop Here and Ask Questions] at several points?
   A. To present answers immediately
   B. To add more narrative description
   C. To encourage readers to think critically
   D. To introduce a different character

______

1. Which question best fits as an “After” question for the final paragraph?
   A. “What will Olivia do next?”
   B. “Why was the jewelry box locked?”
   C. “Who draped the faded cloth over the trunk?”
   D. “How many stairs did she climb?”

______

1. What is the overall tone of the passage?
   A. humorous
   B. suspenseful
   C. informative
   D. romantic

______

Question Quest Color by Comprehension

Use what you know about the Short Narrative Passage to complete this Color by Comprehension activity. First, answer each question below. Then use the color key and the code grid to reveal a hidden pattern!

Comprehension Questions

1. When Olivia ascends the narrow stairs to the attic, she most likely feels:
   A. angry and resentful B. excited and nervous C. bored and indifferent D. calm and confident

_____


2. Which detail in the passage best shows the attic had been unused for a long time?
A. a single beam of sunlight B. a trunk draped in faded cloth C. the trunk’s tarnished lock D. Olivia’s pounding heart

_____


3. In the passage, the word “tarnished” most nearly means:
A. polished until shiny B. covered in cloth C. dull or discolored D. broken into pieces

_____


4. What can the reader infer about the photograph Olivia finds inside the trunk?
A. It depicts someone unrelated to her family.
B. It could reveal a hidden family secret.
C. It shows Olivia as a child.
D. It was taken very recently.

_____


5. Why did the author include the prompts [Stop Here and Ask Questions] at several points?
A. To present answers immediately B. To add more narrative description C. To encourage readers to think critically D. To introduce a different character

_____


6. Which question best fits as an “After” question for the final paragraph?
A. “What will Olivia do next?” B. “Why was the jewelry box locked?” C. “Who draped the faded cloth over the trunk?” D. “How many stairs did she climb?”

_____


7. What is the overall tone of the passage?
A. humorous B. suspenseful C. informative D. romantic

_____

Color Key

A = Yellow  B = Blue  C = Green  D = Red

Code Grid

Color each cell based on its number and your answer to that question number. For example, all cells labeled “1” get the color for your answer to Question 1.

Enjoy coloring and uncovering the hidden design as you review your comprehension!