First Grade Reading Comprehension
Build strong reading skills with engaging worksheets and activities
What is Reading Comprehension?
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and remember what you read. For first graders, this means being able to read simple sentences and answer questions about what they've read. These worksheets help children develop essential reading skills like identifying main ideas, understanding sequence, and making connections between words and pictures.
Key Reading Skills for First Grade
Phonics & Decoding
Letter Sounds
Recognizing and producing letter sounds
Blending
Combining sounds to read words
Sight Words
Recognizing common words instantly
Word Families
Learning patterns like -at, -an, -et
Comprehension Strategies
Main Idea
Understanding what the story is about
Sequence
Understanding the order of events
Details
Remembering specific information
Predictions
Guessing what might happen next
Fluency Skills
Reading Speed
Reading at an appropriate pace
Expression
Reading with feeling and tone
Accuracy
Reading words correctly
Understanding
Comprehending what is read
Sample Reading Passage
The Little Cat
Tom has a little cat. The cat is orange. It likes to play in the garden.
Tom feeds the cat every day. The cat drinks milk and eats fish.
The cat sleeps in a soft bed. It purrs when Tom pets it.
Tom loves his little cat very much.
Interactive Quiz 1: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
A) Tom likes to play in the garden
Show Answer
Incorrect - This is a detail, not the main idea
B) Tom has a cat that he loves
Show Answer
Correct! This is the main idea of the story
C) Cats like to drink milk
Show Answer
Incorrect - This is a detail, not the main idea
Interactive Quiz 2: Details
Answer these questions about the story:
What color is the cat?
Show Answer
Answer: The cat is orange.
What does the cat eat?
Show Answer
Answer: The cat eats fish and drinks milk.
Where does the cat sleep?
Show Answer
Answer: The cat sleeps in a soft bed.
Interactive Quiz 3: Sequence
Put these events in order:
1. Tom feeds the cat
2. The cat sleeps in its bed
3. Tom pets the cat
4. The cat purrs
Show Answer
Answer: 1, 3, 4, 2 (Feed → Pet → Purr → Sleep)
Interactive Quiz 4: Word Recognition
Find these words in the story:
Find the word "cat" - How many times does it appear?
Show Answer
Answer: The word "cat" appears 6 times in the story.
Find words that start with "T"
Show Answer
Answer: Tom, The, It, It, It, Tom
Find rhyming words
Show Answer
Answer: cat/bed (not perfect rhymes, but similar ending sounds)
Tips for First Grade Reading
Read Together Daily
Spend 15-20 minutes reading with your child every day.
Ask Questions
Ask "what," "why," and "how" questions about the story.
Use Pictures
Look at pictures to help understand the story.
Practice Sight Words
Learn common words that appear frequently in books.
Related Topics
Quick Reference
Pro Tip
Reading together builds vocabulary and comprehension skills!