📚 Part 1: Read the Story Aloud

Directions: Read the story aloud to an adult. After reading, retell the story in your own words. The adult may listen and help you think about the important parts.

The Mystery of the Missing Map

Every Thursday afternoon, the Oakwood Elementary library became a meeting place for the fifth-grade book club. Maya, Luis, Tessa, and Ben usually sat around a round table near the tall windows. Their teacher, Ms. Chen, brought snacks and helped them choose books to read.

This week, the club was preparing for its first Story Quest. Each team would follow clues hidden around the library and use information from a mystery novel to find a special prize. Ms. Chen had created a colorful map showing where each clue was hidden. The winning team would receive the first chance to choose next month’s book.

“I’ll keep the map safe,” Ben announced. He carefully placed it inside a blue folder beside his chair. Then the club began reading a chapter from The Secret of Sparrow Hill.

When the chapter ended, Ben opened the folder. The map was gone.

Everyone searched under the table, inside backpacks, and between the library shelves. Maya noticed a trail of tiny green paper stars leading toward the biography section. The stars were decorations from the school’s art fair, but no one remembered seeing them earlier.

The friends followed the trail. Near a shelf about famous explorers, they found the map crumpled behind a basket. One corner was torn, and several clues were smudged. Ben’s face turned red.

“I must have left the folder open,” he said. “Maybe someone bumped it.”

Tessa studied the torn corner. “The map may not have been stolen. Look at these marks. They look like they came from a rolling cart.”

Just then, Mr. Ortiz, the librarian, pushed a cart past the shelf. He stopped when he saw the map. “I moved this basket to make room for a delivery,” he explained. “I didn’t see the paper behind it.”

The club still had a problem. The map was too damaged to use, and the Story Quest was supposed to begin in ten minutes. Instead of blaming one another, the friends divided the work. Maya remembered two clue locations. Luis checked the chapter for details about Sparrow Hill. Tessa redrew the map, and Ben asked Mr. Ortiz for permission to use the library’s large display board.

Working together, they rebuilt the map. They even added clear arrows and checked each clue twice. When the quest began, every team could follow the directions. The club did not finish first, but Ms. Chen praised their careful teamwork.

“The best part of a mystery is solving it together,” she said.

Ben smiled. “And next time, I’m closing the folder!”

Story Quest Focus: Characters: Maya, Luis, Tessa, Ben, Ms. Chen, and Mr. Ortiz. Setting: the Oakwood Elementary library during book club. Problem: the Story Quest map disappears and is damaged. Solution: the club works together to rebuild it. Theme: teamwork and responsibility can help solve problems.

🗣️ Part 2: Oral Retelling and Comprehension

Adult directions: Ask the student to retell the story without looking at the text. Use these prompts if needed. Then ask each question aloud and record the student’s response.

Oral Retelling Prompts

Who? Name the important characters.

Where and when? Tell the setting.

Beginning: What was the book club preparing to do?

Important events in order: What happened first, next, and after that?

Problem: What went wrong?

Solution: How did the characters solve the problem?

Theme or lesson: What lesson did the characters learn?

Six Verbal Comprehension Questions

✏️ Part 3: Written Response and Adult Notes

Directions: Answer each question in complete sentences. Use details from the story.

Brief Answer Key

1. The winning team received the first chance to choose next month’s book.

2. Ben felt embarrassed and suggested that he may have left the folder open.

3. The club found the damaged map behind a basket near the biography shelves.

4. Tessa saw marks that looked as if a rolling cart had moved the map.

5. “Smudged” means blurred or rubbed so the clues were harder to read.

6. Teamwork, careful communication, and responsibility help people solve problems.

7–9. Answers should include accurate story details and reasonable explanations.

Adult Oral Retelling Checklist

Check each skill demonstrated by the student:

☐ Names the main characters and setting    ☐ States the problem

☐ Retells important events in a logical order    ☐ Explains the solution

☐ States a reasonable theme or lesson    ☐ Speaks clearly and includes key details

Quick rating: 3 = complete and well organized   2 = mostly complete   1 = needs significant prompting

Adult note:

Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2, RL.5.3, SL.5.2, RF.5.4b