Friendship Insights Comprehension

Name:

Date:

📖 WALT (We Are Learning To):

• Make inferences about characters' attitudes using clues in the text
• Use key words to locate answers in the text
• Support our ideas with evidence from the story

Success Criteria:

I can identify clues that show how characters feel and think, and I can find specific information using key words from questions.

📚 Reading Text: "The New Friend"

Maya stared at her lunch tray, pushing the sandwich around without taking a bite. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and chatter, but she felt completely alone. It had been three weeks since her family moved to Sydney, and she still hadn't made any real friends at Riverside Primary.

"Mind if I sit here?" asked a cheerful voice. Maya looked up to see a girl with curly red hair and a warm smile standing beside her table.

"I'm Zoe," the girl continued, sliding into the seat across from Maya. "You're the new student in Mrs Chen's class, right? I've seen you reading during lunch breaks. What's that book you're always buried in?"

Maya's face brightened for the first time in weeks. "It's called 'The Secret Garden.' I love stories about friendship and adventure." She hesitated, then added quietly, "I used to discuss books with my best friend back in Melbourne, but now..."

"Now you're stuck with boring old me!" Zoe laughed, pulling out her own book. "I'm reading 'Charlotte's Web.' Maybe we could start our own little book club? We could meet here every Tuesday and share what we're reading."

Maya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? You'd want to do that?" She sat up straighter, her sandwich suddenly looking much more appealing.

"Absolutely!" Zoe grinned. "I've been looking for someone who loves books as much as I do. Plus, I know how tough it can be being the new kid. I moved here last year from Brisbane."

As the bell rang, Maya packed up her lunch with a genuine smile. For the first time since arriving in Sydney, she felt like she might actually belong somewhere.

🔍 Part 1: Making Inferences

1. How does Maya feel at the beginning of the story? What clues tell you this?

Happy and excited

Lonely and sad

Angry and frustrated

Bored and tired

Text clues that support your answer:

2. What does Zoe's behaviour tell us about her personality? Choose all that apply:

She is kind and caring

She is shy and quiet

She is friendly and outgoing

She is understanding

3. How does Maya's attitude change throughout the story?

Sentence starter for support: Maya starts feeling _______ but by the end she feels _______ because _______.

🔎 Part 2: Scanning for Key Words

4. Find the sentence that shows Maya hasn't made friends yet. Write the key words that helped you locate this information.

5. What does Maya miss about her old life? Scan the text for the answer.

Playing sports with friends

Discussing books with her best friend

Her old school

The weather in Melbourne

6. What solution does Zoe suggest? Use key words from the question to find your answer in the text.

Zoe suggests starting a _________________ that meets every _________________.

💭 Part 3: Extension Questions

7. Why do you think the author chose to have both girls love reading? What does this tell us about friendship?

8. Predict what might happen next in Maya and Zoe's friendship. Use evidence from the text to support your prediction.

🌟 Vocabulary Support

Emotion words: lonely, excited, hesitant, cheerful, genuine, sparkled
Attitude clues: body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, actions