Grade 3
Course ContentReading Comprehension
Hello, Clever Reader! Let's Become Reading Detectives!
Habari! Welcome to our English lesson. Have you ever read a story and felt like you were right there with the characters? Or have you read instructions and known exactly what to do? That magic is called Reading Comprehension, and today, you are going to become an expert at it!
Reading Comprehension is not just about saying the words on a page. It's about understanding them, like when you taste a sweet, ripe mango, you don't just hold it, you enjoy its flavour! When we comprehend, we understand the story's "flavour".
Image Suggestion: [A vibrant, colourful illustration of two happy Kenyan children, a boy and a girl, sitting under a large acacia tree. They are sharing a storybook and pointing at the pages with excited expressions. The background shows a sunny Kenyan landscape with rolling green hills.]
Our Detective Tools: The 5 W's
Every good detective needs a set of tools to solve a mystery. For reading, our tools are five simple questions. We call them the 5 W's. When you can answer these, you have understood the story!
- Who? - Who are the people or animals in the story? (The Characters)
- What? - What is happening? (The Main Event/Action)
- Where? - Where is the story taking place? (The Setting)
- When? - When did the story happen? (The Time)
- Why? - Why did something happen? (The Reason)
Let's Practice with a Story!
Read this short story about Juma and Akinyi. Pay close attention and look for our 5 W's.
One sunny Saturday morning, Juma and his sister Akinyi went to their grandmother's shamba near Nakuru. Their job was to chase away the cheeky monkeys from the maize plants. Juma shook a noisy kibuyu with stones inside, while Akinyi waved her hands and shouted. They had to be quick because the monkeys were trying to steal the young, sweet maize. After an hour of hard work, the monkeys finally ran away, and a happy Juma and Akinyi went to enjoy some delicious mandazi Cucu had made for them.
Detective Time: Let's Solve the Case!
Now, let's use our 5 W's to ask questions about the story.
- WHO are the main characters in the story?
Answer: Juma and his sister Akinyi. (And the cheeky monkeys!) - WHERE did the story take place?
Answer: On their grandmother's shamba near Nakuru. - WHEN did the story happen?
Answer: On a sunny Saturday morning. - WHAT were Juma and Akinyi doing?
Answer: They were chasing monkeys away from the maize plants. - WHY did they have to chase the monkeys?
Answer: Because the monkeys were trying to steal the maize.
See? You did it! By answering these questions, you have shown that you understood the whole story. You are a brilliant reading detective!
Image Suggestion: [An animated, fun drawing of Juma and Akinyi on the shamba. Juma is a boy shaking a gourd (kibuyu) and Akinyi is a girl waving her arms. In the background, three mischievous-looking monkeys are running away from a field of green maize plants.]
Extra Detective Skill: Making a Picture in Your Mind
Great readers do something special in their heads. As they read, they create a movie of the story. This is called visualizing. When you read "sunny Saturday morning," you can picture the bright sun. When you read "cheeky monkeys," you can imagine them jumping around!
Thinking about the story like a movie helps you remember all the important parts.
Your Brain is a Cinema!
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| |
| **************** |
| * Reading a * |
| * Story * |
| **************** |
| || |
| \/ |
| [ A movie of Juma ] |
| [ & Akinyi plays ] |
| [ in your mind! ] |
+----------------------+
Finding the Main Idea
The main idea is the most important part of the story, told in a short way. Think of it like a simple sum. It tells you who the story is about and what happened to them.
WHO is the story about? (Juma and Akinyi)
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WHAT did they want? (To protect the maize)
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WHAT happened? (They chased the monkeys away)
=
THE MAIN IDEA: Juma and Akinyi worked together to chase monkeys from their Cucu's shamba.
Your Turn, Super Detective!
Read this short paragraph and try to find the 5 W's and the main idea on your own.
Yesterday afternoon, a big elephant walked slowly to the river in Tsavo National Park. It was very thirsty because the sun was hot. The elephant used its long trunk to suck up the cool water and spray it all over its back.
Well done for being such an amazing learner! Keep practicing your detective skills every time you read. Reading is an adventure, and understanding what you read is the greatest treasure you can find!
Habari, Smart Reader! Let's Go on a Reading Adventure!
Jambo! Welcome to our English Activities lesson. Today, we are going to become reading detectives! Have you ever listened to your shosho or guka tell a story? You don't just hear the words, you see the story in your mind, right? That is what reading comprehension is all about. It’s not just reading words; it’s understanding the story, solving the puzzle, and enjoying the adventure hidden in the pages!
Reading is like eating a warm, delicious chapati. You don't just look at it; you chew it, taste all the yummy layers, and enjoy it. When we read with comprehension, we are "tasting" the story!
Image Suggestion: A vibrant and colourful digital illustration of a young Kenyan child with a bright, curious expression, sitting under an acacia tree. The child is reading a book, and from the book, magical, glowing illustrations of animals like a giraffe, a lion, and a clever hare are flying out and swirling around the child's head, showing the world of imagination. The style should be cheerful and inspiring.
What is Reading Comprehension?
Reading comprehension means understanding what you have read. It’s the magic that turns letters and words into a movie in your head. When you read a sentence, you should be able to paint a picture of it in your mind.
For example, if you read:
"Amina chased the playful goat across the green shamba."
In your mind, you should see:
- A girl named Amina.
- A goat that is jumping around.
- A big, green farm (a shamba).
- Amina running after the goat!
If you can see that picture, congratulations! You are already using your comprehension skills!
The Detective's 5 Big Questions!
A good reading detective always asks five important questions to solve the mystery of the story. We call them the 5 Ws.
Who?
^
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Where? <-- [ THE STORY ] --> What?
|
v
When? & Why?
- WHO? - Who are the people or animals in the story? (The characters)
- WHAT? - What happened? What is the main event or action?
- WHERE? - Where did the story happen? (In a school, at the market, in a forest?)
- WHEN? - When did the story happen? (In the morning, long ago, yesterday?)
- WHY? - Why did something happen? (This helps us understand the reason.)
Let's Practice Our Detective Skills!
Story: Yesterday morning, Baraka went to the river near his home to fetch water. He was happy because he saw a beautiful, colourful kingfisher bird sitting on a branch.
Now, let's ask our 5 W questions:
- WHO is the story about? Answer: Baraka.
- WHERE did he go? Answer: To the river near his home.
- WHEN did this happen? Answer: Yesterday morning.
- WHAT did he see? Answer: A beautiful, colourful kingfisher bird.
- WHY was he happy? Answer: Because he saw the beautiful bird.
See? It's easy when you know what questions to ask!
More Clues for Super Readers
To be an even better detective, use these secret tricks!
1. Look at the Clues Before You Read
Always look at the title of the story and any pictures. They give you a big hint about what the story will be about!
2. Find the Main Idea
The main idea is the most important part of the story. Ask yourself: "What is this story mostly about?" Is it about a greedy hyena, a kind girl, or a football match? Finding the main idea is like finding the biggest piece of the puzzle.
3. Understand the Order of Events
Stories happen in an order. What happened first? What happened next? What happened last? Understanding the order helps the story make sense.
Think of it like this:
[ Wake up in the morning ] ---> [ Eat breakfast ] ---> [ Go to school ]
(First) (Next) (Last)
You wouldn't go to school before you wake up, would you? The order is very important!
Story Time: Let's Solve a Case!
Read this short story and get ready to answer the detective's questions below.
Kamau and the Thirsty Giraffe
Kamau lived in a small village bordering the Nairobi National Park. One hot afternoon, the sun was very strong and there had been no rain for many weeks. Kamau was playing with his toy car near the fence when he saw a very tall giraffe. The giraffe was stretching its long neck over the fence, trying to reach a bucket of water for the cows. It looked very thirsty.
At first, Kamau was a little scared. The giraffe was so big! But then he saw its sad eyes. He bravely and slowly pushed the heavy bucket closer to the fence. The giraffe dipped its head and drank and drank. When it finished, it looked at Kamau and blinked its long eyelashes, as if to say "Asante sana!" Kamau smiled, his fear all gone.
Image Suggestion: A warm, sunlit scene in a Kenyan village setting. A small boy, Kamau, is bravely pushing a metal bucket of water towards a tall, gentle-looking giraffe that is stretching its neck over a simple wooden fence. The sun is bright in the sky. The style should be a heartwarming storybook illustration.
Your Detective Questions:
- Who is the main character in the story?
- Where does the story take place?
- What was the giraffe's problem?
- How did Kamau help the giraffe?
- Why do you think Kamau was brave?
(Try to answer them first before looking at the answers below!)
... Done? Let's check!
- Answer 1: The main character is the boy, Kamau.
- Answer 2: The story takes place in a village next to the Nairobi National Park.
- Answer 3: The giraffe was very thirsty because it was a hot day and there was no rain.
- Answer 4: Kamau helped by pushing the bucket of water closer to the fence.
- Answer 5: He was brave because even though he was scared of the big giraffe at first, he still chose to help it.
You are a Reading Champion!
Well done, smart reader! You have learned how to be a fantastic reading detective. Remember, every time you open a book, you are starting a new and exciting adventure.
Just remember the secret formula for great reading:
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| Read the Words + Think About the Story |
| = A Wonderful Adventure in Your Mind! |
+------------------------------------------+
Keep practising, keep asking questions, and keep exploring new worlds through books. Happy reading!
Pro Tip
Take your own short notes while going through the topics.
