Reading a Play or Poem is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on telling a story, a play and a poem apart by how each is written, aligned to Common Core standard RL.3.10. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 9 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

One paper per student

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Reading a Play or Poem

RL.3.10

NameDate

Sort each one into the right box.

1.Sort each one: Story or Play or Poem?

Sort: By the time the light swung out, three ships had turned back., Every Thursday for six years, Mr. Ellis mailed a letter., (Pause. JON puts the lid down slowly.), PRIYA: (whispering) It was here on Tuesday., Shells in a bucket, / sand in my shoe, / the sea waves goodbye / and I wave too., The moon is a coin / in the pocket of night.

StoryPlayPoem

2.Sort each one: Story or Play or Poem?

Sort: CAST: Priya, a museum cleaner. Jon, a guard., Inside the green and spiny case, / packed in a lining soft as silk,, Ada went home and looked up the town on a map., MAYA: Quick, hide! (She ducks behind the sofa.), Long ago Anansi the spider had eight fat legs., My cat is a cushion / with whiskers and claws.

StoryPlayPoem

3.Sort each one: Story or Play or Poem?

Sort: Halim was two stops past the school before he looked up., Slow, slow, the river goes, / past the reeds where nobody knows., JON: That is worse., Rain on the roof, / rain on the shed, / rain on the hen / in her bed., Chapter 1. Nobody in our family plays anything., ACT ONE. A busy railway platform.

StoryPlayPoem

LessonPrint · RL.3.10 · Set 9 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading a Play or Poem

Set 9. Prints on its own sheet.

1.1. (Pause. JON puts the lid down slowly.) — Play 2. By the time the light swung out, three ships had turned back. — Story 3. Every Thursday for six years, Mr. Ellis mailed a letter. — Story 4. PRIYA: (whispering) It was here on Tuesday. — Play 5. Shells in a bucket, / sand in my shoe, / the sea waves goodbye / and I wave too. — Poem 6. The moon is a coin / in the pocket of night. — Poem
2.1. Ada went home and looked up the town on a map. — Story 2. CAST: Priya, a museum cleaner. Jon, a guard. — Play 3. Inside the green and spiny case, / packed in a lining soft as silk, — Poem 4. Long ago Anansi the spider had eight fat legs. — Story 5. MAYA: Quick, hide! (She ducks behind the sofa.) — Play 6. My cat is a cushion / with whiskers and claws. — Poem
3.1. ACT ONE. A busy railway platform. — Play 2. Chapter 1. Nobody in our family plays anything. — Story 3. Halim was two stops past the school before he looked up. — Story 4. JON: That is worse. — Play 5. Rain on the roof, / rain on the shed, / rain on the hen / in her bed. — Poem 6. Slow, slow, the river goes, / past the reeds where nobody knows. — Poem

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.3.10 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.