Reading & writing · Grades 3–5
The shared garden · reading guide
An original passage with comprehension, reasoning and a marking guide.
The shared garden
Three neighbours shared a small garden. One repaired the fence, one prepared the soil and one labelled the rows. When they disagreed about where to plant herbs, they checked which corner received the most afternoon sunlight. They chose that corner and kept a record of how the plants grew.
Read, think and respond
- What did the neighbours check before choosing a corner?
- Why was dividing the tasks useful?
- What could the growth record help them decide later?
Suggested answers and marking notes
What did the neighbours check before choosing a corner?
afternoon sunlight
Why was dividing the tasks useful?
Rubric: Explain how different contributions completed necessary work. Mention at least two tasks from the passage.
What could the growth record help them decide later?
Rubric: Propose a decision about planting or care that could be informed by growth observations. Avoid claiming that the record proves sunlight was the only cause.
Learning preview · teacher review required. Grade bands are approximate, not official curriculum alignment.