The seed swap
The seed swap
Ada brought bean seeds to the school garden. She put them in paper envelopes so the different packets would stay separate. Leo brought sunflower seeds in a small tin.
Before the swap, Ada and Leo wrote a label on every envelope. A gust of wind scattered the packets across the table. Luckily, the labels stayed attached, so everyone could still choose the seeds they wanted.
Ada took home sunflower seeds. Leo chose beans. They agreed to compare their plants after the summer holidays.
Read the garden story and match each clue to its answer.
For parents and teachers
About this game
This original short text practices retrieving information and explaining a simple reason. Encourage children to point to the sentence that supports a match. Rereading is helpful and does not reduce the score. After the game, discuss why labels matter and what might have happened if the envelopes had been left unlabelled.
Common Core connection: RL.1.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Suggested for ages 6–7. Grade 1 is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read The seed swap first. Match each question to the answer supported by the story. You can return to the text whenever you like. There are six pairs and no timer.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. It practices one part of the connected standard.