I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 Reading Comprehension Questions
by Lauren Tarshis
Book Summary
Eleven-year-old John Hale misses his old life in Chicago after moving to the harsh Dakota Territory. But when a deadly, fast-moving blizzard strikes out of nowhere while he is at school, John must find the courage to help his little sister Franny and his classmates survive the freezing whiteout.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888.
1.Where did John live before his family moved to the Dakota Territory?
2.Why did John and the other children go to school without their heavy winter coats?
3.What did Miss Starr use to keep the children from getting separated in the storm?
4.Why does John feel so unhappy at the very beginning of the story?
5.Why did the author describe the blizzard as sounding like a train?
6.Why was it so dangerous to walk outside, even to a farmhouse that was close by?
7.What is a major lesson John learns about himself by the end of the story?
8.How does the story show the importance of teamwork?
9.How does John's attitude about living on the prairie change from the beginning to the end of the book?
10.What does the word 'plunge' mean when the story says the temperature began to plunge?
11.What is a 'whiteout' in the story?
12.What does 'frigid' mean when describing the wind?
13.If you were in the schoolhouse when the storm hit, how would you have helped the younger students stay calm?
14.John had to be very brave to walk through the storm to save his sister. Tell about a time when you had to be brave even though you were scared.
Key Vocabulary
Important words from I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 with children.
What was your favorite part of I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Lauren Tarshis wanted young readers to learn from this story?
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888?
I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 by Lauren Tarshis is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 4.0. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use I Survived the Children's Blizzard 1888 for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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