My Side of the Mountain Reading Comprehension Questions
by Jean Craighead George
Book Summary
Sam Gribley, a young boy from a crowded New York City apartment, decides to run away and live by himself in the Catskill Mountains. He learns to survive in the wilderness, building a treehouse, finding food, and making friends with wild animals like a falcon named Frightful. Sam faces many challenges like hunger, cold, and loneliness, but he discovers the joy and peace of living close to nature. Eventually, his family finds him and decides to join him, building a home nearby.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about My Side of the Mountain.
1.What did Sam Gribley decide to do at the very beginning of the story?
2.What kind of animal was Frightful, Sam's special companion?
3.Where did Sam Gribley make his first home when he arrived in the Catskill Mountains?
4.Why do you think Sam Gribley chose to live in the mountains instead of staying in his crowded New York City apartment?
5.How do you think Sam felt when he first met Matt Spell, another boy, after being alone for a long time?
6.What can you infer about Sam's feelings towards nature and animals?
7.What is one important lesson Sam Gribley learns about living in nature throughout the story?
8.How does Sam's journey show the theme of independence?
9.How can you tell that Sam's feelings about being alone changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
10.In the story, Sam had to *forage* for his own food. What does it mean to *forage*?
11.Sam built a cozy *shelter* inside the giant tree. What is a *shelter*?
12.Sam loved living in the *wilderness*, far away from the busy city. What does *wilderness* mean?
13.If you were Sam Gribley, what is one thing you would miss most from your home if you went to live in the wilderness?
14.What do you think was the most important skill Sam Gribley learned that helped him survive in the mountains, and why?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from My Side of the Mountain to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading My Side of the Mountain with children.
What was your favorite part of My Side of the Mountain? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from My Side of the Mountain, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did My Side of the Mountain make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend My Side of the Mountain to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Jean Craighead George wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is My Side of the Mountain?
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 5.2. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for My Side of the Mountain?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for My Side of the Mountain, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use My Side of the Mountain 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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