New Mexico Grade 1 English

Use a repeated sentence to predict, then check the story

Read an original Grade 1 story, use a repeated sentence to make a prediction, and retell the events with New Mexico English references and printable practice. New Mexico uses Common Core English expectations together with state additions. This activity addresses selected skills; use the full requirements and the school’s sequence for broader planning.

Curriculum reference: 2010 Common Core ELA/literacy standards, current New Mexico state-hosted copy, from the New Mexico adopted content standards directory.

New Mexico Grade 1 references for this activity

New Mexico uses the Common Core English language arts standards together with additional state expectations in NMAC 6.29.13. The selected Common Core references below identify this activity’s focus. The linked state additions include further cultural, oral-source, writing, and discussion work appropriate to each grade; read the full requirements and the school’s sequence.

New Mexico’s additional Grade 1 expectations, NMAC 6.29.13.8(C), include using repeating words or phrases to predict events. This invented story offers that narrow practice; it does not replace the wider state expectations about literature and culture. Read New Mexico’s additional English requirements (NMAC 6.29.13, PDF).

These selected reference labels identify an activity focus, with the grade column and PDF page linked separately. Read the complete standards selected by the school and its learning sequence, including reading, writing, language, speaking, and listening. This short original example does not fulfill the entire curriculum or establish a student’s grade-level proficiency.

One more thing for the picnic

This original classroom example is separate from official assessment questions.

Ben put a cloth in the picnic bag. “One more thing,” he said. He put cups in the bag. “One more thing,” he said. He put apples in the bag. “One more thing,” he said. His sister held up a jug of water. Ben smiled and put the jug in the bag. “Now we can go,” he said.

Try the activity

An adult may read the story aloud. Pause after the apples go into the bag. What do you predict Ben will say or do next? Explain the clue. Finish reading and check your prediction. Then tell what Ben packs, in order, and what changes at the end.

Follow the reasoning

The sentence “One more thing” repeats after Ben packs the cloth and the cups. A child can predict that Ben will repeat it after packing the apples or add another item. The next sentence confirms the repeated words. The sister then holds up water, and Ben adds it. The precise item, water, was not supplied before the pause; predicting juice could be reasonable even though the ending differs. A retelling places the cloth, cups, apples, and water in that order. The final words change because Ben is ready to leave. Ask the child to point to the sentence behind the prediction, then distinguish a sensible guess from the event the completed story actually states.

Notice what needs more practice

A prediction does not need to match every detail to show useful reasoning. However, a retelling should follow the text after the ending is known. Ben’s sister holds up the jug; the story does not say she packs every item. This brief story practices comprehension with a repeating pattern. It is not a check of all reading, decoding, discussion, or writing skills.

Use the next session to build independence

1. Listen to the story up to the pause.
2. Use the repeated words to predict the next event.
3. Finish reading, check the prediction, and retell the sequence.

Tell a new short story with a repeated sentence and a changed ending. Let a partner predict at a pause, then explain which clue helped. For broader New Mexico work, use teacher-selected stories from varied cultures and connect a child’s own experiences without assuming everyone’s family follows the same picnic routine.

For more general reading and writing resources, visit the Grade 1 English Online Center.

New Mexico Grade 1 English: useful planning questions

Must a prediction name the exact next object?

No. A prediction can use a sound textual clue and still differ from the ending. After reading, revise the prediction and retell what the text actually says.

Which standards does the school use?

New Mexico uses the Common Core English language arts standards together with additional state expectations in NMAC 6.29.13. The selected Common Core references below identify this activity’s focus. The linked state additions include further cultural, oral-source, writing, and discussion work appropriate to each grade; read the full requirements and the school’s sequence. The school’s sequence also includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language work beyond this example.