Acorn Detective Story Worksheet
2nd Grade Reading Detectives
Acorn Detective Story Sheet
Name:
Date:
Detective Tool: Remember Your P.I.E.!
Why did the author write this?
P • PERSUADE
Wants you to do, buy, or believe something.
I • INFORM
Teaches you real facts and true information.
E • ENTERTAIN
Tells a fun story with characters and adventures.
🐿️
The Mystery of the Shiny Nut
Read the story below
1 Barnaby was a small brown chipmunk with very big ideas. While digging beneath the giant Oak Tree, his claws hit something hard. Clink! Barnaby brushed away the yellow leaves and gasped. Lying in the dirt was an acorn, but it was bright, shiny gold!
2 "Holy pinecones!" Barnaby squeaked, dancing in a circle. "I found a royal golden acorn! I will be the king of Whispering Woods!" He tried to take a tiny nibble, but his front tooth went ding! It was too hard to chew. Barnaby scooped up his treasure and dashed straight to Luna the Owl.
3 Luna peered through her round spectacles. She tapped the gold acorn with her wing. Jingle-ting! Luna chuckled softly. "Dear Barnaby, this is not food from an oak tree. This is an old brass sleigh bell lost during last winter's snowstorm!"
4 Barnaby blinked. He wasn't the acorn king after all. But then he shook the bell. Jingle-jingle-ring! A giant grin spread across his furry face. He tied the bell to his acorn cart. Now, every time Barnaby delivered nuts to his forest friends, happy music echoed down the path!
Detective Vocabulary
gasped: breathed in quickly in surprise
spectacles: glasses used for seeing clearly
Quick Reaction
How did this story make you feel while reading?
⬜ Excited ⬜ Happy ⬜ Curious
Page 1 • Story & P.I.E. Anchor
Case File #2
Author's Purpose Detective Lab
Use clues from Page 1!
1
What is the author's MAIN purpose for writing this story?
Fill in the circle next to your best answer choice.
To PERSUADE the reader to buy a pet owl and keep it in a tree.
To INFORM the reader with real scientific facts about how acorns grow.
To ENTERTAIN the reader with a fun story about a chipmunk and a mystery bell.
2
Detective Clue Hunt: Prove Your Case!
Write two clues from the text that prove the author wrote this to entertain.
Clue 1: A funny action or make-believe event
Clue 2: A character who does things real animals cannot do
3
The P.I.E. Switcheroo!
Draw a line to match each new sentence with its author's purpose:
"Oak trees drop acorns every autumn so new baby trees can grow." ○ Persuade / Inform / Entertain
"You should plant an oak tree today because trees help the earth!" ○ Persuade / Inform / Entertain
4
The Author's Heart: What was the main lesson?
What did the author want you to learn about Barnaby when he turned his surprise bell into happy music?
Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6 & RI.2.6 (Author's Purpose) Page 2 • Comprehension & Analysis
