Power of Story/Birch Tree Worksheets

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Power of Story/Birch Tree For Google Apps

These are passages that will show grade five students the difference between fiction and non fiction. One is informational and the other one is made up. The questions will test their comprehension of what they have read. There are also compare/contrast questions that will help increase their critical
thinking skills.

Power of Story
For thousands of years, Indigenous nations across North America have passed down knowledge through oral traditions. These stories are more than entertainment—they are vessels of history, law, spirituality, and identity.
Unlike written texts, oral stories are dynamic. They adapt to the listener, the season, and the storyteller’s purpose. A single tale may teach survival skills, explain natural phenomena, and reinforce community values—all at once.

The Voice Beneath the Birch Tree
The birch trees whispered as the wind danced through their leaves.
Ten-year-old Aiyana sat cross-legged on the mossy ground, listening.
Her grandmother had told her that the trees carried stories—if you
were quiet enough, they would speak.

Paired Text Questions (Compare & Contrast)

1. How do both passages emphasize the importance of storytelling?
2. What role do elders play in each text?
3. How does Aiyana’s experience reflect the nonfiction explanation of oral
traditions?
4. Why is storytelling considered a sacred act in Indigenous cultures?

Writing Prompts (Constructed Response)

1. Expository: Explain how oral traditions help preserve Indigenous culture. Use examples from both texts.
2. Narrative: Write a story about a child who discovers their cultural heritage through a traditional tale.
3. Opinion: Do you think oral storytelling is more powerful than written stories? Why or why not?