The Lunchtime Joke

This worksheet helps students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 strengthen reading comprehension, empathy, advocacy, social awareness, and relationship skills through a relatable cafeteria story. Students read a narrative about teasing during lunchtime and answer multiple-choice questions that focus on understanding characters’ feelings, recognizing unkind behavior, and seeing how supportive bystanders can make a positive difference.

Learning Goals

• Reading Comprehension (Grades 3-5): Answer questions using story details, character actions, and key events
• Empathy & Emotional Awareness: Understand how teasing about food or appearance can hurt others
• Advocacy & Bystander Skills: Identify how kind words and supportive actions help someone feel included
• Relationship Skills: Recognize behaviors that strengthen friendships and create a welcoming environment

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource: Designed by educators to combine literacy instruction with SEL concepts
• Relatable School Scenario: Cafeteria setting helps students connect personally to the message
• Flexible Use Options: Works well for ELA lessons, SEL instruction, counseling groups, or homeschool learning
• Clear Question Format: Multiple-choice questions support independent work and class discussion

This The Lunchtime Joke worksheet helps students build comprehension, empathy, and respectful social behavior through meaningful storytelling. By examining how teasing affects others and how bystanders can help, learners strengthen social awareness, advocacy skills, and positive relationship habits. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this printable resource supports thoughtful discussion and reinforces kindness, inclusion, and understanding in everyday school situations.

This worksheet is part of our Handling Teasing and Bullying Worksheets collection.