Use the author’s clue words to determine the mood of the ...€¦ · Field Day she knew she would win other ... of her and in the lead. Annabelle stuck out her foot and tripped

Use the author’s clue words

to determine the mood of

the passage.

By: Ms To-Do List Graphics By: www.onceuponaportable.blogspot.com

Mood Task Cards Copyright © Ms To-Do List, 2013

Directions The purpose of this activity is to match the blue passage card with the

correct red mood card. Students must be strategic readers and infer

meaning from the author’s word choice in the passage.

1. Print, cut, and laminate the 12 blue cards and 12 red cards.

2. Students can work independently, in pairs, or in groups of 3-4 to

match the mood term to the correct passage.

3. The passages contain clue words that imply a specific mood. Some

passages may seem similar, but look for the overall emotion created

by the passage.

4. Students can record the mood and clue words on their answer sheet.

An answer key for the teacher is also included. Some phrases may

not be listed on the answer sheet, but students may perceive them

as clue words. That’s fine. They just need to explain their thinking.

5. Students may be unfamiliar with the mood terms. Review the mood

terms beforehand for familiarity. Maybe make a list on the board or

have them use a dictionary for assistance.

6. Another way to present this activity is to show one card on a

projector and have the whole class determine together.


The soft wind gently

blew through the pine trees.

The sun’s rays warmed the

grass and the colorful

wildflowers dotted the valley.

Blue jays chirped in a tall oak

tree and the busy squirrels

stopped to listen to their

beautiful melody.

1 2

3 4

Drops of cold rain slowly

rolled down the outside of

the foggy window. The grey

sky hung low and thick,

keeping the sun’s warm rays

from warming the city. The

streets were abandoned

Anna jumped out of her warm

bed like a kangaroo. After

quickly brushing her teeth, she

bolted downstairs to gobble

her eggs and toast. Grabbing

her pack back, she zoomed out

the door like a rocket.

The class lined up in their

assigned order. A few

students fidgeted with their

clothing while others seemed

to be frozen in place. Their

eyes were as big as saucers

and their faces were pale. The

music started and the group

slowly shuffled forward to

their spot.


Brandon knew that his sister

would be furious if she found

him in her bedroom. But he

couldn’t resist sneaking in and

snooping around her room to

find the best toy. She had

pulled her last practical joke

on him. Now it was time for

him to return the favor.

5 6

7 8

Annabelle had always been the

fastest runner in the class, so at

Field Day she knew she would win

the footrace. As she approached the

finish line Tonia was inches in front

of her and in the lead. Annabelle

stuck out her foot and tripped Tania

keeping her from winning. Even

though Annabelle won, she couldn’t

enjoy it because she knew she had

not won fairly.

The clever raccoon sniffed

around the picnic area. The

sweet aroma of apples and

oranges was too delicious to

resist. He peered through the

thick branches waiting for his

chance to make his clever move

to swipe a juicy piece of fruit.

Mia’s sister was like her

best friend. They enjoyed each

other’s company and loved to

do the same activities. So

when Mia found out that her

sister had lost her favorite

necklace, she helped her look

for it for days. Mia knew it was

important and she felt horrible

that her sister had lost it.


The proud fox knew that

he was the smartest animal in

the forest. On most days he

easily persuaded the squirrels

to offer him their acorns. Even

the wise owl generously

allowed the fox to relax in his

tree during the hot days.

There wasn’t another animal

that could refuse the fox.

9 10

11 12

As mom entered the front

door she noticed some crumbs

leading up the stairs. She

carefully and quietly crept

upstairs to her son’s bedroom

door. She gently placed her ear to

the door. She knew that sound

anywhere and threw the door

open to find her son eating

cookies in his room. He was

caught red-handed!

Slowly the earthworm

wiggled and inched closer to

the grass. It was only a few

inches but seemed miles

away. He felt like giving up

and thought he was never

going to make it. He had

been squirming for hours and

had only moved a few

centimeters. All this hard

work for nothing.

The loud thunder boomed

like a drum and the bright

lightning lit up the night

sky. Howling winds ripped

at the roof and tree

branches angrily banged

against the windows. The

lightning streaked the sky

like boney fingers reaching

to touch the earth.


Regretful Sympathetic

Peaceful Depressed

Anxious Excited


Confident

Revengeful Suspicious

Frustrated Furious

Mischievous


Mood Clue words

1. Peaceful Soft, gently, warmed the grass, wildflowers dotted the valley, blue jays chirped, beautiful melody

2. Depressed Cold rain, rolled, foggy, grey sky hung low, streets were abandoned

3. Eager Jumped out of her bed like a kangaroo, quickly, bolted downstairs, gobble, grabbing, zoomed out like a rocket

4. Anxious Fidgeted with their clothing, frozen in place, eyes were as big as saucers, faces were pale, slowly shuffled

5. Revengeful Sister would be furious, sneaking in and snooping, last practical joke, return the favor

6. Mischievous Clever, too delicious to resist, peered, waiting for his chance, clever, swipe

7. Regretful Knew she would win, tripped Tania keeping her from winning, she couldn’t enjoy it , had not won fairly

8. Sympathetic Like her best friend, enjoyed each other’s company, loved to do the same activities, helped her look for it for days, knew it was important, felt horrible

9. Confident Proud, smartest animal, persuaded, allowed the fox, could refuse the fox

10. Frustrated Wiggled and inched, seemed like miles away, felt like giving up, never going to make it, squirming for hours, hard work for nothing

11. Furious Boomed like a drum, howling winds ripped, branches angrily banged

12. Suspicious Noticed something, carefully and quietly crept, gently placed her ear to the door, threw the door open, caught red-handed

Answer Key


Mood Clue words

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Answers Name ____________________

Directions: Read the numbered passage on a blue card. Find the red mood card that matches the mood of the passage you read. Only one red mood card will match to a blue passage card. Write the mood of the passage next to its number below and write the clue words in the passage that helped you determine the mood.


Documents

Use the author’s clue words to determine the mood of the ...€¦ · Field Day she knew she would win other ... of her and in the lead. Annabelle stuck out her foot and tripped