3rd Grade Reading & Language Arts — Stories of Faith — Reading and Writing with Purpose
Students will practice reading comprehension skills by closely reading and understanding Psalm 23.
Reading comprehension means understanding what you read. Good readers ask questions, look for details, and think about what the author is saying. When we read the Bible, we want to understand what God is telling us!
Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible. It was written by King David, who was a shepherd before he became king. Because David took care of sheep, he understood how God takes care of us.
In Psalm 23, David says 'The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.' This means God provides everything we need. 'He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters' — this tells us God gives us rest and peace.
David also writes, 'Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.' This teaches us that even when scary or hard things happen, God is always with us and we do not need to be afraid.
The psalm ends with 'Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' David was certain that God's love would never leave him.
Read Psalm 23 aloud together. Then answer these questions in complete sentences: (1) Who is the shepherd in this psalm? (2) What does the shepherd provide? (3) Why does David say he will not be afraid? (4) Draw a picture of the green pastures and quiet waters described in the psalm.