Mateo's three jars: reading passage for Grade 2, page 1 preview

Reading passage · History, Civics & Social Studies

Mateo's three jars · Grade 2

An original passage about saving, spending and budgets with 7 questions that check details, inference and vocabulary.

Grade 2 · ages 7 to 8
Medium
25 to 35 minutes
2 pages
Free

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The passage and its 7 questions

Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions in full sentences.

Mateo wanted a kite kit that cost twelve dollars. Every Saturday, he earned four dollars by helping his abuela water her garden and sweep the porch.
His dad gave him three jars and three labels: SAVE, SPEND and SHARE. "Each week, put two dollars in SAVE, one dollar in SPEND and one dollar in SHARE," Dad said.
"That is your budget."
The first week, Mateo saw a shiny pack of stickers for three dollars. He really wanted it.
But to buy it, he would have to take money from his SAVE jar, and then the kite would have to wait. He made a choice and walked away.
After six weeks, the SAVE jar held twelve dollars. Mateo bought the kite kit, and he and
Dad built it together. The SPEND jar had paid for a few small treats along the way.
The SHARE jar held six dollars. Mateo gave it to the animal shelter, where it helped buy food for a very hungry puppy.
1. How much money did Mateo earn each week, and how did he earn it?
2. How did Mateo split his money each week?
3. What does the word 'budget' mean in paragraph 2?
4. Why did Mateo walk away from the stickers?
5. How did Mateo's SHARE money help others?
6. Copy the sentence that shows Mateo made a careful decision.
7. Draw a picture of the most important part and write one sentence about it.

What your child practices

Your child practices the history and social studies skill “Choices, resources and markets”: reason about scarcity, choices, trade and economic systems.

Grades and ages: Grade 2, ages 7 to 8
Time: About 25 to 35 minutes
Subject: History, Civics & Social Studies
Level: Medium for Grade 2
Answer key: Yes, for grown-ups who sign in
Printing: 2 pages, US Letter or A4, low-ink option
Updated: October 15, 2026

How to use it

Read the passage once just for the story or the facts, then again with the questions in mind. Encourage underlining the words in the text that back up each answer. It is pitched at the expected level for Grade 2, for practice after the skill has been taught. Its 2 pages split well across two sittings.

An answer key comes with it as a separate page that grown-ups download after signing in.

Tip for grown-ups: Ask your child to point to the sentence that answers each question before writing it.

Done on paper? A grown-up can record it on the child's page in PlayOwl; downloading alone doesn't count as finished.