Fifth Grade
Worksheets
An Afghan Girl Goes to School
Saida ran over to the man who stood by her brother's grave. Her dark hair whipped through the wind even though her head was covered with a bright red and white scarf. Her sky-blue eyes brimmed over with tears. She boldly pulled on the man's shirt sleeve because she had something important to say.
Saida said, "I don't have any more brothers. I want to go to school." The man looked down at the 12-year-old girl. He was building a school close by. He knew that education was the key to rebuilding Afghanistan. And right in front of him, Saida's hopeful face showed her intense desire for an education.
Saida got her wish and was able to go to school. It helped her forget the sadness of her past. Today, her country is dotted with red, green, and yellow flags flying over grave sites. Saida's brother's grave is marked only with a small stone. Saida still cries when she thinks about him. He was killed by a land mine while he was herding the family's goats. Saida also lost two other brothers who died of typhoid. Saida's desire to go to school was greater than her fear of talking to the American man who visited her brother's grave, and now she is happy that she did.
