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I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal

By Lauren Tarshis

I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 has 15 chapters · Grades 3–5

Part of the I Survived series

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Inside the journal: 15 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name

Written for this book Questions about this story, good after any chapter.

Chapter 1 question
So far, what have you learned about Jessie and her life near Mount St. Helens in Washington? Use details from the chapter to explain what her world is like.
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A printable reading journal for I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980: one question per chapter, with example answers.

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I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 questions by chapter

We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 15 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.

  1. Chapter 1

    So far, what have you learned about Jessie and her life near Mount St. Helens in Washington? Use details from the chapter to explain what her world is like.

  2. Chapter 2

    What is one problem Jessie is facing in this chapter? How does she react to it, and what does that tell you about her?

  3. Chapter 3

    Mount St. Helens is an important part of the setting. How does the author make the mountain feel beautiful, dangerous, or mysterious in the chapter you just read?

    Example answer: In this chapter, the mountain feels both amazing and scary to me. The author describes it as part of Jessie's everyday life, but there are also signs that it could be dangerous. That makes the setting feel tense because the mountain is not just in the background. It seems like it could change everything for the characters.

  4. Chapter 4

    Choose one character besides Jessie from this chapter. What do that character's words or actions show about their personality?

  5. Chapter 5

    What clues in this chapter help you understand that something serious may happen? Explain how those clues affect the mood of the story.

  6. Chapter 6

    What is one word or phrase from this chapter that stands out to you? What do you think it means, and why did the author choose it?

  7. Chapter 7

    So far, how is Jessie handling fear, worry, or danger? Give one example from the chapter and explain whether you think she made a good choice.

  8. Chapter 8

    What did you learn in this chapter about volcanoes, ash, earthquakes, or warnings from nature? How did that information help you understand the story better?

  9. Chapter 9

    How do Jessie's relationships with other people affect what she thinks, feels, or decides in this chapter?

  10. Chapter 10

    Make a prediction: based only on what has happened so far, what do you think Jessie might have to do next? What details support your prediction?

    Example answer: I predict Jessie will have to make a quick decision to keep herself or someone else safe. I think this because the story keeps giving clues that Mount St. Helens is not acting normally. Jessie also seems like the kind of character who notices danger, even when she is scared. My prediction might change if the next chapter gives new clues.

  11. Chapter 11

    What is one moment in this chapter when a character has to be brave? Explain what makes the moment difficult.

  12. Chapter 12

    How does Lauren Tarshis build suspense in this chapter? Think about pacing, descriptions, unanswered questions, or danger.

  13. Chapter 13

    What theme, or big idea, do you notice so far, such as courage, family, friendship, grief, or survival? Use an example from the chapter.

    Example answer: One theme I notice so far is courage. Jessie has to deal with frightening things, but she keeps trying to understand what is happening instead of giving up. Courage does not mean she is never afraid. It means she keeps going even when the situation feels uncertain.

  14. Chapter 14

    What was the most important event in this chapter? Explain why it matters to Jessie or to the story.

  15. Chapter 15

    What is your opinion of Jessie's choices in this chapter? If you were in her situation, what might you have done the same or differently?

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Discussion questions for after I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.

  1. By the end of I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980, how has Jessie changed? Write about what she was like earlier in the story, what challenges she faced, and what helped her grow.
  2. What do you think this book is really about besides the eruption itself? In your answer, discuss one or two bigger ideas, such as survival, courage, nature's power, family, or friendship, and explain how the story shows those ideas.

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How to use this I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 reading journal

At home, as a discussion guide

After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.

In class, as a novel study

Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.

Homeschool

One booklet covers the whole book, 15 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.

Printing

The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.

Where the questions come from

Questions about this story, good after any chapter. We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.

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