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Thad's River Bridge

Latin Root: -struct- (build) 3rd Phase 6
Thad's River Bridge
Thad's River Bridge, page 1
1Thad and his pal Tom stood by the wide river. Tom wanted to cross to the other side to get some fresh green leaves. But the fast river was too much for the little turtle to swim all the way across. "I will help you," said Thad.
Thad's River Bridge, page 2
2"I can construct a safe path for us. I like to build things." Thad went to work. He dragged a long, thick log to the edge of the water. He pushed it in. He hoped to construct a quick bridge. But the fast water hit the wood.
Thad's River Bridge, page 3
3The log did not stay put. The log just floated away down the river. Thad tried again with another thick log. He hoped the big log would be heavy enough to stay put. But the water was too strong. The rushing river made his plan fail.
Thad's River Bridge, page 4
4The log drifted away. Thad felt sad. "The river is too strong for my bridge," he sighed. Tom swam out into the cool water. He swam to the middle where the water was slower. "Do not be sad, Thad," said Tom. "We can fix this.
Thad's River Bridge, page 5
5I have a good plan. Let me help you." Tom swam deep down in the river. He found some huge, heavy stones. He pushed the huge stones into the middle of the river. He made a strong base for their bridge. The rocks stuck up above the water.
Thad's River Bridge, page 6
6Then, Tom stayed by the rocks in the middle. He was the boss of the job. He began to instruct Thad. "Push a log out to me," Tom told him. "I will rest it on the big rocks in the middle." Thad was careful to follow each instruction.
Thad's River Bridge, page 7
7He was glad to have a good instructor. Thad pushed the logs out, one by one. They worked together to build the bridge. With the heavy stones holding the wood in place, the logs did not float away. They fit together just right.
Thad's River Bridge, page 8
8The water could not wash them away. At last, they had made a strong structure. The bridge went all the way across the river. Tom was safe as he walked over the new structure. Thad smiled and walked right behind him. They were a grand team.
Circle or highlight all the words containing the root -struct- in the story above. How many did you find?

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. What did Tom want to get on the other side?
  2. What happened to Thad’s logs in the fast river?
  3. Who walked across the bridge first at the end?
Keep practicing
Practice Latin Root: -struct- (build) with 4 more free worksheets

The words from this story, on printable practice sheets:

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Download Mini-Book
Full-color picture book • Print, cut & staple • No signup required
Read-aloud version (one page per sheet, for projecting)
Thad's River Bridge illustrated mini-book cover
Cover + 8 illustrated pages

Reader Details

Phonics Skill Latin Root: -struct- (build)
Grade Level 3rd
Phase Phase 6
Worksheets Latin Root: -struct- (build) Worksheets

Target Words

construct instruct structure destruct obstruct reconstruct destruction instruction instructor constructive infrastructure restructure

Sight Words

the a and to was is it she he they said have with you are of for her there one

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About This Decodable Reader

“Thad's River Bridge” is a free printable decodable reader designed for 3rd students practicing latin root: -struct- (build) phonics patterns. This mini-book uses phonetically controlled vocabulary so beginning readers can successfully sound out nearly every word in the story, building confidence and reinforcing the specific phonics skills they're learning.

The free PDF is a full-color illustrated mini-book: a cover, eight picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the latin root: -struct- (build) words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the five sheets, cut each one in half along the dashed line, and staple — your child has a real little book to hold. A read-aloud version with one large page per sheet is also included for projecting to the whole class.

This reader is part of our collection of 193 free decodable readers organized by phonics skill and aligned with the Science of Reading. For additional practice with latin root: -struct- (build) patterns, try our latin root: -struct- (build) phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.