At the party, no one was talking. Then Mia told a funny joke and everyone laughed. “She really broke the ice,” said her friend. What does “broke the ice” mean?

During lunch, you tell someone, “You talk too much.” That might sound rude. How can you say it in a friendlier way?

You’re working on a group project and someone’s drawing doesn’t look very good. You say, “Your drawing is bad.” How could you say that in a kinder way that won’t hurt their feelings?

Imagine you’re outside in the winter and it’s freezing. The weather is very cold. What’s the opposite of “freezing”?

Your friend asks if you want to play, but you don’t feel like it. You say, “I don’t want to play with you.” What’s a more polite way to say that?

Ben opened the gift box and saw the video game he had wanted for months. His eyes lit up and he smiled from ear to ear. How do you think Ben felt? What clues tell you that?

Tom was trying to keep a surprise party secret, but he accidentally told his sister. “Oops,” he said, “I spilled the beans.” What does “spilled the beans” mean?

Marcus stared at the empty shelf where his favorite book used to be. He checked under the table, behind the couch, and even inside his backpack. His eyebrows furrowed and he sighed loudly. Question: What do you think Marcus is feeling, and

The puppy whimpered and hid under the table when it heard thunder. Its ears were down and its tail was tucked. How do you think the puppy feels? What clues tell you that?

Sara heard a loud crash in the living room. She looked down and saw the broken vase. She quickly picked up the pieces and hid them behind the couch before her mom came in. Why do you think Sara hid the vase?

You’re reading a story where the main character is feeling very joyful because she won a prize at school. Can you think of another word that means the same as “joyful”?

Jason’s hands were shaking as he held the microphone. He looked at the crowd and took a deep breath. How might Jason be feeling? What clues help you guess?