In these worksheets, the story is often organized by having a beginning that introduces the characters and the problem or situation. The middle part builds up the story with actions and developments, and the end resolves the problem or leaves you with something to think about.
One common element is vocabulary questions. Since 3rd - graders are still building their vocabulary, the worksheets often ask about the meaning of words in the story context.
One way is to use them for vocabulary building. Have the students circle or write out new words they find in the short story on the worksheet. Another way is for comprehension. There could be simple questions like 'Who was the main character?' or 'What did the character do first?' to help students understand the story better. Also, worksheets can be used for sequencing events. Students can cut out pictures or sentences related to the story and put them in the correct order on the worksheet.
They can help by exposing students to different types of stories and texts. This makes students more familiar with various writing styles, which in turn improves their ability to understand what they read.
They can improve comprehension by having targeted questions. For instance, questions that ask about the cause and effect in the story make students think deeper. If the story is about a boy who didn't study and failed a test, the worksheet question 'Why did the boy fail the test?' makes them analyze the text.
Well, often you'll find themes like animals and nature. Second graders are starting to learn about the world around them, so stories in worksheets could be about a little bunny's journey in the forest or how a flower grows. Also, there are themes about school life like a school fair or a classroom project.
They can help by exposing students to different fictional stories. When students read these stories in the worksheets, they get to practice understanding characters, plots, and settings, which are important elements in reading comprehension.