“Fingers Crossed” Superstition Reading & Worksheet – Grades 2–4 | Why Do We Say That?

Have your students ever said, “Fingers crossed!” and wondered why?

This engaging mini reading passage explains the history behind the phrase in a fun, age-appropriate way for Grades 2–4. Students will learn how crossing fingers became a symbol of luck, protection, and hope.

Perfect for bell ringers, morning work, literacy centers, or early finishers, this print-and-go activity includes:

✔ A 200-word nonfiction reading passage

✔ A 5-question student worksheet (4 multiple choice + 1 open response)

✔ A teacher answer key

✔ A bold, eye-catching printable thumbnail for your digital classroom or PDF cover

⏱️ Time Breakdown

ComponentActivityEstimated

Time ReadingRead the short passage aloud as a class or independently5 minutes

✏️ WorksheetStudents answer 4 multiple choice + 1 written question10–15 minutes ReviewDiscuss answers as a group / Students share their sentences5–10 minutes

Optional Extensions

If you want to turn this into a full lesson or literacy block (30–45 minutes), you could include:

• A quick pair-share: “What superstitions do you know?”
• An anchor chart: “Lucky Phrases Around the World”
• A class discussion on when they’ve used “fingers crossed” in real life
• Bonus writing prompt: “Make up your own lucky saying!”

✅ Summary

• Mini-lesson / bell ringer / center time: 15–20 minutes
• Full discussion with activities: 30–45 minutes

Standards-Aligned:

Supports reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and critical thinking with Common Core standards for informational text.

Here are some Common Core-aligned learning standards for the “Fingers Crossed – What’s the Meaning?” lesson, targeted at Grades 2–4. These standards support reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing.

Reading Standards for Informational Text (RI)

Grade 2

• RI.2.1 – Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
• RI.2.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.

Grade 3

• RI.3.1 – Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
• RI.3.4 – Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

Grade 4

• RI.4.1 – Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.
• RI.4.4 – Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.

✍️ Writing Standards (W)

• W.2.8 / W.3.8 / W.4.8 – Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Language Standards (L)

• L.2.4 / L.3.4 / L.4.4 – Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases using context clues.