LEAP 2025 Test Prep Writing Prompt: The Trial of Cardigan Jones

This Third Grade Writing Prompt is based on the story, "The Trial of Cardigan Jones." As an added bonus, I adapted the story to a Reader's Theatre Script ( My students love to read scripts.)

The Prompt reads as follows:

In this fantasy, the author created a character named Cardigan who was accused of stealing an apple pie from Mrs. Brown’s window sill.

Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter covering, “The Trial of Cardigan Jones.” Conduct an interview with Cardigan to get story details from his point of view.

Now write a well-organized story for the newspaper titled:

The Truth Behind Cardigan’s Trial.

Use specific details from the reader’s theatre passage

to include in your story.

I also put a box around several words to make sure they were discussed and/or reviewed.