📘 Reading – VIPERS

Disaster Story: When the Storm Came

📖 Read the Story

The sky had been strange all morning.
Not dark. Not bright. Just heavy.

By the time Eliza reached the harbour, the wind had started to rise. Flags snapped against their poles and the water slapped angrily against the wooden posts. Boats creaked and groaned as if they were warning each other.

“We should head back,” Avery said, pulling his hood tighter.
Eliza nodded, but she didn’t move. Something about the sea held her still.

The first clap of thunder cracked across the sky, sharp and sudden. People scattered. A fisherman shouted for everyone to clear the pier.

Then the rain came.

It didn’t fall. It attacked.

Within seconds, the harbour disappeared behind sheets of water. The wind roared so loudly Eliza could barely hear her own breathing. She turned to grab Avery’s sleeve — and found nothing.

“Avery!” she shouted.

No answer.

Panic rose fast, squeezing her chest. The waves were climbing now, smashing against the pier. Somewhere nearby, metal screamed as a boat tore loose from its rope.

Eliza’s eyes scanned the chaos. And then she saw it.

A red scarf.
Lying motionless near the edge of the pier.

🧠 VIPERS Questions

🟣 Vocabulary

1. The author writes that the rain “attacked”. What does this tell you about how the rain fell?

🔵 Inference

1. Why does Eliza feel unable to move when she first reaches the harbour?

2. How do you know Eliza is starting to panic when she can’t find Avery?

🟢 Prediction

1. What do you think has happened to Avery?
   Explain your prediction using evidence from the story.

🟡 Explanation

1. How does the author build tension as the storm gets worse?
   Think about weather, sounds and Eliza’s thoughts.

🔴 Retrieval

1. Where are Eliza and Avery at the start of the story?

2. What object does Eliza see at the end?

🟠 Summarise

1. Summarise the story in 50 words or fewer.

✏️ Optional Creative Task – Storyboard

Instead of writing answers, you may choose to draw a storyboard showing the main events.

🎬 Storyboard Instructions

Draw 4 boxes and illustrate:

1. The harbour before the storm

2. The storm beginning

3. Eliza realising Avery is missing

4. The final moment with the red scarf

Under each picture, write one short sentence explaining what is happening.

⭐ Challenge

How might the story continue?
Would the tension increase or decrease? Why?

💡 Reading Tip

Good readers:

• look for clues

• infer feelings

• explain their ideas using evidence from the text