Instructions
Read the story about Maya's special day at the nail salon. After you finish reading, answer the questions that follow. Make sure to look back at the story to find the answers!
Maya's First Manicure
Maya wiggled with excitement in the big, comfy chair. Today was a special day. For her tenth birthday, her mom was treating her to her very first professional manicure at the "Polished Petals" salon. The wall of nail polish looked like a rainbow, with every color she could imagine. After looking at shimmering pinks and bold blues, Maya chose a sparkly purple polish called "Galaxy Glitter."
A friendly nail technician named Sara came to her station. First, Sara had Maya soak her fingertips in a small bowl of warm, soapy water to soften her skin. Next, Sara gently pushed back the tiny bit of skin at the bottom of each nail. "This is called your cuticle," she explained. "We just tidy it up so the polish looks neat."
Then, Sara used a nail file to gently shape Maya's nails into a nice, rounded square shape. It tickled a little! Once her nails were perfectly shaped, Sara applied a clear polish. "This is a base coat," she said. "It protects your nails and helps the color stick better."
Finally, it was time for the color! Sara carefully painted on the first layer of "Galaxy Glitter." It was pretty, but a little see-through. "We'll do two coats to make the color bright and solid," Sara explained as she painted the second layer. The sparkles danced under the salon lights. To finish, Sara applied one more layer of clear polish. "This is the top coat. It acts like a shield to protect the color from chipping and makes it extra shiny."
Maya held her hands perfectly still under a small fan to help them dry. She couldn't stop staring at her ten, tiny, sparkling purple nails. They were beautiful! She felt so grown-up and couldn't wait to show her friends.
Questions
- What was the name of the nail polish color Maya chose?
- Why did the nail technician have Maya soak her fingers in warm water?
- What is the piece of skin at the bottom of a nail called?
- What tool did Sara use to shape Maya's nails?
- What is the purpose of the clear base coat that is applied first?
- Why did Sara apply two coats of the colored polish?
- What is the final coat of clear polish called?
- What are the two jobs of the top coat?
- List three different steps of the manicure that happened before the colored polish was applied.
- How do you think Maya felt after her manicure was finished? Use a word from the story to support your answer.
Answer Key
- The nail polish color was called "Galaxy Glitter."
- She soaked her fingers to soften her skin.
- The piece of skin is called the cuticle.
- Sara used a nail file to shape her nails.
- The base coat protects the nail and helps the color stick better.
- She applied two coats to make the color bright and solid.
- The final coat is called the top coat.
- The top coat protects the polish from chipping and makes it shiny.
- Any three of the following: Soaking fingers, pushing back cuticles, filing/shaping nails, applying a base coat.
- Maya felt excited or grown-up. The story says she "wiggled with excitement" and "felt so grown-up."