1st grade nonfiction passage about see-through and blocking light: 102 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
1st gradenonfictionsee-through and blocking light102 words
Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?
Light can pass through some things. It cannot pass through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through, and you can see what is outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light goes through, but you cannot see a clear picture. Everything looks blurry and soft. Things like this let some light in.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through it. Things that block all the light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book. See what each one does!
Questions
What kind of thing is a window? in the text
What happens when light hits wax paper? in the text
What does a wall do to light? in the text
What are things that block all the light called? in the text
Would a book make a dark shadow? How do you know? think about it
Words to know
transparent
clear, so light goes right through
opaque
not clear, so light cannot go through
blurry
not sharp, hard to see clearly
block
to stop something from getting past
shadow
a dark shape made when light is blocked
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?
1st grade reading passage
Light can pass through some things. It cannot pass through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through, and you can see what is outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light goes through, but you cannot see a clear picture. Everything looks blurry and soft. Things like this let some light in.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through it. Things that block all the light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book. See what each one does!
Questions
What kind of thing is a window?
What happens when light hits wax paper?
What does a wall do to light?
What are things that block all the light called?
Would a book make a dark shadow? How do you know?
Words to know
transparent: clear, so light goes right through
opaque: not clear, so light cannot go through
blurry: not sharp, hard to see clearly
block: to stop something from getting past
shadow: a dark shape made when light is blocked
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/1/window-wax-paper-wall-who-lets-light-through
Share
One passage, three levels
The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.
● Easier · 73 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.3
Light goes through some things. It does not go through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through. You can see outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is not clear. Light goes through, but things look blurry.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through. Things that block all light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Use a cup, wax paper and a book.
▲ This passage · 102 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.1
Light can pass through some things. It cannot pass through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through, and you can see what is outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light goes through, but you cannot see a clear picture. Everything looks blurry and soft. Things like this let some light in.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through it. Things that block all the light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book. See what each one does!
■ Harder · 122 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.2
Light can travel through some materials, but other materials stop it completely.
A window is clear, so light passes straight through it and you can see everything outside. Materials like this are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light gets through it, but you cannot see a sharp picture on the other side, because everything looks blurry and soft. Wax paper lets some of the light in.
A wall is thick, so no light can get through. Materials that block all of the light are called opaque, and they make dark shadows.
You can test them yourself with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book, and notice what each one does to the beam.
Light goes through some things. It does not go through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through. You can see outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is not clear. Light goes through, but things look blurry.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through. Things that block all light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Use a cup, wax paper and a book.
Questions
What kind of thing is a window?
What happens when light hits wax paper?
What does a wall do to light?
What are things that block all light called?
Would a book make a dark shadow? Why?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?
Light can pass through some things. It cannot pass through others.
A window is clear. Light goes right through, and you can see what is outside. Clear things are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light goes through, but you cannot see a clear picture. Everything looks blurry and soft. Things like this let some light in.
A wall is thick. Light cannot get through it. Things that block all the light are called opaque. They make dark shadows.
Try it with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book. See what each one does!
Questions
What kind of thing is a window?
What happens when light hits wax paper?
What does a wall do to light?
What are things that block all the light called?
Would a book make a dark shadow? How do you know?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?
Light can travel through some materials, but other materials stop it completely.
A window is clear, so light passes straight through it and you can see everything outside. Materials like this are called transparent.
Wax paper is different. Light gets through it, but you cannot see a sharp picture on the other side, because everything looks blurry and soft. Wax paper lets some of the light in.
A wall is thick, so no light can get through. Materials that block all of the light are called opaque, and they make dark shadows.
You can test them yourself with a flashlight. Hold up a clear cup, a sheet of wax paper and a book, and notice what each one does to the beam.
Questions
What kind of material is a window, and why?
What happens to the picture when light goes through wax paper?
Why can no light get through a wall?
What word names materials that block all of the light?
Would a book make a dark shadow? What tells you so?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.3)
A clear thing, called transparent.
Light goes through, but things look blurry.
It blocks all the light.
Opaque.
Yes, because a book blocks light like a wall.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.1)
A clear thing, called transparent.
Light goes through, but things look blurry and soft.
It blocks all the light.
Opaque.
Yes, because a book blocks the light like a wall does.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.2)
Transparent, because light passes straight through it.
Everything looks blurry and soft.
A wall is thick and blocks all of the light.
Opaque.
Yes, because a book blocks light the way a wall does.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
How to use it
Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.
Ideas for class
Before reading, put transparent, opaque, blurry, block and shadow on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 1 minute to read aloud.
Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
Question 5 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "Window, Wax Paper, Wall: Who Lets Light Through?"?
It was written for 1st grade. It has 102 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 1.1. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.
What do the questions ask?
There are five. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 1 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.
How long does it take to read?
About 1 minute read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.
Can I print it?
Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.
Is this passage from a published book?
No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.
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