2nd grade nonfiction passage about how to use a map scale: 137 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
2nd gradenonfictionhow to use a map scale137 words
Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper
A map is small, but the real world is big. So a map has a scale to help you. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip. Here is how.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down next to the scale. Count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar is a set distance on the ground. If four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your town. See how far it is from your school to the park!
Questions
What does a map scale show? in the text
What do you lay between the two places on the map? in the text
What do you do after you mark the paper? in the text
If four bars fit, how far is the trip? in the text
Why does a map need a scale? think about it
Words to know
scale
a part of a map that shows how far real places are
distance
how far it is from one place to another
measure
to find out how long or how far something is
mark
to make a small sign on something
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper
2nd grade reading passage
A map is small, but the real world is big. So a map has a scale to help you. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip. Here is how.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down next to the scale. Count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar is a set distance on the ground. If four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your town. See how far it is from your school to the park!
Questions
What does a map scale show?
What do you lay between the two places on the map?
What do you do after you mark the paper?
If four bars fit, how far is the trip?
Why does a map need a scale?
Words to know
scale: a part of a map that shows how far real places are
distance: how far it is from one place to another
measure: to find out how long or how far something is
mark: to make a small sign on something
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/2/measure-a-trip-with-a-strip-of-paper
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 · 102 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.9
A map is small, but the world is big. So a map has a scale. The scale is a short line. It shows how far a real distance is. One little bar might stand for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper next to the scale. Count the bars that fit.
If four bars fit, the trip is four times as far as one bar.
Try it on a map of your town!
▲ This passage · 137 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2
A map is small, but the real world is big. So a map has a scale to help you. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip. Here is how.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down next to the scale. Count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar is a set distance on the ground. If four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your town. See how far it is from your school to the park!
■ Harder · 151 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.1
A map is small, but the real world is enormous. That is why a map includes a scale to help you understand it. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip, and here is how to do it.
First, find the two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them, and mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down beside the scale and count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar represents a set distance on the ground, so if four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your own town, and find out how far it is from your school to the park!
A map is small, but the world is big. So a map has a scale. The scale is a short line. It shows how far a real distance is. One little bar might stand for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper next to the scale. Count the bars that fit.
If four bars fit, the trip is four times as far as one bar.
Try it on a map of your town!
Questions
What does a map scale show?
What do you lay between the two places?
What do you do after you mark the paper?
If four bars fit, how far is the trip?
Why does a map need a scale?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper
A map is small, but the real world is big. So a map has a scale to help you. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip. Here is how.
First, find two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them. Mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down next to the scale. Count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar is a set distance on the ground. If four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your town. See how far it is from your school to the park!
Questions
What does a map scale show?
What do you lay between the two places on the map?
What do you do after you mark the paper?
If four bars fit, how far is the trip?
Why does a map need a scale?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper
A map is small, but the real world is enormous. That is why a map includes a scale to help you understand it. The scale is a short line that shows how far a real distance is. It might say that one little bar stands for one mile.
You can use the scale to measure a trip, and here is how to do it.
First, find the two places on the map. Next, lay the edge of a strip of paper between them, and mark the paper at both places. Then slide the paper down beside the scale and count how many bars fit between the two marks.
Each bar represents a set distance on the ground, so if four bars fit, the trip is four times that far.
Try it on a map of your own town, and find out how far it is from your school to the park!
Questions
What does a map scale show?
What do you lay between the two places on the map?
What do you do after you mark the paper at both places?
If four bars fit between the marks, how far is the trip?
Why does a map include a scale?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.9)
How far a real distance is.
A strip of paper.
Slide it next to the scale and count the bars.
Four times as far as one bar.
The map is small, and the scale shows how far things are in the real world.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2)
How far a real distance is.
The edge of a strip of paper.
Slide it next to the scale and count the bars.
Four times the distance one bar stands for.
The map is small, and the scale shows how far things are in the real world.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.1)
How far a real distance is.
The edge of a strip of paper.
Slide it beside the scale and count how many bars fit between the marks.
Four times the distance that one bar represents.
The map is small, and the scale shows how far things are in the real world.
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 scale, distance, measure and mark 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 "Measure a Trip With a Strip of Paper"?
It was written for 2nd grade. It has 137 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 1.2. 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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