2nd grade nonfiction passage about kaleidoscopes: 145 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
2nd gradenonfictionkaleidoscopes145 words
Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes. It never looks quite the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are also a few long mirrors. They are set at an angle to each other. When you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One small bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. Point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, and the colors will glow.
Questions
What is a kaleidoscope? in the text
What is at the far end of the tube? in the text
What happens to the pattern when you turn the tube? in the text
What do the mirrors do? in the text
What do you point the tube toward to see the colors glow? in the text
Why does the pattern look even all the way around? think about it
Words to know
kaleidoscope
a tube with mirrors and bits of color that make patterns
pattern
a design that repeats
tumble
to roll and fall over and over
angle
the slant where two things meet
repeats
happens or shows again
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope
2nd grade reading passage
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes. It never looks quite the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are also a few long mirrors. They are set at an angle to each other. When you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One small bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. Point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, and the colors will glow.
Questions
What is a kaleidoscope?
What is at the far end of the tube?
What happens to the pattern when you turn the tube?
What do the mirrors do?
What do you point the tube toward to see the colors glow?
Why does the pattern look even all the way around?
Words to know
kaleidoscope: a tube with mirrors and bits of color that make patterns
pattern: a design that repeats
tumble: to roll and fall over and over
angle: the slant where two things meet
repeats: happens or shows again
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/2/mirrors-make-patterns-in-a-kaleidoscope
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 · 111 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.4
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. You see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes.
At the far end of the tube, there are bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are long mirrors. They are set at an angle. The mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is even. The same shape repeats around the middle, like a snowflake.
You need light to see the colors. Point the tube at a window or a lamp.
▲ This passage · 145 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.1
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes. It never looks quite the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are also a few long mirrors. They are set at an angle to each other. When you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One small bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. Point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, and the colors will glow.
■ Harder · 163 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.2
A kaleidoscope is a tube that you hold up to your eye and look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern that resembles a flower made of colors. When you turn the tube, the pattern shifts, and it never looks exactly the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space filled with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around whenever you turn the tube.
Inside the tube there are also a few long mirrors, which are set at an angle to one another. As you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits over and over again, so a single piece of glass can look like six or more.
That is the reason the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, much like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. If you point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, the colors will glow.
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. You see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes.
At the far end of the tube, there are bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are long mirrors. They are set at an angle. The mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is even. The same shape repeats around the middle, like a snowflake.
You need light to see the colors. Point the tube at a window or a lamp.
Questions
What is a kaleidoscope?
What is at the far end of the tube?
What happens when you turn the tube?
What do the mirrors do?
What do you point the tube at to see the colors?
Why is the pattern even all the way around?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope is a tube you look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern, like a flower made of colors. Turn the tube, and the pattern changes. It never looks quite the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around when you turn the tube.
Inside the tube are also a few long mirrors. They are set at an angle to each other. When you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits again and again. One small bit of glass looks like six or more.
That is why the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. Point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, and the colors will glow.
Questions
What is a kaleidoscope?
What is at the far end of the tube?
What happens to the pattern when you turn the tube?
What do the mirrors do?
What do you point the tube toward to see the colors glow?
Why does the pattern look even all the way around?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope is a tube that you hold up to your eye and look into. Inside, you see a bright pattern that resembles a flower made of colors. When you turn the tube, the pattern shifts, and it never looks exactly the same twice.
At the far end of the tube, there is a small space filled with bits of colored glass or beads. They tumble around whenever you turn the tube.
Inside the tube there are also a few long mirrors, which are set at an angle to one another. As you look through, the mirrors copy the colored bits over and over again, so a single piece of glass can look like six or more.
That is the reason the pattern is so even. The same shape repeats all around the middle, much like a snowflake.
Light is needed to see the colors. If you point the end of the tube toward a window or a lamp, the colors will glow.
Questions
What is a kaleidoscope?
What is found at the far end of the tube?
What happens to the pattern when you turn the tube?
What do the mirrors do?
What do you point the tube toward to make the colors glow?
Why does the pattern look even all the way around?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.4)
A tube you look into to see a colorful pattern.
Bits of colored glass or beads.
The pattern changes.
They copy the colored bits again and again.
A window or a lamp.
The mirrors repeat the same shape around the middle.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.1)
A tube you look into to see a colorful pattern.
Bits of colored glass or beads.
It changes.
They copy the colored bits again and again.
A window or a lamp.
The mirrors repeat the same shape around the middle.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.2)
A tube you look into to see a colorful pattern.
A small space filled with bits of colored glass or beads.
It shifts.
They copy the colored bits over and over again.
A window or a lamp.
The mirrors repeat the same shape around the middle.
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 kaleidoscope, pattern, tumble, angle and repeats 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 6 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 "Mirrors Make Patterns in a Kaleidoscope"?
It was written for 2nd grade. It has 145 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 3.1. 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 six. 5 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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