2nd grade fiction passage about collecting postage stamps: 133 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
2nd gradefictioncollecting postage stamps133 words
Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket. She soaked each stamp in a bowl of water. Then she let it dry on a towel.
One day, Rosa's friend Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo looked at the boat stamps. He frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought for a moment. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
They shook hands. Rosa put the bird stamp in her book, on the page with the other birds. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Questions
Where did Rosa find the stamps? in the text
What did Rosa do to each stamp before it dried? in the text
What was on the stamp that Hugo had? in the text
What did Rosa give Hugo for his stamp? in the text
Why did both friends feel like winners? think about it
Words to know
collect
to gather things of one kind and keep them
stamp
a small paper square you stick on a letter
swap
to give one thing and get another
frowned
made a sad or unsure face
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap
2nd grade reading passage
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket. She soaked each stamp in a bowl of water. Then she let it dry on a towel.
One day, Rosa's friend Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo looked at the boat stamps. He frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought for a moment. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
They shook hands. Rosa put the bird stamp in her book, on the page with the other birds. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Questions
Where did Rosa find the stamps?
What did Rosa do to each stamp before it dried?
What was on the stamp that Hugo had?
What did Rosa give Hugo for his stamp?
Why did both friends feel like winners?
Words to know
collect: to gather things of one kind and keep them
stamp: a small paper square you stick on a letter
swap: to give one thing and get another
frowned: made a sad or unsure face
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/2/rosa-and-the-envelope-stamp-swap
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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 · 99 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes. She soaked each stamp in water. Then she let it dry.
One day, Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with a blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I will trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
Rosa put the bird in her book. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
▲ This passage · 133 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.6
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket. She soaked each stamp in a bowl of water. Then she let it dry on a towel.
One day, Rosa's friend Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo looked at the boat stamps. He frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought for a moment. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
They shook hands. Rosa put the bird stamp in her book, on the page with the other birds. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
■ Harder · 151 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3
Rosa enjoyed collecting postage stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket, and she carefully soaked each one in a bowl of water. Afterward, she let every stamp dry on a clean towel.
One afternoon, her friend Hugo came over to visit. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa happened to have two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she suggested.
Hugo studied the boat stamps and frowned. "I really want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both of the boats."
Rosa thought about it for a long moment. She loved her boats, but she wanted that bird even more. "Deal," she finally said.
They shook hands on it. Rosa slid the bird stamp into her book, on the page with the other birds, and Hugo carried the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes. She soaked each stamp in water. Then she let it dry.
One day, Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with a blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I will trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
Rosa put the bird in her book. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Questions
Where did Rosa find stamps?
What did Rosa do to each stamp in water?
What was on Hugo's stamp?
What did Rosa give Hugo?
Why did both friends feel like winners?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap
Rosa liked to collect stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket. She soaked each stamp in a bowl of water. Then she let it dry on a towel.
One day, Rosa's friend Hugo came over. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa had two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she said.
Hugo looked at the boat stamps. He frowned. "I want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both boats."
Rosa thought for a moment. She loved her boats. But she wanted that bird more. "Deal," she said.
They shook hands. Rosa put the bird stamp in her book, on the page with the other birds. Hugo took the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Questions
Where did Rosa find the stamps?
What did Rosa do to each stamp before it dried?
What was on the stamp that Hugo had?
What did Rosa give Hugo for his stamp?
Why did both friends feel like winners?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap
Rosa enjoyed collecting postage stamps. She found them on old envelopes in the mail basket, and she carefully soaked each one in a bowl of water. Afterward, she let every stamp dry on a clean towel.
One afternoon, her friend Hugo came over to visit. He had a stamp with a tiny red bird on it. Rosa happened to have two stamps with the same blue boat. "Let's swap," she suggested.
Hugo studied the boat stamps and frowned. "I really want to keep my bird," he said. "But I would trade it for both of the boats."
Rosa thought about it for a long moment. She loved her boats, but she wanted that bird even more. "Deal," she finally said.
They shook hands on it. Rosa slid the bird stamp into her book, on the page with the other birds, and Hugo carried the boats home. They both felt like winners.
Questions
Where did Rosa find the stamps for her collection?
What did Rosa do to each stamp before it dried on a towel?
What picture was on the stamp that Hugo owned?
What did Rosa trade to Hugo for his stamp?
Why did both friends feel like winners after the trade?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0)
On old envelopes.
She soaked it.
A red bird.
Both of her blue boat stamps.
Each got a stamp they wanted more.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.6)
On old envelopes in the mail basket.
She soaked it in a bowl of water.
A tiny red bird.
Both of her blue boat stamps.
Each one got a stamp that he or she wanted more than the one they gave up.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3)
On old envelopes in the mail basket.
She soaked it in a bowl of water.
A tiny red bird.
Both of her blue boat stamps.
Each of them received a stamp that he or she wanted more than the one given away.
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 collect, stamp, swap and frowned on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the story 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 retell the story in three sentences: how it began, what the problem was, and how it ended.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "Rosa and the Envelope Stamp Swap"?
It was written for 2nd grade. It has 133 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 0.6. 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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