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The Case of the Odd Sock

2nd grade nonfiction passage about even and odd numbers: 122 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

2nd grade nonfiction even and odd numbers 122 words

The Case of the Odd Sock

Socks come in pairs. A pair is two things that go together. Two socks make one pair.

Pairs can help you tell if a number is even or odd. Even numbers can be made into pairs with nothing left over. Odd numbers always have one left over.

Try it with socks. Put eight socks in a pile. Match them up. You get four pairs, and no sock is left. So eight is an even number.

Now try nine socks. You make four pairs, but one sock has no match. That sock is the odd one out. So nine is an odd number.

Next time you fold the laundry, count the socks. Make pairs. If one is left over, the number is odd.

Questions

  1. What is a pair? in the text

  2. How many pairs can you make with eight socks? in the text

  3. What is left over when you have nine socks? in the text

  4. What do even numbers have left over after you make pairs? in the text

  5. You have eleven mittens. Is eleven even or odd? How do you know? think about it

Words to know

pair
two things that go together
even
a number you can split into pairs with none left over
odd
a number that always has one left over when you make pairs
laundry
clothes that are washed and folded
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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 · 83 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade -0.7

Socks come in pairs. A pair is two socks. Two things that go together.

A pair can tell you if a number is even or odd. Even numbers make pairs with none left. Odd numbers have one left.

Try eight socks. Match them up. You get four pairs. No sock is left. Eight is even.

Try nine socks. You get four pairs. One sock has no match. Nine is odd.

Count your socks. Make pairs. If one is left, the number is odd.

▲ This passage · 122 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.7

Socks come in pairs. A pair is two things that go together. Two socks make one pair.

Pairs can help you tell if a number is even or odd. Even numbers can be made into pairs with nothing left over. Odd numbers always have one left over.

Try it with socks. Put eight socks in a pile. Match them up. You get four pairs, and no sock is left. So eight is an even number.

Now try nine socks. You make four pairs, but one sock has no match. That sock is the odd one out. So nine is an odd number.

Next time you fold the laundry, count the socks. Make pairs. If one is left over, the number is odd.

■ Harder · 134 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.1

Socks always come in pairs, and a pair is two things that belong together. Two socks make exactly one pair.

Pairs can help you decide whether a number is even or odd. An even number can be separated into pairs with nothing left over. An odd number always leaves one extra.

Test it with socks. Pile up eight socks and match them carefully. You will get four pairs, and no sock will be left behind. That means eight is an even number.

Now try nine socks. You can still make four pairs, but one lonely sock has no partner. That sock is the odd one out, so nine is an odd number.

The next time you fold the laundry, count the socks and make pairs. If a single sock remains, the number is odd.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put pair, even, odd and laundry 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.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "The Case of the Odd Sock"?

It was written for 2nd grade. It has 122 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 0.7. 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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