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The Pattern Rule in a Quilt

2nd grade nonfiction passage about repeating patterns: 133 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

2nd grade nonfiction repeating patterns 133 words

The Pattern Rule in a Quilt

A quilt is a blanket made from many pieces of cloth sewn together. Many quilts have patterns. A pattern is something that repeats again and again.

Look at one row of a quilt. The squares go red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. This pattern has two parts. We can call it an A B pattern. The rule is, red then blue, over and over.

Another row goes red, red, blue, red, red, blue. This is an A A B pattern. The rule is, two reds and then one blue.

You can find the next square if you know the rule. In the second row, the last two squares are red, red. So the next square must be blue.

Look around your home. You may see a pattern on a rug or a plate.

Questions

  1. What is a quilt? in the text

  2. What is a pattern? in the text

  3. What is the rule for the row that goes red, blue, red, blue? in the text

  4. What color comes after red, red in the A A B row? in the text

  5. Why does knowing the rule help you find the next square? think about it

Words to know

quilt
a blanket made of cloth pieces sewn together
pattern
something that repeats in the same order
repeat
to happen or be done again
rule
a sentence that tells how a pattern works
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 · 104 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.6

A quilt is a blanket. It is made of cloth pieces sewn together. Many quilts have patterns. A pattern repeats again and again.

Look at one row. The squares go red, blue, red, blue. It has two parts. It is an A B pattern. The rule is red then blue.

Look at another row. It goes red, red, blue, red, red, blue. It is an A A B pattern. The rule is two reds then one blue.

Know the rule, and you know what comes next. The last two squares are red, red. Next is blue.

Look at a rug. Look at a plate.

▲ This passage · 133 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.1

A quilt is a blanket made from many pieces of cloth sewn together. Many quilts have patterns. A pattern is something that repeats again and again.

Look at one row of a quilt. The squares go red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. This pattern has two parts. We can call it an A B pattern. The rule is, red then blue, over and over.

Another row goes red, red, blue, red, red, blue. This is an A A B pattern. The rule is, two reds and then one blue.

You can find the next square if you know the rule. In the second row, the last two squares are red, red. So the next square must be blue.

Look around your home. You may see a pattern on a rug or a plate.

■ Harder · 146 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.5

A quilt is a blanket that is made from many pieces of cloth stitched together, and numerous quilts are designed with patterns. A pattern is something that repeats again and again in the same order.

Examine one row of a quilt. Its squares go red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. This pattern has two parts, so we can call it an A B pattern. The rule is red then blue, over and over.

A different row goes red, red, blue, red, red, blue. This one is an A A B pattern, and its rule is two reds followed by one blue.

If you know the rule, you can figure out the next square. In the second row, the final two squares are red, red, so the next square must be blue.

Look around your home, and you may notice patterns on a rug or a plate.

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 quilt, pattern, repeat and rule 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 Pattern Rule in a Quilt"?

It was written for 2nd grade. It has 133 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 2.1. 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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