2nd grade fiction passage about a walrus and a washing shop: 137 words, five questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
2nd gradefictiona walrus and a washing shop137 words
The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat
Wanda the walrus got tired of the cold sea. She packed a suitcase and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign that said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know what that was. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink walked in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both looked around. Rows of round machines sat on the floor. Soap bubbles floated in the air.
Mr. Fink smiled. "Let me show you." He taught Wanda how to use the machines, and Wanda taught him how to float on his back. Soon the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
Questions
Why did Wanda leave the cold sea? in the text
What did Wanda think the sign said? in the text
What did Mr. Fink bring in a basket? in the text
What did Mr. Fink teach Wanda to do? in the text
Why did Wanda ask where the pillows were? think about it
Words to know
laundromat
a shop where people wash their clothes in machines
suitcase
a bag you pack with clothes for a trip
blinked
closed and opened your eyes fast
machines
tools with moving parts that do a job
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat
2nd grade reading passage
Wanda the walrus got tired of the cold sea. She packed a suitcase and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign that said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know what that was. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink walked in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both looked around. Rows of round machines sat on the floor. Soap bubbles floated in the air.
Mr. Fink smiled. "Let me show you." He taught Wanda how to use the machines, and Wanda taught him how to float on his back. Soon the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
Questions
Why did Wanda leave the cold sea?
What did Wanda think the sign said?
What did Mr. Fink bring in a basket?
What did Mr. Fink teach Wanda to do?
Why did Wanda ask where the pillows were?
Words to know
laundromat: a shop where people wash their clothes in machines
suitcase: a bag you pack with clothes for a trip
blinked: closed and opened your eyes fast
machines: tools with moving parts that do a job
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/2/walrus-who-ran-the-laundromat
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 · 118 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.3
Wanda the walrus was tired of the cold sea. She packed a bag and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign. It said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know that word. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink came in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They looked around. Round machines sat in rows. Soap bubbles floated up.
Mr. Fink smiled. "I will show you." He taught Wanda the machines. Wanda taught him to float on his back. Soon the town came to wash and nap.
▲ This passage · 137 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2
Wanda the walrus got tired of the cold sea. She packed a suitcase and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign that said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know what that was. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink walked in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both looked around. Rows of round machines sat on the floor. Soap bubbles floated in the air.
Mr. Fink smiled. "Let me show you." He taught Wanda how to use the machines, and Wanda taught him how to float on his back. Soon the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
■ Harder · 152 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3
Wanda the walrus grew weary of the freezing sea, so she packed a suitcase and moved to a small, quiet town.
She discovered a shop with a sign that read "Laundromat." Wanda had never heard that word before. She believed it said "Lounge-a-mat," so she hung up her own sign that announced, "Come take a nap!"
The very next day, Mr. Fink wandered in carrying a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked in confusion. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both glanced around the room. Rows of round machines sat along the floor, and soap bubbles drifted through the air.
Mr. Fink smiled kindly. "Let me show you how it works." He taught Wanda to use the machines, and she taught him to float on his back. Before long, the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
Wanda the walrus was tired of the cold sea. She packed a bag and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign. It said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know that word. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink came in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They looked around. Round machines sat in rows. Soap bubbles floated up.
Mr. Fink smiled. "I will show you." He taught Wanda the machines. Wanda taught him to float on his back. Soon the town came to wash and nap.
Questions
Why did Wanda leave the sea?
What did Wanda think the sign said?
What did Mr. Fink bring in a basket?
What did Mr. Fink teach Wanda?
Why did Wanda ask for pillows?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat
Wanda the walrus got tired of the cold sea. She packed a suitcase and moved to a small town.
She found a shop with a sign that said "Laundromat." Wanda did not know what that was. She thought it said "Lounge-a-mat." So she hung a sign, "Come take a nap!"
The next day, Mr. Fink walked in with a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both looked around. Rows of round machines sat on the floor. Soap bubbles floated in the air.
Mr. Fink smiled. "Let me show you." He taught Wanda how to use the machines, and Wanda taught him how to float on his back. Soon the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
Questions
Why did Wanda leave the cold sea?
What did Wanda think the sign said?
What did Mr. Fink bring in a basket?
What did Mr. Fink teach Wanda to do?
Why did Wanda ask where the pillows were?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat
Wanda the walrus grew weary of the freezing sea, so she packed a suitcase and moved to a small, quiet town.
She discovered a shop with a sign that read "Laundromat." Wanda had never heard that word before. She believed it said "Lounge-a-mat," so she hung up her own sign that announced, "Come take a nap!"
The very next day, Mr. Fink wandered in carrying a basket of dirty socks.
"Where are the washers?" he asked.
Wanda blinked in confusion. "Where are the pillows?" she asked.
They both glanced around the room. Rows of round machines sat along the floor, and soap bubbles drifted through the air.
Mr. Fink smiled kindly. "Let me show you how it works." He taught Wanda to use the machines, and she taught him to float on his back. Before long, the whole town came to wash their clothes and enjoy a very clean nap.
Questions
Why did Wanda leave the freezing sea?
What did Wanda believe the sign said?
What was Mr. Fink carrying in his basket?
What did Mr. Fink teach Wanda to do?
Why did Wanda ask where the pillows were?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.3)
She was tired of the cold.
Lounge-a-mat.
Dirty socks.
How to use the washing machines.
She thought the shop was a place to nap.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2)
She was tired of the cold.
Lounge-a-mat.
Dirty socks.
He taught her how to use the washing machines.
She thought the shop was a place for naps.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3)
She grew weary of the cold.
Lounge-a-mat.
Dirty socks.
To use the washing machines.
She believed the shop was a place for taking naps.
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 laundromat, suitcase, blinked and machines 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 "The Walrus Who Ran the Laundromat"?
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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