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 · 197 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1
Every afternoon, Maya's dad picked her up from school. He rolled down his window, even when it was cold. He sang at the top of his lungs. The song was always the same: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wanted to disappear. Other kids smirked as they walked by. One boy copied the tune.
At dinner, Maya said, "Dad, please stop singing at pickup."
Dad put down his fork. He looked a little sad. But he nodded. "If it bothers you, I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited with his window up. It was the quietest drive home ever.
The next morning, a boy named Theo stopped Maya in the hall. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the line. It makes going home feel fun."
Two more kids said the same thing. Maya blinked. Maybe the song was not so bad.
That night she told Dad. "You can sing again," she said. "But only until we reach the car door. And no using my name."
Dad grinned. The next day, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" The whole line cheered.
▲ This passage · 216 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.8
Every afternoon, Maya's dad picked her up from school. He rolled down his window, even in cold weather, and sang at the top of his lungs. The song was always the same: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wanted to disappear. Other kids smirked as they walked past. One boy even copied the tune.
At dinner, Maya said, "Dad, can you please stop singing at pickup?"
Dad put down his fork. He looked a little sad, but he nodded. "If it bothers you, I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited quietly with his window up. Maya climbed into the car. It was the quietest drive home ever.
But in the hall the next morning, a boy named Theo stopped her. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the line. It makes me feel like going home is something fun."
Then two more kids said the same thing. Maya blinked. Maybe the song was not as embarrassing as she thought.
That night she told Dad. "You can sing again," she said. "But only until we reach the car door. And you can't use my name."
Dad grinned. The next day, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" and the whole line cheered.
■ Harder · 228 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.7
Every afternoon, Maya's father collected her from school. He rolled down his window, even in freezing weather, and sang at the top of his lungs. The song never changed: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wished she could disappear. Other children smirked as they strolled past, and one boy even imitated the tune.
At dinner, Maya finally said, "Dad, could you please stop singing at pickup?"
Dad set down his fork. He looked a little sad, but he nodded. "If it bothers you, then I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited quietly with his window rolled up. Maya climbed into the car, and it was the quietest drive home she could remember.
But the following morning in the hallway, a boy named Theo stopped her. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the whole line. It makes me feel like going home is something fun."
Then two more children said exactly the same thing. Maya blinked in surprise. Perhaps the song was not as embarrassing as she had believed.
That night she told Dad, "You may sing again, but only until we reach the car door, and you cannot use my name."
Dad grinned from ear to ear. The next afternoon, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" and the entire line cheered.
Name ____________________●
Dad's Parking Lot Song
Every afternoon, Maya's dad picked her up from school. He rolled down his window, even when it was cold. He sang at the top of his lungs. The song was always the same: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wanted to disappear. Other kids smirked as they walked by. One boy copied the tune.
At dinner, Maya said, "Dad, please stop singing at pickup."
Dad put down his fork. He looked a little sad. But he nodded. "If it bothers you, I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited with his window up. It was the quietest drive home ever.
The next morning, a boy named Theo stopped Maya in the hall. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the line. It makes going home feel fun."
Two more kids said the same thing. Maya blinked. Maybe the song was not so bad.
That night she told Dad. "You can sing again," she said. "But only until we reach the car door. And no using my name."
Dad grinned. The next day, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" The whole line cheered.
Questions
- What did Maya's dad do at pickup?
- What did Maya ask Dad to do?
- How did Dad act when Maya asked?
- What did Theo say about the song?
- Why did Maya change her mind about the song?
- What two rules did Maya give her dad?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Dad's Parking Lot Song
Every afternoon, Maya's dad picked her up from school. He rolled down his window, even in cold weather, and sang at the top of his lungs. The song was always the same: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wanted to disappear. Other kids smirked as they walked past. One boy even copied the tune.
At dinner, Maya said, "Dad, can you please stop singing at pickup?"
Dad put down his fork. He looked a little sad, but he nodded. "If it bothers you, I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited quietly with his window up. Maya climbed into the car. It was the quietest drive home ever.
But in the hall the next morning, a boy named Theo stopped her. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the line. It makes me feel like going home is something fun."
Then two more kids said the same thing. Maya blinked. Maybe the song was not as embarrassing as she thought.
That night she told Dad. "You can sing again," she said. "But only until we reach the car door. And you can't use my name."
Dad grinned. The next day, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" and the whole line cheered.
Questions
- What did Maya's dad do at school pickup?
- What did Maya ask Dad to do at dinner?
- How did Dad act when Maya asked him to stop?
- What did Theo say about the song?
- Why did Maya change her mind about the song?
- What two rules did Maya set for her dad?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Dad's Parking Lot Song
Every afternoon, Maya's father collected her from school. He rolled down his window, even in freezing weather, and sang at the top of his lungs. The song never changed: "Hello, hello, hello, Maya! Hop in, hop in, hop in the car!"
Maya wished she could disappear. Other children smirked as they strolled past, and one boy even imitated the tune.
At dinner, Maya finally said, "Dad, could you please stop singing at pickup?"
Dad set down his fork. He looked a little sad, but he nodded. "If it bothers you, then I will stop," he said.
The next day, Dad waited quietly with his window rolled up. Maya climbed into the car, and it was the quietest drive home she could remember.
But the following morning in the hallway, a boy named Theo stopped her. "Where is your dad's song?" he asked. "It was the best part of the whole line. It makes me feel like going home is something fun."
Then two more children said exactly the same thing. Maya blinked in surprise. Perhaps the song was not as embarrassing as she had believed.
That night she told Dad, "You may sing again, but only until we reach the car door, and you cannot use my name."
Dad grinned from ear to ear. The next afternoon, he sang, "Hello, hello, hello, friends!" and the entire line cheered.
Questions
- What did Maya's father do every afternoon at school pickup?
- What did Maya request of her father at dinner?
- How did Dad react when Maya made her request?
- What did Theo tell Maya about the song?
- Why did Maya change her mind about her father's song?
- What two rules did Maya set for her father?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Dad's Parking Lot Song
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1)
- He rolled down his window and sang a song.
- To stop singing at pickup.
- He looked a little sad, but he agreed.
- That it was the best part of the line and made going home fun.
- Other kids liked it, so it was not as embarrassing as she thought.
- He could sing only until the car door, and he could not use her name.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.8)
- He rolled down his window and sang a song.
- To stop singing at pickup.
- He looked a little sad, but he agreed.
- That it was the best part of the line and made going home feel fun.
- She learned that other kids liked it, so it was not as embarrassing as she thought.
- He could sing only until the car door, and he could not use her name.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.7)
- He rolled down his window and sang a song.
- That he stop singing at pickup.
- He looked a little sad, but he agreed to stop.
- That it was the best part of the line and made going home feel fun.
- She learned that other children enjoyed it, so it was not as embarrassing as she had believed.
- He could sing only until they reached the car door, and he could not use her name.
Free at teach.peabody.kids