3rd grade nonfiction passage about sharing the pool with rules: 174 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
3rd gradenonfictionsharing the pool with rules174 words
Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules
A busy pool can feel a lot like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without some rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules, too.
Think of a road. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane works in a similar way. In a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and come back on the other side. Nobody swims head-on into someone else.
Pools also have lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is for people who want to take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers who go quickly. Pick the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules are also alike in one more way. Both are there to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool, and rules like "walk, do not run" help everyone. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn to enjoy the water.
Questions
Why does a busy pool have rules? in the text
How do swimmers often move in a lane? in the text
Who is the fast lane meant for? in the text
Who watches the pool to keep people safe? in the text
How is a pool lane like a road? think about it
Why should you choose the lane that matches how you swim? think about it
Words to know
lane
a narrow path for one line of travelers
head-on
straight toward someone from the front
lifeguard
a trained person who watches swimmers to keep them safe
similar
almost the same
swimmers
people who move through water
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules
3rd grade reading passage
A busy pool can feel a lot like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without some rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules, too.
Think of a road. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane works in a similar way. In a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and come back on the other side. Nobody swims head-on into someone else.
Pools also have lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is for people who want to take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers who go quickly. Pick the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules are also alike in one more way. Both are there to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool, and rules like "walk, do not run" help everyone. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn to enjoy the water.
Questions
Why does a busy pool have rules?
How do swimmers often move in a lane?
Who is the fast lane meant for?
Who watches the pool to keep people safe?
How is a pool lane like a road?
Why should you choose the lane that matches how you swim?
Words to know
lane: a narrow path for one line of travelers
head-on: straight toward someone from the front
lifeguard: a trained person who watches swimmers to keep them safe
similar: almost the same
swimmers: people who move through water
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/3/swim-lanes-work-like-road-rules
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 · 134 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.5
A busy pool is like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules too.
On a road, cars keep to one side. A fast car may pass a slow one. A pool lane is much the same. Swimmers follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and back on the other. Nobody swims head-on into someone.
Pools have lanes for speeds. A slow lane is for people who take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers. Pick the lane that fits you.
Road rules and pool rules keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool. Rules like "walk, do not run" help. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn.
▲ This passage · 174 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.6
A busy pool can feel a lot like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without some rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules, too.
Think of a road. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane works in a similar way. In a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and come back on the other side. Nobody swims head-on into someone else.
Pools also have lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is for people who want to take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers who go quickly. Pick the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules are also alike in one more way. Both are there to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool, and rules like "walk, do not run" help everyone. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn to enjoy the water.
■ Harder · 188 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.3
A crowded pool can feel remarkably like a crowded road. Many people want to move through the same space at the same time, and without some rules they would collide with one another. For that reason, a pool has its own set of rules.
Consider how a road works. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane operates in a similar way. Within a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle, traveling down one side and returning along the other. As a result, nobody swims head-on into another person.
Pools also set aside lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is meant for people who prefer to take their time, while a fast lane is reserved for strong swimmers who move quickly. You should choose the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules share one more purpose, which is to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches over the pool, and rules such as "walk, do not run" protect everyone. When people follow the rules, everybody gets a chance to enjoy the water.
A busy pool is like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules too.
On a road, cars keep to one side. A fast car may pass a slow one. A pool lane is much the same. Swimmers follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and back on the other. Nobody swims head-on into someone.
Pools have lanes for speeds. A slow lane is for people who take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers. Pick the lane that fits you.
Road rules and pool rules keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool. Rules like "walk, do not run" help. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn.
Questions
Why does a busy pool have rules?
How do swimmers move in a lane?
Who is the fast lane for?
Who watches the pool?
How is a pool lane like a road?
Why pick the lane that fits how you swim?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules
A busy pool can feel a lot like a busy road. Many people want to move in the same space. Without some rules, they would bump into each other. So a pool has rules, too.
Think of a road. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane works in a similar way. In a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle. They swim down one side and come back on the other side. Nobody swims head-on into someone else.
Pools also have lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is for people who want to take their time. A fast lane is for strong swimmers who go quickly. Pick the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules are also alike in one more way. Both are there to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches the pool, and rules like "walk, do not run" help everyone. When people follow the rules, everyone gets a turn to enjoy the water.
Questions
Why does a busy pool have rules?
How do swimmers often move in a lane?
Who is the fast lane meant for?
Who watches the pool to keep people safe?
How is a pool lane like a road?
Why should you choose the lane that matches how you swim?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules
A crowded pool can feel remarkably like a crowded road. Many people want to move through the same space at the same time, and without some rules they would collide with one another. For that reason, a pool has its own set of rules.
Consider how a road works. Cars keep to one side, and a faster car may pass a slower one. A pool lane operates in a similar way. Within a lane, swimmers often follow each other in a circle, traveling down one side and returning along the other. As a result, nobody swims head-on into another person.
Pools also set aside lanes for different speeds. A slow lane is meant for people who prefer to take their time, while a fast lane is reserved for strong swimmers who move quickly. You should choose the lane that matches how you swim.
Road rules and pool rules share one more purpose, which is to keep people safe. A lifeguard watches over the pool, and rules such as "walk, do not run" protect everyone. When people follow the rules, everybody gets a chance to enjoy the water.
Questions
Why does a crowded pool need rules?
How do swimmers often travel within a lane?
Who is the fast lane reserved for?
Who watches over the pool to protect swimmers?
In what way is a pool lane similar to a road?
Why is it wise to choose the lane that matches how you swim?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.5)
People would bump into each other without them.
In a circle, down one side and back on the other.
Strong swimmers.
A lifeguard.
Both have rules for which way to go, so people do not crash.
Swimmers of the same speed will not slow each other down.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.6)
Without rules, people would bump into each other.
They follow each other in a circle, going down one side and back on the other.
Strong swimmers who go quickly.
A lifeguard.
Both have rules for which way to go, so people do not run into each other.
Swimmers of the same speed will not slow down or bump into each other.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.3)
Without rules, people would collide with one another.
They follow each other in a circle, down one side and back along the other.
Strong swimmers who move quickly.
A lifeguard.
Both have rules about which way to travel, so people do not run into each other.
Swimmers of similar speed will not slow down or bump into each other.
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 lane, head-on, lifeguard, similar and swimmers 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 2 minutes 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.
What reading level is "Swim Lanes Work Like Road Rules"?
It was written for 3rd grade. It has 174 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 3.6. 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 six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 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 2 minutes 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?
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