3rd grade nonfiction passage about ball bearings and friction: 160 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
3rd gradenonfictionball bearings and friction160 words
The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel
Try sliding a heavy box across the floor. It is hard work, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction. Friction makes moving things slow down.
Now think about a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod called an axle. If the wheel rubbed straight against the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling makes much less friction than rubbing, so the wheel can spin freely.
Ball bearings are hidden inside many things. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that use them can move easily and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls hard at work.
Questions
What is the name for the rubbing that makes moving things slow down? in the text
What do a skateboard's wheels spin around? in the text
What does a bearing hold inside its ring? in the text
What do the balls do when the wheel turns? in the text
Name one other thing that uses ball bearings? in the text
Why is it easier to roll a heavy box on round wheels than to slide it? think about it
Words to know
friction
the rubbing between two things that slows them down
axle
a rod that a wheel turns around
bearings
rings with small balls that help a wheel spin easily
steel
a strong, hard metal
freely
without being held back
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel
3rd grade reading passage
Try sliding a heavy box across the floor. It is hard work, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction. Friction makes moving things slow down.
Now think about a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod called an axle. If the wheel rubbed straight against the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling makes much less friction than rubbing, so the wheel can spin freely.
Ball bearings are hidden inside many things. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that use them can move easily and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls hard at work.
Questions
What is the name for the rubbing that makes moving things slow down?
What do a skateboard's wheels spin around?
What does a bearing hold inside its ring?
What do the balls do when the wheel turns?
Name one other thing that uses ball bearings?
Why is it easier to roll a heavy box on round wheels than to slide it?
Words to know
friction: the rubbing between two things that slows them down
axle: a rod that a wheel turns around
bearings: rings with small balls that help a wheel spin easily
steel: a strong, hard metal
freely: without being held back
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/3/tiny-balls-in-skateboard-wheel
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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 · 143 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.6
Try to slide a heavy box on the floor. It is hard. The floor rubs on the box. This rubbing is friction. Friction slows things down.
Now think of a skateboard. Its wheels turn on a metal rod. The rod is an axle. If the wheel rubbed on the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring. It holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll. They roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling has much less friction than rubbing. So the wheel spins with ease.
Many things have ball bearings. Bicycle wheels have them. Fans have them. Machines move easily and wear out slowly.
Next time you ride a skateboard, think of the tiny balls.
▲ This passage · 160 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.7
Try sliding a heavy box across the floor. It is hard work, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction. Friction makes moving things slow down.
Now think about a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod called an axle. If the wheel rubbed straight against the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling makes much less friction than rubbing, so the wheel can spin freely.
Ball bearings are hidden inside many things. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that use them can move easily and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls hard at work.
■ Harder · 173 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.6
Imagine trying to drag a heavy box across the floor. It is exhausting, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction, and friction always makes moving objects slow down.
Now consider a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod known as an axle. If each wheel scraped directly against its axle, it would turn very poorly. For that reason, a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel and surrounds the axle. Whenever the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling produces far less friction than rubbing, so the wheel is able to spin freely.
Ball bearings are tucked away inside many everyday objects. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that contain them move smoothly and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls that are working so hard beneath you.
Try to slide a heavy box on the floor. It is hard. The floor rubs on the box. This rubbing is friction. Friction slows things down.
Now think of a skateboard. Its wheels turn on a metal rod. The rod is an axle. If the wheel rubbed on the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring. It holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll. They roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling has much less friction than rubbing. So the wheel spins with ease.
Many things have ball bearings. Bicycle wheels have them. Fans have them. Machines move easily and wear out slowly.
Next time you ride a skateboard, think of the tiny balls.
Questions
What is the rubbing that slows things down called?
What do a skateboard's wheels turn on?
What does a bearing hold?
What do the balls do when the wheel turns?
Name one other thing with ball bearings?
Why is it easier to roll a heavy box than to slide it?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel
Try sliding a heavy box across the floor. It is hard work, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction. Friction makes moving things slow down.
Now think about a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod called an axle. If the wheel rubbed straight against the axle, it would not turn well. So a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel, around the axle. When the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling makes much less friction than rubbing, so the wheel can spin freely.
Ball bearings are hidden inside many things. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that use them can move easily and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls hard at work.
Questions
What is the name for the rubbing that makes moving things slow down?
What do a skateboard's wheels spin around?
What does a bearing hold inside its ring?
What do the balls do when the wheel turns?
Name one other thing that uses ball bearings?
Why is it easier to roll a heavy box on round wheels than to slide it?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel
Imagine trying to drag a heavy box across the floor. It is exhausting, because the floor rubs against the bottom of the box. This rubbing is called friction, and friction always makes moving objects slow down.
Now consider a skateboard. Its wheels spin around a metal rod known as an axle. If each wheel scraped directly against its axle, it would turn very poorly. For that reason, a skateboard has bearings.
A bearing is a small metal ring that holds a row of tiny steel balls. It fits inside the wheel and surrounds the axle. Whenever the wheel turns, the balls roll between the inner ring and the outer ring. Rolling produces far less friction than rubbing, so the wheel is able to spin freely.
Ball bearings are tucked away inside many everyday objects. They help bicycle wheels turn, and they help fans spin. Machines that contain them move smoothly and wear out more slowly.
The next time you ride a skateboard, remember the tiny balls that are working so hard beneath you.
Questions
What is the name for the rubbing that makes moving objects slow down?
What do the wheels of a skateboard spin around?
What does a bearing hold inside its ring?
What do the balls do whenever the wheel turns?
Name one other object that uses ball bearings?
Why is it easier to roll a heavy box on wheels than to drag it?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.6)
Friction.
A metal rod called an axle.
A row of tiny steel balls.
They roll between the inner ring and the outer ring.
A bicycle wheel or a fan.
Rolling has less friction than sliding.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.7)
Friction.
A metal rod called an axle.
A row of tiny steel balls.
They roll between the inner ring and the outer ring.
A bicycle wheel or a fan.
Rolling makes less friction than sliding.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.6)
Friction.
A metal rod known as an axle.
A row of tiny steel balls.
They roll between the inner ring and the outer ring.
A bicycle wheel or a fan.
Rolling produces far less friction than sliding or dragging.
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 friction, axle, bearings, steel and freely 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 6 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 "The Tiny Balls Hidden in a Skateboard Wheel"?
It was written for 3rd grade. It has 160 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 3.7. 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 six. 5 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 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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