3rd grade nonfiction passage about food safety: 160 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
3rd gradenonfictionfood safety160 words
Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge
After a big dinner, there is soup left in the pot. What should you do with it? The best plan is to put it in the fridge soon, and there is a good reason.
Tiny living things called germs are everywhere, including on food. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if they grow in large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is just the kind of warm spot they like.
Cold slows them down. The fridge keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe longer. That is why people put leftovers in a clean, covered container and store them right away.
The fridge does not stop germs completely. So leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before eating, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide.
Questions
What is the best plan for leftover soup? in the text
What are germs? in the text
Where do germs grow fastest? in the text
How does the fridge keep food safe longer? in the text
How long should leftovers be kept? in the text
Why is a pot of soup left on the counter a problem? think about it
Words to know
leftovers
food that is not eaten at a meal and is saved for later
germs
tiny living things that can sometimes make people sick
container
a box or tub that holds something
steaming
giving off hot vapor
harmless
not able to cause harm
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge
3rd grade reading passage
After a big dinner, there is soup left in the pot. What should you do with it? The best plan is to put it in the fridge soon, and there is a good reason.
Tiny living things called germs are everywhere, including on food. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if they grow in large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is just the kind of warm spot they like.
Cold slows them down. The fridge keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe longer. That is why people put leftovers in a clean, covered container and store them right away.
The fridge does not stop germs completely. So leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before eating, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide.
Questions
What is the best plan for leftover soup?
What are germs?
Where do germs grow fastest?
How does the fridge keep food safe longer?
How long should leftovers be kept?
Why is a pot of soup left on the counter a problem?
Words to know
leftovers: food that is not eaten at a meal and is saved for later
germs: tiny living things that can sometimes make people sick
container: a box or tub that holds something
steaming: giving off hot vapor
harmless: not able to cause harm
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/3/why-leftovers-hurry-to-the-fridge
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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 · 127 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.8
After a big dinner, soup is left in the pot. What should you do? Put it in the fridge soon. Here is why.
Germs are tiny living things. They are on food too. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if there are lots of them. Germs grow best in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is a warm spot.
Cold slows germs down. The fridge keeps food cool. Germs grow slowly, and food stays safe longer. So put leftovers in a clean, covered container right away.
The fridge does not stop germs fully. Eat leftovers in a few days. Heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells odd or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up.
▲ This passage · 160 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.8
After a big dinner, there is soup left in the pot. What should you do with it? The best plan is to put it in the fridge soon, and there is a good reason.
Tiny living things called germs are everywhere, including on food. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if they grow in large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is just the kind of warm spot they like.
Cold slows them down. The fridge keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe longer. That is why people put leftovers in a clean, covered container and store them right away.
The fridge does not stop germs completely. So leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before eating, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide.
■ Harder · 182 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.5
After an enormous dinner, a good amount of soup remains in the pot. What should you do with it? The wisest plan is to move it into the refrigerator promptly, and there is an excellent reason for that.
Tiny living things called germs are found everywhere, including on food. Most of them are harmless, but a few kinds can make you sick when they multiply into very large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places, and a pot of soup sitting on the kitchen counter is exactly the sort of cozy spot they enjoy.
Cold temperatures slow them down. The refrigerator keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe for a longer time. That is why people pour leftovers into a clean, covered container and store them right away.
However, the refrigerator does not stop germs entirely, so leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before you eat them, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, never taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide what to do.
After a big dinner, soup is left in the pot. What should you do? Put it in the fridge soon. Here is why.
Germs are tiny living things. They are on food too. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if there are lots of them. Germs grow best in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is a warm spot.
Cold slows germs down. The fridge keeps food cool. Germs grow slowly, and food stays safe longer. So put leftovers in a clean, covered container right away.
The fridge does not stop germs fully. Eat leftovers in a few days. Heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells odd or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up.
Questions
What should you do with leftover soup?
What are germs?
Where do germs grow best?
How does the fridge keep food safe longer?
How long should you keep leftovers?
Why is soup left on the counter a problem?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge
After a big dinner, there is soup left in the pot. What should you do with it? The best plan is to put it in the fridge soon, and there is a good reason.
Tiny living things called germs are everywhere, including on food. Most are harmless. But some can make you sick if they grow in large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places. A pot of soup on the counter is just the kind of warm spot they like.
Cold slows them down. The fridge keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe longer. That is why people put leftovers in a clean, covered container and store them right away.
The fridge does not stop germs completely. So leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before eating, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, do not taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide.
Questions
What is the best plan for leftover soup?
What are germs?
Where do germs grow fastest?
How does the fridge keep food safe longer?
How long should leftovers be kept?
Why is a pot of soup left on the counter a problem?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge
After an enormous dinner, a good amount of soup remains in the pot. What should you do with it? The wisest plan is to move it into the refrigerator promptly, and there is an excellent reason for that.
Tiny living things called germs are found everywhere, including on food. Most of them are harmless, but a few kinds can make you sick when they multiply into very large groups. Germs grow fastest in warm places, and a pot of soup sitting on the kitchen counter is exactly the sort of cozy spot they enjoy.
Cold temperatures slow them down. The refrigerator keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly and the food stays safe for a longer time. That is why people pour leftovers into a clean, covered container and store them right away.
However, the refrigerator does not stop germs entirely, so leftovers should be eaten within a few days. Before you eat them, heat them until they are steaming hot.
If food smells strange or looks fuzzy, never taste it. Tell a grown-up and let them decide what to do.
Questions
What is the wisest plan for leftover soup?
What are germs?
Where do germs grow fastest?
How does the refrigerator help food stay safe longer?
Within how much time should leftovers be eaten?
Why is a pot of soup left on the counter a problem?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.8)
Put it in the fridge soon.
Tiny living things.
In warm places.
It keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly.
Only a few days.
It stays warm, and germs grow best in warm places.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.8)
Put it in the fridge soon.
Tiny living things.
In warm places.
It keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly.
Only a few days.
It stays warm, which is where germs grow best.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.5)
Put it in the fridge soon.
Tiny living things.
In warm places.
It keeps food cool, so germs grow slowly.
Within a few days.
It stays warm, which is where germs grow best.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
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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 leftovers, germs, container, steaming and harmless 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 "Why Leftovers Hurry to the Fridge"?
It was written for 3rd grade. It has 160 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 2.8. 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.
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