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Practice at Home with a Sample Ballot

4th grade nonfiction passage about how to read a ballot: 214 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

4th grade nonfiction how to read a ballot 214 words

Practice at Home with a Sample Ballot

Before an election, many places mail out or post a sample ballot. A sample ballot looks like the real one, but it is only for practice. Grown-ups can use it at home to get ready so that voting day goes smoothly.

Start at the top. The ballot lists offices, which are the jobs that voters are choosing someone to do, such as mayor or a seat on the school board. Under each office are the names of the candidates, the people who want the job. Some ballots also ask yes or no questions about a local rule or plan. Many towns print a short explanation of each question in plain words.

Next, take your time. Read each choice slowly. Look up any candidates you do not know and find out what each one says they will do. A sample ballot lets you meet the questions ahead of time, so you do not have to rush in the voting booth.

Last, remember that a sample is not a vote. Marks on the practice copy do not count. Only the real ballot, filled out on voting day or by the allowed deadline, is counted. A young person can still join the fun by reading the sample with a family member and talking about the choices.

Questions

  1. What is a sample ballot for? in the text

  2. What is an office on a ballot? in the text

  3. What are candidates? in the text

  4. What else may a ballot ask besides choosing people? in the text

  5. Does a mark on the sample ballot count as a vote? in the text

  6. Why does reading a sample ahead of time help a voter? think about it

Words to know

election
a time when people vote to make a choice
ballot
the paper or screen where a voter makes choices
candidates
people who ask voters to choose them for a job
office
a public job that a person is chosen to do
sample
a copy that shows what the real thing looks like
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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 · 204 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.6

Before an election, many places mail out or post a sample ballot. A sample ballot looks like the real one. But it is only for practice. Grown-ups can use it at home to get ready. Then voting day goes well.

Start at the top. The ballot lists offices. An office is a job that voters choose someone to do. It might be mayor. It might be a seat on the school board. Under each office are the names of the candidates. Candidates are the people who want the job. Some ballots also ask yes or no questions. They may be about a local rule or plan. Many towns print a short note about each question in plain words.

Next, take your time. Read each choice slowly. Look up the candidates you do not know. Find out what each one says they will do. A sample lets you see the questions early. Then you do not have to rush in the voting booth.

Last, a sample is not a vote. Marks on the practice copy do not count. Only the real ballot is counted. Young people can still join in. They can read the sample with a family member and talk about the choices.

▲ This passage · 214 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.1

Before an election, many places mail out or post a sample ballot. A sample ballot looks like the real one, but it is only for practice. Grown-ups can use it at home to get ready so that voting day goes smoothly.

Start at the top. The ballot lists offices, which are the jobs that voters are choosing someone to do, such as mayor or a seat on the school board. Under each office are the names of the candidates, the people who want the job. Some ballots also ask yes or no questions about a local rule or plan. Many towns print a short explanation of each question in plain words.

Next, take your time. Read each choice slowly. Look up any candidates you do not know and find out what each one says they will do. A sample ballot lets you meet the questions ahead of time, so you do not have to rush in the voting booth.

Last, remember that a sample is not a vote. Marks on the practice copy do not count. Only the real ballot, filled out on voting day or by the allowed deadline, is counted. A young person can still join the fun by reading the sample with a family member and talking about the choices.

■ Harder · 225 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 8.8

Before an election takes place, many communities mail out or publish a sample ballot. A sample ballot closely resembles the genuine one, but it is intended solely for practice. Adults can study it at home in preparation, so that voting day proceeds smoothly.

Begin at the top of the page. The ballot lists offices, which are the positions that voters are selecting someone to fill, such as mayor or a seat on the school board. Beneath each office appear the names of the candidates, the people who are seeking the position. Some ballots additionally pose yes or no questions about a local rule or plan, and many towns print a short explanation of each question in plain language.

Next, take your time and read each choice slowly. Research any candidates you do not recognize, and find out what each one says they intend to do. A sample ballot allows you to become familiar with the questions in advance, so you are not forced to hurry while standing in the voting booth.

Finally, keep in mind that a sample is not a vote. Marks made on the practice copy are never counted. Only the genuine ballot, completed on voting day or by the permitted deadline, is tallied. A young person can still participate by reading the sample alongside a family member and discussing the choices together.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put election, ballot, candidates, office and sample 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.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "Practice at Home with a Sample Ballot"?

It was written for 4th grade. It has 214 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 5.1. 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?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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