5th grade nonfiction passage about rain gardens and runoff: 197 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
5th gradenonfictionrain gardens and runoff197 words
A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead it rushes along the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It often carries oil, dirt, and litter with it, and it ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft soil and plants that can live through both wet weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny paths that help the water sink in. As it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers also give food to bees and butterflies. One small garden can protect a stream and make a yard prettier at once.
Questions
What is runoff? in the text
What bad things can runoff carry to a stream? in the text
What is a rain garden? in the text
Where do people often place a rain garden? in the text
How do plant roots help a rain garden work? think about it
Why does one small rain garden help both streams and wildlife? think about it
Words to know
runoff
rainwater that flows over the ground instead of soaking in
storm drains
openings in streets that carry rainwater away
downspout
a pipe that carries rainwater down from a roof
pollution
harmful stuff that makes air, soil, or water dirty
shallow
not deep
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off
5th grade reading passage
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead it rushes along the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It often carries oil, dirt, and litter with it, and it ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft soil and plants that can live through both wet weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny paths that help the water sink in. As it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers also give food to bees and butterflies. One small garden can protect a stream and make a yard prettier at once.
Questions
What is runoff?
What bad things can runoff carry to a stream?
What is a rain garden?
Where do people often place a rain garden?
How do plant roots help a rain garden work?
Why does one small rain garden help both streams and wildlife?
Words to know
runoff: rainwater that flows over the ground instead of soaking in
storm drains: openings in streets that carry rainwater away
downspout: a pipe that carries rainwater down from a roof
pollution: harmful stuff that makes air, soil, or water dirty
shallow: not deep
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/5/a-rain-garden-catches-water-before-it-runs-off
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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 · 176 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.1
Rain that lands on a roof, a driveway, or a street cannot soak into the ground. It rushes over the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It carries oil, dirt, and litter. It ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can wash away the banks of the stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard. It is filled with soft soil and plants. The plants can live through wet weeks and dry ones. People often put it where a downspout empties or where water already flows.
In a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually in a day or two. Plant roots make tiny paths that help the water sink in. The soil holds back much of the dirt and some pollution. The water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers feed bees and butterflies. One small garden helps a stream and makes a yard prettier.
▲ This passage · 197 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead it rushes along the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It often carries oil, dirt, and litter with it, and it ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft soil and plants that can live through both wet weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny paths that help the water sink in. As it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers also give food to bees and butterflies. One small garden can protect a stream and make a yard prettier at once.
■ Harder · 208 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.9
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a paved street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it races across the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is known as runoff. It frequently carries oil, dirt, and litter along with it, and it eventually empties into a nearby stream. A sudden surge of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple and attractive solution. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft, absorbent soil and with plants that can survive both rainy weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to gather and flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Afterward, the water gradually soaks down through the soil, typically within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny pathways that help the water sink in, and as it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The blossoms also provide food for bees and butterflies. A single small garden can protect a stream and beautify a yard at the same time.
Rain that lands on a roof, a driveway, or a street cannot soak into the ground. It rushes over the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It carries oil, dirt, and litter. It ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can wash away the banks of the stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard. It is filled with soft soil and plants. The plants can live through wet weeks and dry ones. People often put it where a downspout empties or where water already flows.
In a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually in a day or two. Plant roots make tiny paths that help the water sink in. The soil holds back much of the dirt and some pollution. The water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers feed bees and butterflies. One small garden helps a stream and makes a yard prettier.
Questions
What is runoff?
What bad things can runoff carry to a stream?
What is a rain garden?
Where do people often put a rain garden?
How do plant roots help a rain garden work?
Why does one small rain garden help both streams and wildlife?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead it rushes along the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is called runoff. It often carries oil, dirt, and litter with it, and it ends up in a nearby stream. A sudden flood of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple answer. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft soil and plants that can live through both wet weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Then the water slowly soaks down through the soil, usually within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny paths that help the water sink in. As it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The flowers also give food to bees and butterflies. One small garden can protect a stream and make a yard prettier at once.
Questions
What is runoff?
What bad things can runoff carry to a stream?
What is a rain garden?
Where do people often place a rain garden?
How do plant roots help a rain garden work?
Why does one small rain garden help both streams and wildlife?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off
When rain falls on a roof, a driveway, or a paved street, it cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it races across the hard surface and pours into storm drains. This water is known as runoff. It frequently carries oil, dirt, and litter along with it, and it eventually empties into a nearby stream. A sudden surge of runoff can even wash away the banks of that stream.
A rain garden is one simple and attractive solution. It is a shallow dip in a yard, filled with soft, absorbent soil and with plants that can survive both rainy weeks and dry ones. People often place it where a downspout empties or where water already tends to gather and flow.
During a storm, the dip fills like a shallow bowl. Afterward, the water gradually soaks down through the soil, typically within a day or two. Plant roots open up tiny pathways that help the water sink in, and as it passes through, the soil holds back much of the dirt and some of the pollution, so the water that reaches the ground is cleaner. The blossoms also provide food for bees and butterflies. A single small garden can protect a stream and beautify a yard at the same time.
Questions
What is runoff?
What harmful things can runoff carry into a stream?
What is a rain garden?
Where do people often place a rain garden?
How do plant roots help a rain garden do its job?
Why can one small rain garden help both streams and wildlife?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.1)
Rainwater that rushes over hard surfaces and into storm drains instead of soaking in.
Oil, dirt, and litter.
A shallow dip in a yard with soft soil and plants that can handle wet and dry weather.
Where a downspout empties or where water already flows.
They make tiny paths in the soil that help water sink in.
It cleans the water that reaches the ground, and its flowers feed bees and butterflies.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5)
Rainwater that rushes over hard surfaces and into storm drains instead of soaking into the ground.
Oil, dirt, and litter.
A shallow dip in a yard with soft soil and plants that can handle wet and dry weather.
Where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
They open tiny paths in the soil that help water sink in.
It cleans the water that reaches the ground, and its flowers feed bees and butterflies.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.9)
Rainwater that races over hard surfaces and into storm drains instead of soaking into the ground.
Oil, dirt, and litter.
A shallow dip in a yard with soft soil and plants that can survive both wet and dry weather.
Where a downspout empties or where water already tends to flow.
They open tiny pathways in the soil that help the water sink in.
It cleans the water that reaches the ground, and its blossoms feed bees and butterflies.
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 runoff, storm drains, downspout, pollution and shallow 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 "A Rain Garden Catches Water Before It Runs Off"?
It was written for 5th grade. It has 197 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 5.0. 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.
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