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 · 238 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.2
When Kit's family moved to Harrow Bend, he brought one odd thing in a box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. She had told him a secret. "These boots walk on their own," she said. "But they only go where they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any help. Kit only had to put them on and stand still.
Here, in Harrow Bend, they would not budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten minutes. Nothing happened. He felt more alone than ever.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the trouble."
Then he had an idea. If the boots could only visit places they remembered, he would have to show them some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them to a hill where the whole town spread out below. He walked them to a small, crooked library with a red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they started to walk. They led him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a stack of comics looked up.
"Are those boots tapping?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit. He sat down beside her, and for the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
▲ This passage · 258 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.9
When Kit's family moved to Harrow Bend, he packed one peculiar object in a cardboard box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. She had confided a secret to him before he left. "These boots walk on their own," she had said. "But they only travel where they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any assistance whatsoever. Kit merely had to put them on and stand perfectly still.
Here in Harrow Bend, however, they refused to budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten long minutes, and nothing happened at all. He felt lonelier than ever before.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the whole trouble."
Then an idea struck him. If the boots could only visit places they remembered, he would simply have to introduce them to some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them up to a hill where the entire town spread out below. He walked them to a small, crooked library with a bright red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they began to walk, leading him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a tall stack of comics glanced up.
"Are those boots tapping by themselves?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit. He sat down beside her, and for the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
■ Harder · 265 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.9
When Kit's family relocated to Harrow Bend, he packed one peculiar object in a cardboard box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. Before he left, she had confided a secret to him. "These boots walk on their own," she had said, "but they only travel to places that they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any assistance whatsoever. Kit merely had to put them on and stand perfectly still.
Here in Harrow Bend, however, they absolutely refused to budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten long minutes, and nothing happened at all. He felt lonelier than he had ever felt before.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the whole trouble."
Then an idea struck him. If the boots could only visit familiar places, he would simply have to introduce them to some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them up a hill from which the entire town was visible below, and then he walked them to a small, crooked library with a bright red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they began to walk, leading him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a tall stack of comics glanced up.
"Are those boots tapping by themselves?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit, and he sat down beside her. For the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
Name ____________________●
The Boots That Only Knew Old Roads
When Kit's family moved to Harrow Bend, he brought one odd thing in a box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. She had told him a secret. "These boots walk on their own," she said. "But they only go where they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any help. Kit only had to put them on and stand still.
Here, in Harrow Bend, they would not budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten minutes. Nothing happened. He felt more alone than ever.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the trouble."
Then he had an idea. If the boots could only visit places they remembered, he would have to show them some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them to a hill where the whole town spread out below. He walked them to a small, crooked library with a red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they started to walk. They led him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a stack of comics looked up.
"Are those boots tapping?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit. He sat down beside her, and for the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
Questions
- What was special about the green boots?
- Why would the boots not move on the porch in Harrow Bend?
- Where did Kit walk the boots to teach them?
- Who did Kit meet at the library?
- Why did Kit feel alone at the start of the story?
- What does Kit's plan for the boots show about how he solved the problem?
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Name ____________________▲
The Boots That Only Knew Old Roads
When Kit's family moved to Harrow Bend, he packed one peculiar object in a cardboard box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. She had confided a secret to him before he left. "These boots walk on their own," she had said. "But they only travel where they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any assistance whatsoever. Kit merely had to put them on and stand perfectly still.
Here in Harrow Bend, however, they refused to budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten long minutes, and nothing happened at all. He felt lonelier than ever before.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the whole trouble."
Then an idea struck him. If the boots could only visit places they remembered, he would simply have to introduce them to some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them up to a hill where the entire town spread out below. He walked them to a small, crooked library with a bright red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they began to walk, leading him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a tall stack of comics glanced up.
"Are those boots tapping by themselves?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit. He sat down beside her, and for the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
Questions
- What was special about the green boots from Kit's great-aunt?
- Why would the boots not budge on the porch in Harrow Bend?
- Where did Kit take the boots in order to teach them?
- Who did Kit meet at the library?
- Why did Kit feel lonely at the beginning of the story?
- What does Kit's plan for the boots reveal about how he solved his problem?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Boots That Only Knew Old Roads
When Kit's family relocated to Harrow Bend, he packed one peculiar object in a cardboard box: a pair of green boots from his great-aunt. Before he left, she had confided a secret to him. "These boots walk on their own," she had said, "but they only travel to places that they remember."
In the old town, the boots had trotted to the pond, the bakery and the library without any assistance whatsoever. Kit merely had to put them on and stand perfectly still.
Here in Harrow Bend, however, they absolutely refused to budge. Kit stood on the porch in them for ten long minutes, and nothing happened at all. He felt lonelier than he had ever felt before.
"You do not know this place," he told the boots. "That is the whole trouble."
Then an idea struck him. If the boots could only visit familiar places, he would simply have to introduce them to some. He walked them down the lane, past a mailbox shaped like a fish. He walked them up a hill from which the entire town was visible below, and then he walked them to a small, crooked library with a bright red door.
The next morning, Kit put on the boots and stood still. They twitched, and then they began to walk, leading him straight to the red door. Inside, a girl with a tall stack of comics glanced up.
"Are those boots tapping by themselves?" she asked, laughing.
"They remember this place," said Kit, and he sat down beside her. For the first time, Harrow Bend felt like home.
Questions
- What was special about the green boots from Kit's great-aunt?
- Why would the boots not budge on the porch in Harrow Bend?
- Where did Kit take the boots in order to teach them?
- Who did Kit meet at the library?
- Why did Kit feel lonely at the beginning of the story?
- What does Kit's plan for the boots reveal about how he solved his problem?
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Answer key: The Boots That Only Knew Old Roads
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.2)
- They walked on their own to places they remembered.
- They did not know the new town yet.
- Down the lane, to a hill, and to a small library with a red door.
- A girl with a stack of comics.
- He had moved to a new town where he did not know anyone or anything.
- He did the work of exploring himself so the boots, and he, would feel at home.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.9)
- They walked on their own to places they remembered.
- They did not yet know the new town.
- Down the lane, up a hill, and to a small crooked library with a red door.
- A girl with a tall stack of comics.
- He had moved to a new town where he knew nobody.
- He did the exploring himself, so that the boots and he could feel at home.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.9)
- They walked on their own to places they remembered.
- They did not yet know the new town.
- Down the lane, up a hill, and to a small crooked library with a red door.
- A girl with a tall stack of comics.
- He had moved to a new town where he knew nobody.
- He did the exploring himself, so that the boots and he could feel at home.
Free at teach.peabody.kids