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 · 207 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3
Marlo the octopus could change her color in a blink. This was a wonderful talent, and she used it all day long.
When she visited the sea turtles, who loved green, she turned green. When she swam by the clownfish, who loved orange, she turned orange. When she drifted past the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once said purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. But Marlo went home each night feeling tired and strange. She could not remember her own color anymore.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat very still. Slowly, she let all the colors fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the shade of wet sand.
The next day she swam out as she was. The turtles blinked. The clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," said the oldest turtle. "We were never sure who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish, "and the real you is brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed color to hide from danger. But she never changed to please anyone.
▲ This passage · 239 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.4
Marlo the octopus could change her color in the blink of an eye. It was a marvelous talent, and she exercised it constantly, from morning until night.
When she visited the sea turtles, who adored the color green, she turned green. When she swam past the clownfish, who were devoted to orange, she turned bright orange. When she drifted by the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. Yet Marlo returned home each night feeling exhausted and peculiar. She could no longer remember what her own color was.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat perfectly still. Slowly, she allowed every borrowed color to fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the exact shade of wet sand.
The following day she swam out into the open just as she was. The turtles blinked in surprise. The clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," declared the oldest turtle. "Honestly, we were never certain who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish warmly, "and the real you happens to be brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed her color whenever she needed to hide from danger. But she never again changed it merely to please anyone.
■ Harder · 241 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 7
Marlo the octopus could change her color in the blink of an eye, which was a marvelous talent that she exercised constantly, from morning until night.
When she visited the sea turtles, who adored the color green, she turned green. When she swam past the clownfish, who were devoted to orange, she turned bright orange. When she drifted by the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. Yet Marlo returned home each night feeling exhausted and peculiar, for she could no longer remember what her own color was.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat perfectly still, and slowly she allowed every borrowed color to fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the exact shade of wet sand.
The following day she swam out into the open just as she was. The turtles blinked in surprise, and the clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," declared the oldest turtle. "Honestly, we were never certain who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish warmly, "and the real you happens to be brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed her color whenever she needed to hide from danger, but she never again changed it merely to please anyone.
Name ____________________●
The Octopus Who Could Not Choose a Color
Marlo the octopus could change her color in a blink. This was a wonderful talent, and she used it all day long.
When she visited the sea turtles, who loved green, she turned green. When she swam by the clownfish, who loved orange, she turned orange. When she drifted past the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once said purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. But Marlo went home each night feeling tired and strange. She could not remember her own color anymore.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat very still. Slowly, she let all the colors fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the shade of wet sand.
The next day she swam out as she was. The turtles blinked. The clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," said the oldest turtle. "We were never sure who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish, "and the real you is brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed color to hide from danger. But she never changed to please anyone.
Questions
- What special talent did Marlo have?
- Why did Marlo turn purple near the sea star?
- How did Marlo feel when she went home each night?
- What color was Marlo when she showed her true self?
- Why did Marlo whisper that she did not think they would like it?
- What does the story say is a good reason to change color?
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Name ____________________▲
The Octopus Who Could Not Choose a Color
Marlo the octopus could change her color in the blink of an eye. It was a marvelous talent, and she exercised it constantly, from morning until night.
When she visited the sea turtles, who adored the color green, she turned green. When she swam past the clownfish, who were devoted to orange, she turned bright orange. When she drifted by the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. Yet Marlo returned home each night feeling exhausted and peculiar. She could no longer remember what her own color was.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat perfectly still. Slowly, she allowed every borrowed color to fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the exact shade of wet sand.
The following day she swam out into the open just as she was. The turtles blinked in surprise. The clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," declared the oldest turtle. "Honestly, we were never certain who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish warmly, "and the real you happens to be brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed her color whenever she needed to hide from danger. But she never again changed it merely to please anyone.
Questions
- What marvelous talent did Marlo have?
- Why did Marlo turn purple when she passed the sea star?
- How did Marlo feel each night when she returned home?
- What color was Marlo when she finally let the borrowed colors fade?
- Why did Marlo whisper that she did not think her friends would like her brown?
- According to the story, when is a good reason for Marlo to change color?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Octopus Who Could Not Choose a Color
Marlo the octopus could change her color in the blink of an eye, which was a marvelous talent that she exercised constantly, from morning until night.
When she visited the sea turtles, who adored the color green, she turned green. When she swam past the clownfish, who were devoted to orange, she turned bright orange. When she drifted by the lonely old sea star, she turned purple, because the sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
"What a delightful friend," said the turtles, and the clownfish, and the sea star. Yet Marlo returned home each night feeling exhausted and peculiar, for she could no longer remember what her own color was.
One evening, she slid into a quiet cave and sat perfectly still, and slowly she allowed every borrowed color to fade away. She became a soft, speckled brown, the exact shade of wet sand.
The following day she swam out into the open just as she was. The turtles blinked in surprise, and the clownfish stared.
"We like you brown," declared the oldest turtle. "Honestly, we were never certain who you were when you kept changing."
"I did not think you would like it," whispered Marlo.
"We like the real you," said the clownfish warmly, "and the real you happens to be brown."
From then on, Marlo still changed her color whenever she needed to hide from danger, but she never again changed it merely to please anyone.
Questions
- What marvelous talent did Marlo have?
- Why did Marlo turn purple when she passed the sea star?
- How did Marlo feel each night when she returned home?
- What color was Marlo when she finally let the borrowed colors fade?
- Why did Marlo whisper that she did not think her friends would like her brown?
- According to the story, when is a good reason for Marlo to change color?
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Answer key: The Octopus Who Could Not Choose a Color
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.3)
- She could change her color in a blink.
- The sea star had once said purple was nice.
- Tired and strange, as if she had forgotten her own color.
- A soft, speckled brown like wet sand.
- She worried her friends would only like her if she changed to match them.
- To hide from danger, but not to please other people.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.4)
- She could change her color in the blink of an eye.
- The sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
- Exhausted and peculiar, because she could no longer remember her own color.
- A soft, speckled brown, the shade of wet sand.
- She feared they would only like her if she kept changing to match them.
- When she needs to hide from danger, but never just to please other people.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 7)
- She could change her color in the blink of an eye.
- The sea star had once remarked that purple was nice.
- Exhausted and peculiar, because she could no longer remember her own color.
- A soft, speckled brown, the shade of wet sand.
- She feared they would only like her if she kept changing to match them.
- When she needs to hide from danger, but never just to please other people.
Free at teach.peabody.kids