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 · 235 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.2
Sorrel the dragon worked at the Quill Street Stationery Shop. She loved her job. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the shelves of paper stacked in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one problem. Paper makes dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook. The shop owner, Mr. Pell, had started to look worried every time Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch. She backed away, holding her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted fast. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it to Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she said.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes. "Well, I never," he said.
By the next week, Hal had fixed the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers waited outside to watch.
▲ This passage · 241 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.3
Sorrel the dragon was employed at the Quill Street Stationery Shop, and she adored her job. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the towering shelves of paper stacked in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one difficulty. Paper produces dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook. The shop owner, Mr. Pell, had begun to look anxious every time Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch ferociously. She backed away, holding her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted swiftly. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it against Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she cried.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "Well, I never," he said.
By the following week, Hal had fastened the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers gathered outside to watch.
■ Harder · 242 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.5
Sorrel the dragon was employed at the Quill Street Stationery Shop, and she adored her work. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the towering shelves of paper arranged in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one difficulty. Paper produces dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook, and the shop owner, Mr. Pell, had begun to look anxious whenever Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch ferociously. She backed away and held her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted swiftly. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it against Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she cried.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "Well, I never," he said.
By the following week, Hal had fastened the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers gathered outside to watch.
Name ____________________●
The Sneezing Dragon of Quill Street
Sorrel the dragon worked at the Quill Street Stationery Shop. She loved her job. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the shelves of paper stacked in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one problem. Paper makes dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook. The shop owner, Mr. Pell, had started to look worried every time Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch. She backed away, holding her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted fast. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it to Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she said.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes. "Well, I never," he said.
By the next week, Hal had fixed the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers waited outside to watch.
Questions
- Where did Sorrel the dragon work?
- Why did Sorrel sneeze so much?
- What happens when a dragon sneezes in this story?
- What did Hal grab to help Sorrel?
- Why did Mr. Pell look worried at first?
- How did Hal's idea turn a problem into something good?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Sneezing Dragon of Quill Street
Sorrel the dragon was employed at the Quill Street Stationery Shop, and she adored her job. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the towering shelves of paper stacked in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one difficulty. Paper produces dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook. The shop owner, Mr. Pell, had begun to look anxious every time Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch ferociously. She backed away, holding her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted swiftly. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it against Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she cried.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "Well, I never," he said.
By the following week, Hal had fastened the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers gathered outside to watch.
Questions
- Where was Sorrel the dragon employed?
- Why did Sorrel sneeze so often?
- What happens when a dragon sneezes in this story?
- What did Hal snatch from the craft shelf to help Sorrel?
- Why did Mr. Pell look anxious at first?
- How did Hal's idea turn a problem into something enjoyable?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Sneezing Dragon of Quill Street
Sorrel the dragon was employed at the Quill Street Stationery Shop, and she adored her work. She polished the pens, sorted the notebooks and kept the towering shelves of paper arranged in neat, crisp piles.
There was just one difficulty. Paper produces dust, and dust made Sorrel sneeze.
When a dragon sneezes, a spark flies out of her nose. A few sparks had already scorched the corner of a map and left a brown ring on a notebook, and the shop owner, Mr. Pell, had begun to look anxious whenever Sorrel scrunched up her face.
One afternoon, a girl named Hal came in to buy a birthday card. Sorrel's nose began to itch ferociously. She backed away and held her breath, but it was no use.
"Ah... ah... ahh..."
Hal acted swiftly. She snatched a tin funnel from the craft shelf and held it against Sorrel's nose. "Point it up!" she cried.
AH-CHOO! The spark shot through the funnel, up the wide mouth of the old stovepipe, and out of the chimney in a tiny shower of gold. The paper was safe.
Mr. Pell rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "Well, I never," he said.
By the following week, Hal had fastened the funnel to a sturdy cord. Sorrel wore it like a scarf, with the wide end aimed at the stovepipe. She still sneezed, but now every sneeze lit up the chimney like a firework, and customers gathered outside to watch.
Questions
- Where was Sorrel the dragon employed?
- Why did Sorrel sneeze so often?
- What happens when a dragon sneezes in this story?
- What did Hal snatch from the craft shelf to help Sorrel?
- Why did Mr. Pell look anxious at first?
- How did Hal's idea turn a problem into something enjoyable?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Sneezing Dragon of Quill Street
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.2)
- At the Quill Street Stationery Shop.
- The paper made dust, and the dust bothered her nose.
- A spark flies out of her nose.
- A tin funnel from the craft shelf.
- Sorrel's sparks could burn the paper in his shop.
- The sparks went safely up the chimney, and people enjoyed watching the show.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.3)
- At the Quill Street Stationery Shop.
- Paper produces dust, and the dust irritated her nose.
- A spark flies out of her nose.
- A tin funnel.
- Sorrel's sparks could set fire to the paper in his shop.
- The sparks went safely up the chimney, and customers enjoyed watching the show.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.5)
- At the Quill Street Stationery Shop.
- Paper produces dust, and the dust irritated her nose.
- A spark flies out of her nose.
- A tin funnel.
- Sorrel's sparks could set fire to the paper in his shop.
- The sparks went safely up the chimney, and customers enjoyed watching the show.
Free at teach.peabody.kids