6th grade fiction passage about moths and a bright lamp: 224 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
6th gradefictionmoths and a bright lamp224 words
Two Moths and the Porch Lamp
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow at the far edge of the yard. She cried that it was brighter than the moon and announced that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered nervously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles. So he would rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until she forgot about the flowers, her friend. And even the stars. Hour after hour she circled, and her wings grew heavy while the night began to fade.
Dusk, meanwhile, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, too tired to fly. He shared a little sweet nectar that he had saved. And he stayed beside her until she was strong again. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things, and that it is wiser to choose the ones that feed you.
Questions
Where were the two moths flying at the start of the story? in the text
What did Pell want to do when she saw the porch lamp? in the text
What did Dusk do while Pell circled the lamp? in the text
What condition was Pell in when morning came? in the text
Why did Pell say the lamp gave her nothing? think about it
What does Dusk mean by choosing the things that feed you? think about it
Words to know
glow
a soft steady light
swooped
dived down quickly through the air
dizzy
feeling like everything is spinning
nectar
the sweet liquid inside flowers
delighted
very happy and pleased
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Two Moths and the Porch Lamp
6th grade reading passage
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow at the far edge of the yard. She cried that it was brighter than the moon and announced that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered nervously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles. So he would rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until she forgot about the flowers, her friend. And even the stars. Hour after hour she circled, and her wings grew heavy while the night began to fade.
Dusk, meanwhile, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, too tired to fly. He shared a little sweet nectar that he had saved. And he stayed beside her until she was strong again. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things, and that it is wiser to choose the ones that feed you.
Questions
Where were the two moths flying at the start of the story?
What did Pell want to do when she saw the porch lamp?
What did Dusk do while Pell circled the lamp?
What condition was Pell in when morning came?
Why did Pell say the lamp gave her nothing?
What does Dusk mean by choosing the things that feed you?
Words to know
glow: a soft steady light
swooped: dived down quickly through the air
dizzy: feeling like everything is spinning
nectar: the sweet liquid inside flowers
delighted: very happy and pleased
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/6/two-moths-and-the-porch-lamp
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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 · 179 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk flew over a quiet garden. They had visited pale flowers that open after sunset. Then Pell saw a golden glow at the edge of the yard.
"Look at that!" Pell cried. "It is brighter than the moon. I will touch it."
Dusk was nervous. "The moon never makes you spin. I will stay with the flowers."
Pell laughed and flew to the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went. She was dizzy and happy. She forgot the flowers and her friend. Hour after hour she circled. Her wings grew heavy and the night began to fade.
Dusk drank from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf. When the sun rose, he flew to the porch. Pell was clinging to the wall, too tired to fly.
Dusk shared some sweet nectar he had saved. He stayed with her until she was strong. "The lamp was fun," Pell said, "but it gave me nothing."
"Bright things are not always good," said Dusk. "Choose the ones that feed you."
▲ This passage · 224 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 6
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow at the far edge of the yard. She cried that it was brighter than the moon and announced that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered nervously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles. So he would rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until she forgot about the flowers, her friend. And even the stars. Hour after hour she circled, and her wings grew heavy while the night began to fade.
Dusk, meanwhile, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, too tired to fly. He shared a little sweet nectar that he had saved. And he stayed beside her until she was strong again. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things, and that it is wiser to choose the ones that feed you.
■ Harder · 241 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.6
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting leisurely over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow shimmering at the far edge of the yard. She exclaimed that it was brighter than the moon itself and declared that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered anxiously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles, so he would much rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until the dazzling light made her forget about the flowers, her friend, and even the stars overhead. Hour after hour she circled. And her wings grew heavy while the darkness began to fade.
Dusk, in the meantime, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and located a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, far too exhausted to fly. He offered her a little sweet nectar that he had saved, and he stayed at her side until she regained her strength. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing in return. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things. And that it is wiser to choose the ones that truly nourish you.
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk flew over a quiet garden. They had visited pale flowers that open after sunset. Then Pell saw a golden glow at the edge of the yard.
"Look at that!" Pell cried. "It is brighter than the moon. I will touch it."
Dusk was nervous. "The moon never makes you spin. I will stay with the flowers."
Pell laughed and flew to the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went. She was dizzy and happy. She forgot the flowers and her friend. Hour after hour she circled. Her wings grew heavy and the night began to fade.
Dusk drank from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf. When the sun rose, he flew to the porch. Pell was clinging to the wall, too tired to fly.
Dusk shared some sweet nectar he had saved. He stayed with her until she was strong. "The lamp was fun," Pell said, "but it gave me nothing."
"Bright things are not always good," said Dusk. "Choose the ones that feed you."
Questions
Where were the two moths flying at the start?
What did Pell want to do when she saw the porch lamp?
What did Dusk do while Pell circled the lamp?
How was Pell when morning came?
Why did Pell say the lamp gave her nothing?
What does Dusk mean by choosing the things that feed you?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Two Moths and the Porch Lamp
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow at the far edge of the yard. She cried that it was brighter than the moon and announced that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered nervously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles. So he would rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until she forgot about the flowers, her friend. And even the stars. Hour after hour she circled, and her wings grew heavy while the night began to fade.
Dusk, meanwhile, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, too tired to fly. He shared a little sweet nectar that he had saved. And he stayed beside her until she was strong again. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things, and that it is wiser to choose the ones that feed you.
Questions
Where were the two moths flying at the start of the story?
What did Pell want to do when she saw the porch lamp?
What did Dusk do while Pell circled the lamp?
What condition was Pell in when morning came?
Why did Pell say the lamp gave her nothing?
What does Dusk mean by choosing the things that feed you?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Two Moths and the Porch Lamp
On a warm summer night, two moths named Pell and Dusk were drifting leisurely over a quiet garden after an evening spent visiting the pale flowers that open only after sunset, when Pell spotted a golden glow shimmering at the far edge of the yard. She exclaimed that it was brighter than the moon itself and declared that she was going to touch it. Dusk fluttered anxiously and pointed out that the moon never made anyone spin in circles, so he would much rather stay with the flowers.
Pell laughed and swooped toward the porch lamp. Around and around the bulb she went, dizzy and delighted, until the dazzling light made her forget about the flowers, her friend, and even the stars overhead. Hour after hour she circled. And her wings grew heavy while the darkness began to fade.
Dusk, in the meantime, had drunk deeply from the nightflowers and located a safe leaf to rest on until dawn. When the sun rose, he flew back to the porch and discovered Pell clinging to the wall, far too exhausted to fly. He offered her a little sweet nectar that he had saved, and he stayed at her side until she regained her strength. Pell admitted that the lamp had been exciting but had given her nothing in return. Dusk answered that bright things are not always good things. And that it is wiser to choose the ones that truly nourish you.
Questions
Where were the two moths drifting at the start of the story?
What did Pell announce she would do when she saw the porch lamp?
What did Dusk do while Pell circled the lamp all night?
What condition was Pell in when morning arrived?
Why did Pell admit that the lamp gave her nothing in return?
What does Dusk mean by choosing the things that truly nourish you?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Two Moths and the Porch Lamp
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2)
Over a quiet garden on a warm summer night.
She wanted to touch it.
He drank from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf.
She was clinging to the wall, too tired to fly.
She circled it all night and found no food or rest.
Pick what truly helps you, not what only looks exciting.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 6)
Over a quiet garden on a warm summer night.
She wanted to touch it.
He drank from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf for the dawn.
She was clinging to the wall, too tired to fly.
She spent the whole night circling it without finding food or rest.
Pick what truly helps you instead of what only looks exciting.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.6)
Over a quiet garden on a warm summer night.
She said she would touch it.
He drank from the nightflowers and found a safe leaf to rest on.
She was clinging to the wall, far too exhausted to fly.
She spent the whole night circling it without finding any food or rest.
Pick what genuinely helps you instead of what only looks exciting.
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 glow, swooped, dizzy, nectar and delighted on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the story 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 retell the story in three sentences: how it began, what the problem was, and how it ended.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "Two Moths and the Porch Lamp"?
It was written for 6th grade. It has 224 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 6.0. 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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