A 4-page 3rd grade science reading on static electricity and lightning. It starts with a sock stuck to a shirt and a zap from a doorknob, then follows ice and water drops bumping inside a storm cloud, a bolt, thunder as heated air, and a safety rule about going indoors. Eight questions in three parts follow, tied to RI.3.1 and RI.3.4. Page 4 is the answer key.
RI.3.1
“Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.”
Questions 1 to 4 answer from the passage, and the table in question 7 asks for a copied phrase as proof.
RI.3.4
“Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.”
Question 5 asks what "leaps" means in "It leaps through the air as a bright flash of lightning".
Six paragraphs with a photo of a storm over a house, and the bold words static electricity, lightning and thunder.
Three multiple-choice questions on where charge builds, what bumps together in a cloud and what causes thunder. Question 4 asks students to list two everyday examples.
Question 5 asks what "leaps" means. Question 6 asks why the author explains socks on a carpet first. A table asks for True or False with a phrase from the text as evidence.
A five-line answer on why "When thunder roars, go indoors" is a helpful rule, and what to do outside playing soccer.
Letters for the multiple choice, the two examples, sample reasoning for questions 6 and 8, and the evidence for both table statements.
Put the steps in order
After reading, have students number the steps on the board: rubbing, charge builds, charge jumps, flash, thunder. The passage covers each one in turn.
After your safety talk
Use question 8 once you have covered lightning safety. Students must give the actions from the text, a sturdy building or a car with a hard roof.
Read in two parts
The passage is long for 3rd grade. Read the first two paragraphs together and let students finish the rest on their own.
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