A Day at PS 180
A Day at PS 180
The alarm clock screamed at 6:30 AM, but Maya was already awake. Today was a big day: the annual PS 180 science fair! Maya, a fourth-grader with a passion for all things sparkly and scientific, had been working on her volcano project for weeks.
First, Maya gulped down a bowl of cereal and dashed to the subway. The train rumbled beneath the city, carrying sleepy-eyed passengers to their destinations. When Maya arrived at school she ran to her classroom. Her best friend, Ben, was already there. He had built a miniature solar-powered car.
"Ready to erupt?" Ben grinned, pointing at Maya's volcano.
"Born ready!" Maya replied, giving her volcano a last-minute dusting of glitter. Ms. Davis, their teacher, was busy setting up the tables. Students placed their exhibits, a colorful explosion of inventions, experiments, and models.
The Science Fair Begins!
The auditorium buzzed with excitement as parents, teachers, and students flooded in. First, Ben explained how his solar car works. The judges smiled. Maya was nervous. She carefully explained how her volcano works. She added vinegar to the baking soda and red food coloring mixture. Slowly lava began to bubble and flow down the sides. Kids cheered. Parents took pictures. Ms. Davis beamed with pride.
- Erupt:
- To burst forth or explode, like a volcano.
- Auditorium:
- A large room where people gather for performances or presentations.
- Experiments:
- Scientific tests to discover something new.
- miniature:
- Very small, like a tiny version of something much larger.
- exhibits:
- Displays or projects shown to an audience to share information or showcase work.
- congratulate:
- To praise someone or show happiness for their success.
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Main Idea
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Context Clues
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Summarize
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Purpose
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Structure
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Language & Tone
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why was Maya excited about today?
- 2Who is Maya's best friend, and what did he create for the science fair?
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“A Day at PS 180” is a fiction reading passage about School Life, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (276 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.