Fluency Builders Passages Packet
Name:
Date:
Passage 1 • Fiction
Read carefully and smoothly
The Midnight Skunk
Leo and his sister Maya set up a green tent in their backyard just before sunset. They packed a red lantern, thick blankets, and a plastic picnic basket filled with pretzels and muffins. After dark, the friends told funny stories and watched bright stars blink above the tall oak trees.
All of a sudden, Leo heard a soft crunch in the crisp grass. "What was that?" Maya whispered. She clicked on her flashlight and aimed the beam toward the picnic basket. There, sitting beside a fallen branch, was a plump black-and-white skunk!
The skunk sniffed a dropped pretzel and wiggled its furry nose. Leo and Maya stayed very still because they did not want to startle their striped visitor. They knew a frightened skunk could spray a terrible smell! After a long minute, the skunk grabbed the pretzel and trotted back into the dark bushes. Both kids let out a big breath and laughed. Camping was full of surprises!
Check Your Understanding
1. What did Leo and Maya hear in the grass, and what was making the sound?
2. Why did Leo and Maya stay very still when they saw the skunk?
3. What does the word startle mean in this story? Use a clue from the text.
Name:
Date:
Passage 2 • Nonfiction
Read carefully and smoothly
The Clever Octopus
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean lives an amazing animal with no bones at all. The octopus has a soft body, two sharp eyes, and eight strong arms covered with round suckers. Because it has no skeleton, an octopus can squeeze through a tiny crack in a rock to hide from hungry sharks.
An octopus also has clever tricks to stay safe. When a predator swims near, the octopus can shoot a thick cloud of dark ink into the water. The ink blocks the shark's view so the octopus can dash away fast.
Even better, some octopuses are masters of disguise. In less than one second, special cells in their skin can shift color and pattern to match sand, coral, or green sea plants. Scientists think the octopus is one of the smartest animals in the sea. It can even twist open a plastic jar with its arms to grab a tasty crab inside!
Check Your Understanding
1. How does having no skeleton help an octopus stay safe?
2. Name two ways an octopus protects itself from predators.
3. What detail in the passage shows that the octopus is a smart animal?
Name:
Date:
Passage 3 • Fiction
Read carefully and smoothly
The Lost Trumpet
Sam felt a knot in his stomach as he unpacked his backpack on Friday morning. His shiny brass trumpet was missing, and the school band concert started in just two hours! Sam checked under his desk, inside his locker, and behind the coat rack, but the black case was nowhere to be found.
"Think back to yesterday," his friend Tessa said. "Where did you go after band practice?"
Sam closed his eyes and retraced his steps. First, he had stopped at the drinking fountain. Next, he had carried his lunchbox into the cafeteria for a quick snack. Then he had sprinted out the front doors to catch the bus!
Sam and Tessa rushed down the hall to the lunchroom. Sitting right beside the trash bin was the trumpet case, safe and sound. Sam grinned from ear to ear. He would be ready to blast the opening note on time!
Check Your Understanding
1. Why was Sam worried on Friday morning?
2. How did Tessa help Sam solve his problem?
3. Where did Sam and Tessa finally find the trumpet case?
Name:
Date:
Passage 4 • Nonfiction
Read carefully and smoothly
Life on a Cactus
At first glance, a dry desert looks like a tough place to live. During the day, the hot sun bakes the sand, and rain falls only a few times each year. Yet many plants and animals call this dusty habitat home.
The giant saguaro cactus is like an apartment building in the desert. Its thick green stem holds water inside, and sharp spines keep thirsty animals from taking a bite. High up on the trunk, a woodpecker drills a round hole to build a safe nest. After the woodpecker moves out, a tiny elf owl—no bigger than a sparrow—often slips inside to rest during the bright afternoon.
When sunset cools the desert air, other creatures wake up. A jackrabbit hops past prickly shrubs, and a kit fox hunts for insects and mice. Even in a dry land, life finds clever ways to thrive!
Check Your Understanding
1. Why does the author compare the saguaro cactus to an apartment building?
2. How do sharp spines help the cactus survive in the desert?
3. Which animals in the passage become active after sunset?
Name:
Date:
Passage 5 • Fiction
Read carefully and smoothly
A Splash of Paint
Maya wanted her science fair poster to look fantastic. She sketched a silver rocket ship blasting past five bright planets. Then she dipped her brush into a jar of thick blue paint to fill in the night sky.
Suddenly, her elbow bumped the plastic cup! A big splash of blue paint spilled right across the middle of her neat poster. Maya gasped and felt tears prick her eyes. Her project was ruined, and the contest was tomorrow morning!
Her older brother looked at the messy puddle and smiled. "Wait a second," he said. "Look at that shape. It looks just like a swirling galaxy!"
Maya blinked and leaned closer. Using a sponge and a bit of white and yellow paint, she dabbed sparkling stars all over the blue spill. By bedtime, the mistake had turned into the best part of her whole display.
Check Your Understanding
1. What happened when Maya bumped the plastic cup?
2. How did Maya's brother help her feel better about the mistake?
3. What lesson can a reader learn from Maya's story?
Name:
Date:
Passage 6 • Readers Theater (6 Parts)
Read with expression!
The Missing Class Mascot
Parts (6): Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Ben, Chloe, Marcus, Ms. Lin
Narrator 1: On Monday morning, the third-grade classroom was buzzing with excitement.
Narrator 2: Suddenly, Ben gasped and pointed to the empty shelf by the window.
Ben: Wait! Where is Barnaby, our plush rabbit mascot? His plastic basket is empty!
Chloe: Check under the reading rug! Maybe he fell behind the thick beanbag chairs.
Marcus: I checked the rug and the supply closet. There is no rabbit anywhere!
Ms. Lin: Stay calm, detectives. Let's think back to Friday afternoon before dismissal.
Narrator 1: Everyone stopped and thought hard about their last class project.
Chloe: Oh! We carried our science notebooks and Barnaby outside to the picnic tables!
Ben: Look by the coat rack! Someone left a bright blue backpack zipped shut.
Marcus: That's my backpack! Let me check the front pocket right now.
Narrator 2: Marcus unzipped the pocket, and out popped Barnaby's floppy gray ears!
Ms. Lin: Fantastic teamwork! Barnaby is safe and ready for another week of learning.
Check Your Understanding
1. What problem did Ben notice at the start of the play?
2. How did Ms. Lin help the class find a clue?
3. Where was Barnaby hiding, and how did he get there?
Name:
Date:
Passage 7 • Science Nonfiction
Read carefully and smoothly
From Ocean to Raindrop
Water on Earth is always on the move in a continuous process called the water cycle. First, heat energy from the sun warms water in oceans, lakes, and rivers. This heat causes liquid water to change into an invisible gas called water vapor. As the warm vapor rises into the atmosphere, this step is called evaporation.
High above the ground, the air is much colder. When the water vapor cools down, it changes back into tiny liquid droplets. This step is called condensation. Millions of droplets collect around specks of dust in the sky to form thick, fluffy clouds.
As more droplets bump together, they grow heavier and heavier. Soon, the cloud cannot hold them anymore, and gravity pulls the water back down to Earth as precipitation—rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Scientists observe how water transfers from sea to sky and back again, giving plants, animals, and people fresh water to survive!
Science Word Bank (Tier II & Tier III Vocabulary)
Tier II Academic Words
continuous: ongoing without stopping
process: a series of steps
observe: to watch closely
transfers: moves from one place to another
Tier III Science Words
evaporation: liquid warming into gas
condensation: gas cooling into liquid drops
precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, or hail
atmosphere: the air surrounding Earth
Check Your Understanding
1. What happens to liquid water during evaporation?
2. How do clouds form during condensation?
3. What does the word continuous mean in the first sentence? Use a clue from the passage.
Fluency Builders Teacher Guide
Teacher Resource • 3rd Grade Intervention
Fluency Builders Teacher Guide
DIBELS ORF Aligned
1-Minute DIBELS ORF Administration & Scoring
Directions: Say, "Please read this aloud. If you get stuck, I will tell you the word so you can keep reading. Start here." Start timer on the first word.
3-Second Rule & Self-Corrections: Supply a word after 3 seconds (mark as error). Self-corrections within 3 seconds count as correct (SC).
Errors (Slash /): Mispronunciations, substitutions, omissions, or 3-second hesitations. Skipped lines count each word as an error.
Formulas: WCPM = Total Words Read − Errors. Accuracy = (WCPM ÷ Total Words Read) × 100 (target ≥ 95%).
Target Phonics, Multisyllabic & Vocabulary Features (Passages 1–7)
| Passage |
Digraphs |
Blends |
Multisyllabic / Tier II–III |
High-Frequency |
| 1. The Midnight Skunk |
|
|
|
|
| Fiction • 158 words |
sh, ch, th, wh, ck (flashlight, crunch, thick, whispered) |
gr, st, bl, pl, cr, br, tr, sp, sk (grass, blink, crisp, skunk) |
backyard, sunset, lantern, blankets, plastic, picnic, basket, pretzels, visitor |
before, their, they, after, there, very, because, could, both |
| 2. The Clever Octopus |
|
|
|
|
| Nonfiction • 153 words |
sh, th, ck, ng (sharks, thick, crack, strong) |
st, cr, tr, sw, sm, tw, gr, pl (strong, crack, tricks, twist) |
Atlantic, octopus, skeleton, predator, pattern, coral, plastic, inside |
lives, two, because, through, from, when, into, water, their |
| 3. The Lost Trumpet |
|
|
|
|
| Fiction • 149 words |
sh, ch, th, wh, ck (shiny, checked, think, where, snack) |
tr, br, st, fr, spr, bl, gr (trumpet, brass, sprinted, blast) |
stomach, unpacked, backpack, Friday, morning, trumpet, concert, locker, lunchbox |
just, two, under, where, after, first, next, then, would, ready |
| 4. Life on a Cactus |
|
|
|
|
| Nonfiction • 143 words |
sh, th, wh, ck, ng (shrubs, thick, when, jackrabbit) |
gl, dr, pl, st, sp, tr, br, pr (glance, stem, spines, prickly) |
desert, habitat, cactus, apartment, building, thirsty, woodpecker, sparrow, insects |
first, like, live, only, many, from, after, other, even, ways |
| 5. A Splash of Paint |
|
|
|
|
| Fiction • 143 words |
sh, th, wh, ck, ng (brush, splash, thick, white, sketched) |
sk, bl, pl, br, sp, pr, sw, st (sketched, planets, swirling) |
poster, fantastic, rocket, planets, suddenly, elbow, plastic, contest, tomorrow |
wanted, look, five, then, right, across, around, wait, just, whole |
| 6. Missing Class Mascot |
|
|
|
|
| Readers Theater (6) • 142w |
sh, ch, th, wh, ck (plush, checked, thick, where, backpack) |
cl, pl, st, br, fl, gr, pr (classroom, plush, bright, floppy) |
mascot, classroom, plastic, basket, closet, detectives, afternoon, dismissal, teamwork |
where, under, behind, there, before, everyone, about, right, ready |
| 7. Ocean to Raindrop |
|
|
|
|
| Science NF • 152 words |
th, ch, sh, wh (this, change, fresh, when) |
pr, cl, dr, sp, fl, gr, sl, tr (process, clouds, droplets, gravity) |
Tier II: continuous, process, energy, collect, observe, transfers, survive |
|
| Tier III: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, atmosphere, water vapor |
always, called, first, from, into, when, back, around, together, people |
|
|
|
Instructional Tip: Preview 3–4 multisyllabic or Tier III science words before reading (e.g., e-vap-o-ra-tion). For Passage 6, assign 6 roles and practice twice for prosody before switching parts.
Teacher Scoring Copies & Answer Keys (Passages 1–2)
Numbers at right = cumulative word count
Passage 1: The Midnight Skunk (158 words)
WCPM: _____ / 158
Leo and his sister Maya set up a green tent in their backyard just14
before sunset. They packed a red lantern, thick blankets, and a plastic26
picnic basket filled with pretzels and muffins. After dark, the friends37
told funny stories and watched bright stars blink above the tall oak trees.50
All of a sudden, Leo heard a soft crunch in the crisp grass.63
"What was that?" Maya whispered. She clicked on her flashlight and aimed75
the beam toward the picnic basket. There, sitting beside a fallen branch,86
was a plump black-and-white skunk! The skunk sniffed a dropped pretzel97
and wiggled its furry nose. Leo and Maya stayed very still because109
they did not want to startle their striped visitor. They knew a121
frightened skunk could spray a terrible smell! After a long minute,132
the skunk grabbed the pretzel and trotted back into the dark bushes.144
Both kids let out a big breath and laughed. Camping was full of surprises!158
Answer Key: 1. A soft crunch in the grass; a black-and-white skunk. 2. They did not want to startle/scare it so it would not spray. 3. To scare or surprise (clue: "a frightened skunk could spray").
Passage 2: The Clever Octopus (153 words)
WCPM: _____ / 153
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean lives an amazing animal with no bones at13
all. The octopus has a soft body, two sharp eyes, and eight strong26
arms covered with round suckers. Because it has no skeleton, an octopus38
can squeeze through a tiny crack in a rock to hide from hungry sharks.52
An octopus also has clever tricks to stay safe. When a predator swims65
near, the octopus can shoot a thick cloud of dark ink into the water.79
The ink blocks the shark's view so the octopus can dash away fast.92
Even better, some octopuses are masters of disguise. In less than one104
second, special cells in their skin can shift color and pattern to116
match sand, coral, or green sea plants. Scientists think the octopus127
is one of the smartest animals in the sea. It can even twist open a142
plastic jar with its arms to grab a tasty crab inside!153
Answer Key: 1. It can squeeze through tiny cracks in rocks to hide. 2. Any two: shoot dark ink, camouflage/change skin color, hide in rock cracks. 3. It can twist open a plastic jar to grab a crab.
Teacher Scoring Copies & Answer Keys (Passages 3–4)
Numbers at right = cumulative word count
Passage 3: The Lost Trumpet (149 words)
WCPM: _____ / 149
Sam felt a knot in his stomach as he unpacked his backpack on Friday14
morning. His shiny brass trumpet was missing, and the school band25
concert started in just two hours! Sam checked under his desk, inside37
his locker, and behind the coat rack, but the black case was nowhere50
to be found. "Think back to yesterday," his friend Tessa said. "Where62
did you go after band practice?" Sam closed his eyes and retraced his75
steps. First, he had stopped at the drinking fountain. Next, he had87
carried his lunchbox into the cafeteria for a quick snack. Then he had100
sprinted out the front doors to catch the bus! Sam and Tessa rushed113
down the hall to the lunchroom. Sitting right beside the trash bin125
was the trumpet case, safe and sound. Sam grinned from ear to ear.138
He would be ready to blast the opening note on time!149
Answer Key: 1. His trumpet was missing and the band concert started in two hours. 2. She asked him where he went after band practice so he could retrace his steps. 3. In the lunchroom/cafeteria beside the trash bin.
Passage 4: Life on a Cactus (143 words)
WCPM: _____ / 143
At first glance, a dry desert looks like a tough place to live. During14
the day, the hot sun bakes the sand, and rain falls only a few times29
each year. Yet many plants and animals call this dusty habitat home.41
The giant saguaro cactus is like an apartment building in the desert.53
Its thick green stem holds water inside, and sharp spines keep thirsty65
animals from taking a bite. High up on the trunk, a woodpecker drills78
a round hole to build a safe nest. After the woodpecker moves out, a92
tiny elf owl—no bigger than a sparrow—often slips inside to rest103
during the bright afternoon. When sunset cools the desert air, other114
creatures wake up. A jackrabbit hops past prickly shrubs, and a kit126
fox hunts for insects and mice. Even in a dry land, life finds139
clever ways to thrive!143
Answer Key: 1. Different animals (woodpeckers and elf owls) live inside holes in the cactus. 2. They keep thirsty animals from biting into the cactus. 3. The jackrabbit and the kit fox.
Teacher Scoring Copies & Answer Keys (Passages 5–6)
Numbers at right = cumulative word count
Passage 5: A Splash of Paint (143 words)
WCPM: _____ / 143
Maya wanted her science fair poster to look fantastic. She sketched a12
silver rocket ship blasting past five bright planets. Then she dipped23
her brush into a jar of thick blue paint to fill in the night sky.38
Suddenly, her elbow bumped the plastic cup! A big splash of blue50
paint spilled right across the middle of her neat poster. Maya gasped62
and felt tears prick her eyes. Her project was ruined, and the contest75
was tomorrow morning! Her older brother looked at the messy puddle86
and smiled. "Wait a second," he said. "Look at that shape. It looks99
just like a swirling galaxy!" Maya blinked and leaned closer. Using a111
sponge and a bit of white and yellow paint, she dabbed sparkling123
stars all over the blue spill. By bedtime, the mistake had turned135
into the best part of her whole display.143
Answer Key: 1. Blue paint spilled across the middle of her poster. 2. He said the spill looked like a swirling galaxy. 3. Mistakes can be turned into something great with creativity.
Passage 6: The Missing Class Mascot (142 spoken words • 6 Parts)
Prosody / Expression
Narrator 1: On Monday morning, the third-grade classroom was buzzing with excitement.10
Narrator 2: Suddenly, Ben gasped and pointed to the empty shelf by the window.22
Ben: Wait! Where is Barnaby, our plush rabbit mascot? His plastic basket is empty!35
Chloe: Check under the reading rug! Maybe he fell behind the thick beanbag chairs.48
Marcus: I checked the rug and the supply closet. There is no rabbit anywhere!61
Ms. Lin: Stay calm, detectives. Let's think back to Friday afternoon before dismissal.72
Narrator 1: Everyone stopped and thought hard about their last class project.82
Chloe: Oh! We carried our science notebooks and Barnaby outside to the picnic tables!95
Ben: Look by the coat rack! Someone left a bright blue backpack zipped shut.108
Marcus: That's my backpack! Let me check the front pocket right now.119
Narrator 2: Marcus unzipped the pocket, and out popped Barnaby's floppy gray ears!130
Ms. Lin: Fantastic teamwork! Barnaby is safe and ready for another week of learning.142
Answer Key: 1. Barnaby, the plush rabbit mascot, was missing from his basket. 2. She told the class to think back to Friday afternoon before dismissal. 3. Inside the front pocket of Marcus's blue backpack (likely packed up after working outside).
Teacher Scoring Copy & Science Vocabulary (Passage 7)
Numbers at right = cumulative word count
Passage 7: From Ocean to Raindrop (152 words)
WCPM: _____ / 152
Water on Earth is always on the move in a continuous process called13
the water cycle. First, heat energy from the sun warms water in oceans,26
lakes, and rivers. This heat causes liquid water to change into an invisible39
gas called water vapor. As the warm vapor rises into the atmosphere, this52
step is called evaporation. High above the ground, the air is much colder.65
When the water vapor cools down, it changes back into tiny liquid77
droplets. This step is called condensation. Millions of droplets collect87
around specks of dust in the sky to form thick, fluffy clouds. As more101
droplets bump together, they grow heavier and heavier. Soon, the cloud112
cannot hold them anymore, and gravity pulls the water back down to Earth125
as precipitation—rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Scientists observe how water135
transfers from sea to sky and back again, giving plants, animals, and147
people fresh water to survive!152
Answer Key: 1. Heat from the sun warms liquid water and changes it into water vapor (gas) that rises into the air. 2. Water vapor cools down into tiny liquid droplets that collect around specks of dust. 3. Ongoing / never stopping (clue: "always on the move" and "from sea to sky and back again").
Tier II Academic Words (Passage 7)
continuous (nonstop), process (series of steps), energy (power to cause change), collect (gather together), observe (watch closely), transfers (moves from one place to another), survive (stay alive).
Tier III Science Words (Passage 7)
water cycle, water vapor (water as a gas), atmosphere (air around Earth), evaporation (liquid to gas), condensation (gas to liquid), precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail), gravity.
Quick Instructional Next Steps Based on Student Data
Accuracy < 95%
Focus on decoding before speed. Scoop and blend multisyllabic words (e.g., plas-tic, trum-pet) and review missed digraphs or blends.
Accurate, Low Rate
Use repeated reading (3x) of one passage, choral reading, or phrase-cued reading to build automaticity with high-frequency words.
Choppy Phrasing
Use Passage 6 (Readers Theater) to model dialogue and punctuation with expression. Scoop 3–4 word phrases before rereading aloud.
