Why Do Roller Coasters Go So Fast — Reading Comprehension
Premium Resource
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
Standards
- NGSS 4-PS3-3
PRINT+DIGITAL RESOURCE
This learning resource is available in interactive and printable formats. The interactive worksheet can be played online and assigned to students. The Printable PDF version can be downloaded and printed for completion by hand.
About This Reader
This engaging 250-word reading passage helps Grade 4 students understand energy transformation through the familiar context of roller coasters. Aligned to NGSS standard 4-PS3-3, the passage explains how gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy as a roller coaster moves from the top of a hill to the bottom. Students learn why the first hill must be the tallest and why subsequent hills get progressively shorter due to energy loss from friction and air resistance. The passage uses age-appropriate language and real-world examples to build foundational understanding of key concepts including potential energy, kinetic energy, energy transformation, friction, and air resistance. Audio-integrated features support diverse learners by providing text-to-speech functionality. The passage includes bolded vocabulary terms with immediate definitions, making complex physics concepts accessible to fourth graders. Complementary activities include multiple-choice questions testing recall and comprehension, writing prompts requiring students to explain and apply energy concepts, and graphic organizers that help students visualize the cause-and-effect relationships in energy transformation. This resource provides teachers with a complete lesson package for introducing physical science concepts in an exciting, memorable way.
Perfect For:
👩🏫 Teachers
- • Reading comprehension practice
- • Auto-graded assessments
- • Literacy skill development
👨👩👧👦 Parents
- • Reading practice at home
- • Comprehension improvement
- • Educational reading time
🏠 Homeschoolers
- • Reading curriculum support
- • Independent reading practice
- • Progress monitoring
Reading Features:
📖
Reading Passage
Engaging fiction or nonfiction text
❓
Comprehension Quiz
Auto-graded questions
📊
Instant Feedback
Immediate results and scoring
📄
Printable Version
Download for offline reading
🔊
Read Aloud
Voice-over with word highlighting
