Guided Reading Level N - All About Friction (with Lesson Plan)

What This Book Teaches Best
• Defines friction as a force that happens when surfaces touch or rub, and explains it acts against motion to slow things down.
• Compares rough/uneven surfaces (more friction) and smooth surfaces (less friction), using examples like sandpaper, carpet, ice, metal, and glass.
• Shows real-world uses of friction for safety, including bicycle brakes, soccer cleats gripping grass, and car tire treads gripping wet roads.
• Explains how friction can create heat energy and how lubricants reduce friction by forming a slippery layer between surfaces.
• Extends the idea of friction to air and water as drag/air resistance, and explains why friction makes movement controlled and “predictable.”

Learning Goals
• Students can explain what friction is, using details from the text.
• Students can compare how rough/uneven surfaces and smooth surfaces affect sliding and distance.
• Students can describe how friction helps stop motion in the bicycle brake example.
• Students can explain one way friction is increased for safety or performance (cleats, tire treads).
• Students can explain how lubricants change what happens when two surfaces touch.
• Students can describe friction in air or water (drag/air resistance) using the parachute example.

Key Vocabulary From the Text
• resistance — a push-back that makes movement harder.
• uneven — not smooth; bumpy.
• treads — deep grooves that help tires grip the road.
• lubricants — slippery substances that help things slide more easily.
• microscopic — so tiny you need a microscope to see it.

Discussion Prompts
• Pre-reading question: When have you noticed something slow down because two surfaces rubbed together?
• Comprehension questions: What does the text say friction is?
How does friction help a bicycle come to a complete stop?
What do lubricants do between two surfaces to reduce friction?

Printing Tips

1. Best Printing Method (Recommended)
   “Booklet” Printing (Best if Available)
   If your printer or PDF viewer supports Booklet Printing, use this.
   Settings to use:
   • Print mode: Booklet
   • Paper size: Letter or A4 (either works)
   • Orientation: Landscape
   • Print on both sides: Yes
   • Flip on: Short edge
   • Scaling: Fit to printable area
   • Booklet subset:
   o First test: Front sides only
   o Then: Back sides only
   This will automatically:
   • Pair pages correctly
   • Put the cover on the outside
   • Align everything for folding
   After printing, fold in half and staple along the spine.

2. If “Booklet” Printing Is NOT Available
   You can still print this correctly with manual duplex printing.
   Step-by-step:

3. Open the PDF.

4. Choose Print.

5. Set:
   o Orientation: Landscape
   o Pages per sheet: 1
   o Print on both sides: Yes
   o Flip on: Short edge

6. Print all pages.
   Because each PDF page already contains two facing book pages, the result will still fold cleanly into a book.