Article
Courtesy of Cedar Point
Paired Texts,

Would You Rather Ride the Tallest Waterslide or the Tallest Roller Coaster?

A waterslide at a jaw-dropping height in Wisconsin. A roller coaster in Ohio almost as tall as a skyscraper. Turn the page to find out more about the tallest rides in the U.S. . . . if you dare

By Alex Winnick
From the October/November 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will compare and contrast information from texts about two tall rides.

Complexity Factors
  • Structure
    Each text is a short informational passage.
  • Language
    There are some challenging domain-specific words that are defi ned on the page.
  • Knowledge Demands
    No prior knowledge is required, although familiarity with theme parks, waterslides, or roller coasters may aid comprehension.
Lexiles: 600L-700L, Easier Level
Featured Skill: Compare and Contrast,
Other Key Skills: setting, synthesizing, main idea, supporting details, key details, text features, cause and effect, author’s purpose, vocabulary, inference, summarizing, explanatory writing, supporting an opinion
Standards
  • Common Core
    RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.6, RI.3.7, RI.3.9, W.3.1, W.3.2, SL.3.1, SL.3.2, L.3.6
  • TEKS Grade 3
    1a, 1c, 3a, 3b, 4, 6a, 6c, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6i, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7f, 7g, 9di, 9dii, 9diii, 10a, 10c, 12b, 12c

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  • On Level
  • Easier Level
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Easier Level
Think and Read: Compare and Contrast

As you read, think about how these two rides are similar and how they are different.

The Fall at the Rise of Icarus 

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort

COOL COLORS 

This twisty slide turns from orange to yellow.

Imagine that you’re at a theme park called Mt. Olympus in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. You’re about to get on the tallest waterslide in the country. This mega-slide is named after Icarus
(IH-kuh-ruhs). He’s a character in a Greek myth. In the story, Icarus flies too close to the sun.

This waterslide doesn’t reach the sun. But it does start 145 feet above the ground! That’s about as tall as 35 third-graders. You climb more than 10 flights of stairs, passing other slides as you go. Finally, you reach the top.

Imagine that you’re at a theme park. It’s called Mt. Olympus. It’s in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. You’re about to get on the tallest waterslide in the country. This huge slide is named after Icarus
(IH-kuh-ruhs). He’s a character in a Greek myth. In the story, Icarus flies too close to the sun.

This waterslide doesn’t reach the sun. But it does start 145 feet above the ground! That’s about as tall as 35 third-graders. You climb more than 10 flights of stairs. You pass other slides as you go. Finally, you reach the top.

Down the Slide

Down the Slide

It’s your turn! You step onto the waterslide. Cool water rushes beneath your feet. A dark, twisting tunnel stretches ahead.

You sit down, grabbing a metal bar so you don’t slip. You let go of the bar and cross your arms for safety. Then you zoom feetfirst down the slide!

It’s your turn! You step onto the waterslide. You feel cool water touch your feet. You see a dark, twisting tunnel ahead of you.

You sit down. You grab a metal bar so you don’t slip. You let go of the bar and cross your arms for safety. Then you go feetfirst down the slide!

Splash!

Splash!

AAAH! Gravity pulls you quickly through the tube’s twists and turns at
30 miles per hour (mph). That’s as fast as a car driving down a street.

Splash! Just 20 seconds after you started, you glide to the end of the slide. You did it!

AAAH! Gravity pulls you quickly through the tube. It twists and turns and you speed through at 30 miles per hour (mph). That’s as fast as a car driving down a street.

Splash! The ride lasts for 20 seconds. You reach the end of the slide. You did it!

Top Thrill 2 

Courtesy of Cedar Point

A BIG DROP 

This thrilling ride is two minutes long.

Now imagine settling into the seat of a roller coaster. It’s at a theme park called Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. This is the tallest—and fastest!—roller coaster in the country: Top Thrill 2.

You gaze up at the steep slope of the track ahead. This terrifying roller coaster towers 420 feet in the air. That’s about as tall as 100 third-graders!

A safety bar lowers onto your lap. Hold on! The ride is about to begin.

Now imagine sitting on the seat of a roller coaster. It’s at a theme park called Cedar Point. It’s in Sandusky, Ohio. This is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the country. It’s Top Thrill 2.

You look up at the track ahead. It’s very steep. This terrifying roller coaster is 420 feet tall. That’s about as tall as 100 third-graders!

A safety bar lowers onto your lap. Hold on! The ride is about to begin.

Toward the Sky

Toward the Sky

Suddenly, you’re off! First you launch forward and make it halfway up a tower. Then the ride switches directions! You speed backward at 100 mph and reach the top of a second tower.

Then the ride shoots forward again! This time, you accelerate to 120 mph. That’s faster than some high-speed trains! You race along the track and back up the first tower. The ride slows down for a second at the top. It’s just long enough to enjoy the view from 420 feet in the sky. Now comes the final drop!

Suddenly, it starts! First you launch forward and make it halfway up a tower. Then the ride switches directions! You go backward at 100 mph and reach the top of a second tower.

Then the ride shoots forward again! This time, you accelerate to 120 mph. That’s faster than some high-speed trains! You race along the track and back up the first tower. The ride slows down for a second at the top. It’s just long enough to enjoy the view from 420 feet in the sky. Now comes the final drop!

Down the Tower

Down the Tower

Gravity takes over. It sends you plunging down the tower so quickly that your body rises off the seat! The tracks twist in a dizzying spiral. Then you’re back at the start. You made it!

Gravity takes over. It sends you plunging down the tower. The ride is so quick that your body rises off the seat! The tracks twist. You feel dizzy. You’re back at the start. You made it!

What does your class think?

Which would you rather ride?

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THINK AND WRITE

Write a paragraph explaining how these rides are alike and different. Then explain which ride you would rather go on and why!

THINK AND WRITE

Write a paragraph explaining how these rides are alike and different. Then explain which ride you would rather go on and why!

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Can't-Miss Teaching Extras

Take a trip to another incredible amusement park in the Big Read “Welcome to Mario’s World.” You’ll meet the creators, see how they built the park, and—best of all—learn about the rides! 

For even more recreational activity, dive into the Paired Texts “The History of Fun!” to learn the story behind playgrounds. Then meet Lucas, a student who designed an inclusive playground in his town.

Get more thrills in this issue’s Infographic, “Do You Like Feeling Scared?”, full of fun facts about this frightening feeling.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Close Reading

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers

1. Preparing to Read

Introduce the Text and Preview Text Features

  • Ask students to predict what these articles will be about based on the titles, subtitle, and artwork on pages 16-17. Review the predictions after reading.

Set a Purpose for Reading

  • Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 17 and the Think and Write box on page 19.
  • Remind students to keep these prompts in mind while reading the texts.

Introduce Featured Skill

  • Build on the Think and Read prompt by explaining these articles’ featured skill: Compare and Contrast. Encourage students to look for details from both texts that explain how the two rides are similar and how they are different.

Introduce Vocabulary

  • Show or assign the Vocabulary Slideshow to preview challenging words. Then assign the Vocabulary Skill Builder before or after reading.

2. Close Reading

Reading and Unpacking the Text

  • Read the story as a class or have students follow along as they listen to the Read-Aloud.
  • Project or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

  • Read the first section of “The Fall at the Rise of Icarus.” Where is this super-tall waterslide located? The waterslide is located in Mt. Olympus, a theme park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. (setting)
  • What makes this waterslide so special? This waterslide is special because it is 145 feet tall, which makes it the tallest waterslide in the country. (key detail)
  • Read “Down the Slide.” What happens after you climb to the top of the slide? After you sit down, you grab a metal bar so you don’t slip in the water. Next, you let go of the bar and cross your arms so you’ll stay safe. Then you zoom feetfirst down the slide. (supporting details)
  • Read “Splash!” Then look at the photo on page 18 and read the caption. What do you see and feel as you go down the giant waterslide? As you move down the waterslide, you see it change colors, from orange to yellow. You feel gravity pull you quickly through the twists and turns of the waterslide. You move at 30 mph, which is as fast as a car. (key details; text features)
  • Read the first section of “Top Thrill 2.” What makes Top Thrill 2 so special? Top Thrill 2 is special because it is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the country. (main idea)
  • How does the height of this roller coaster compare with the height of the waterslide? The height of this roller coaster is 420 feet high, and the waterslide is 145 feet high. The roller coaster is as tall as 100 third-graders, while the waterslide is as tall as 35 third-graders. (compare and contrast)
  • Read “Toward the Sky.” What happens after the roller coaster reaches the top of the second tower? The ride shoots forward again and speeds up to 120 mph. Then it zooms back up to the top of the first tower. After slowing down for a second, it makes a final drop. (summarizing)
  • Read “Down the Tower.” What happens to you as you drop down the first tower again? Because of gravity, you fall so quickly that your body rises off the seat. (cause and effect)

 

Critical-Thinking Questions

  • Think about how the two rides look and make riders feel. If you could ride only one, which would you choose? Explain your answer with details from the story. Answers will vary. (connecting to the text)
  • How do the photographs help you understand what these rides are like? The photographs help show how tall these rides are. The opening two photos on pages 16-17 are taken from the ground while looking up. Both rides look enormous. The waterslide also has many twists. The photographs on pages 18-19 show how the roller coaster also twists, and how the waterslide ends with a splash into water. (text features; inference)

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Compare and Contrast

  • Distribute or digitally assign the Compare and Contrast Skill Builder.
  • Ask students to write a response to the prompt in the Think and Write box on page 19.

Differentiate and Customize
For Striving Readers

Read the Easier-level version of the articles while students follow along. As they read, students should look for and highlight the ways in which The Fall at the Rise of Icarus and Top Thrill 2 are similar and different. Then work with students to complete the Compare and Contrast Skill Builder as a group. Tip: When students read the articles online in Presentation View, they can use the highlighter tool to mark the text

For Multilingual Learners

The paired texts contain domain-specific terms that might be unfamiliar to your multilingual learners. Before having students read the articles, call attention to the following terms: gravity, terrifying, accelerate, and plunging. With your students, go over the definition of each term. Showing images of the terms will aid understanding.

For Advanced Readers

Invite students to learn about another type of amusement park: trampoline parks! Have them read the debate “Are Trampoline Parks Safe?” from the September 2018 issue of Storyworks 3. Then encourage students to prepare a short presentation for the rest of the class, explaining which of the three theme parks they would most like to go to, and why.

Text-to-Speech