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Puddles

/ˈpʌdəlz/

nounA1plural

Definition

Puddles are small, shallow areas of water on the ground. They often appear after rain or when water spills somewhere outside. Puddles are usually not very deep and can be stepped over or splashed in.

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See It in Action

Small pools of water on the ground after rain or spills

  • •After the rain, the children played in the puddles on the sidewalk.
  • •Be careful not to slip on the puddles in the parking lot.
  • •The car splashed water from the puddles as it drove by.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "puddles" like "water," but in small, shallow places on the ground after rain
  • ✓Picture a child jumping happily in small wet spots on the street or in a park
  • ✓It's the fun feeling of splashing water with your shoes on a rainy day
  • ✓Sounds like "puddle" → imagine "put-tle" a little water spot that you can step in
  • ✓Remember cartoons where characters jump in puddles and splash water everywhere
  • ✓NOT like "lake" (very big and deep), puddles are small and shallow
  • ✓NOT like "river" (flows and moves), puddles stay still in one place
  • ✓NOT like "pool" (made for swimming), puddles happen naturally outside

Try Other Words

  • •Pool: a small body of still water (Use when the water is bigger or made for swimming)
  • •Pond: a small natural or artificial lake (Use when the water is larger and more permanent)
  • •Wet spot: any small area that is wet (Use when you want a very general, less specific word)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: "puddle" (root word) + "s" (plural ending)
  • •Etymology: From Middle English "pudel," meaning a small pool of water
  • •Historical development: The word has been used for many centuries to describe small water pools on the ground
  • •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe small rainwater pools, especially in everyday speech and children's language

Reflect & Connect

•Why do you think children like to play in puddles after the rain?
•Can puddles be dangerous? In what situations might they cause problems?

Fill in the blanks

1.After the rain, the ___ on the street made it slippery to walk.
2.Children love to jump in ___ because they can splash water everywhere.
3.Unlike a lake, puddles are very ___ and easy to step over.
4.Cars can make water fly out of ___ when they drive fast.
5.Puddles usually form ___ it rains or when water is spilled.
6.You should avoid ___ in puddles if you don’t want your shoes to get wet.
7.The size of puddles can change quickly because the water ___ or dries in the sun.