Reading Passages with Comprehension Questions for 3rd & 4th Grade BUNDLE

These reading comprehension passages provide rigorous, standards-based practice of close reading skills. Each month includes 5 short, student-friendly reading passages that are a mix of fiction and nonfiction.

Teaching reading can be tough. There are so many standards and so little time…

Read for understanding and fluency. Identify the main idea. Make reasonable predictions. Identify character traits. Summarize passages. Compare and contrast. Identify cause and effect. I could go on and on…

The list of state-tested reading standards is longer than the drive-thru line at Starbucks on Monday morning. And it’s not just long. It’s rigorous. Making sure that each of your students understands all these complicated reading skills in time for standardized testing is one venti order.

But we’ve got a treat for you. And it’s even better than finding out that the car in front of you paid for your vanilla sweet cream cold brew with extra foam. Which is saying a lot, right?

Our monthly reading comprehension passages make it easy to teach close reading skills. Each passage in this resource is designed to be used over 4 days and breaks the close reading process into simple steps. Comprehension questions, standards-based activities, and reading response writing activities help prepare kids for standardized tests.

And these reading comprehension passages are easy to prep and use. Included calendars, anchor charts, and answer keys mean all you have to do is print and teach.

What’s Included:

• 5 reading comprehension passages from each month, including both fiction and nonfiction readings (60 reading passages in all) for students to practice close reading skills like underlining, circling, adding symbols and notes
• Comprehension questions for each passage that require students to think deeply about the reading and find text evidence to support their answers
• 60 Standards-based reading activities (1 for each passage) for additional practice that keeps kids engaged
• 60 reading response writing activities (1 for each passage) that help kids develop higher-order thinking skills and use text-evidence
• 12 teacher anchor charts – simply project onto the whiteboard or print and display in the classroom
• Printable student anchor charts (2 versions) for students to reference during close reading
• An “At a Glance” calendar for each month
• Answer keys
• Detailed teacher directions

Want to see this resource in action? Try two FREE weeks of lessons HERE. 

January Passages Include:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. – Nonfiction
• Emperor and Adelie Penguins- Nonfiction
• Pharmacists- Nonfiction
• Backward Day- Fiction
• Snow Globe Mystery- Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Cause and Effect
• Compare and Contrast
• Author’s Purpose
• Problem and Solution
• Sequence of Events

Writing Skills Covered:

• Opinion
• Persuasive
• Explanatory
• Narrative

February Passages Include:

• Dental Health – Nonfiction
• Chinese New Year – Nonfiction
• Random Acts of Kindness – Nonfiction
• The Surprise Valentine – Fiction
• Black History Month – Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Main Idea
• Author’s Purpose
• Fact and Opinion
• Character Traits
• Story Elements

Writing Skills Covered:

• Expository
• Persuasive
• Explanatory
• Narrative
• Opinion

March Passages Include:

• Mardi Gras Mambo – Nonfiction
• Children’s Book Authors – Nonfiction
• Crayons – Nonfiction
• A Pinch of Luck – Fiction
• Read Across America Day (Poem) – Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Understanding Chronological Events – Timeline
• Compare & Contrast
• Sequencing
• Problem and Solution
• Identifying Parts of Poetry

Writing Skills Covered:

• Persuasive
• Explanatory
• Narrative
• Opinion

April Passages Include:

• Autism Acceptance Month – Nonfiction
• National Pets Day – Nonfiction
• Earth Day – Nonfiction
• April Fool’s Day – Fiction
• Bring Your Child to Work Day – Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Main Idea
• Compare & Contrast
• Point of View
• Central Message
• Character Traits

Writing Skills Covered:

• Expository
• Opinion
• Informative
• Narrative
• Explanatory

May Passages Include:

• Cinco de Mayo – Nonfiction
• Memorial Day – Nonfiction
• The Scavenger Hunt – Fiction
• The Lucky Penny – Fiction
• Donuts with Grown-Ups – Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Ask & Answer Questions
• Sequence
• Character Traits
• Central Message

Writing Skills Covered:

• Expository
• Opinion
• Reflection
• Narrative
• Persuasive

June Passages Include:

• Applesauce Cake – Nonfiction
• Helen Keller – Nonfiction
• Summer Solstice – Nonfiction
• The Fudge Fiasco – Fiction
• Dizzy the Dog Goes to Work – Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Sequence
• Key Details
• Vocabulary
• Figurative Language

Writing Skills Covered:

• Opinion
• Expository
• Informative
• Narrative
• Explanatory

July Passages Included:

• Emojis- Nonfiction
• The “Coolest” Dessert- Nonfiction
• Fireworks- Nonfiction
• The Firework Fiasco- Fiction
• The Lemonade Stand- Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Ask & Answer Questions
• Sequence
• Fact & Opinion
• Story Elements
• Character Traits

Writing Skills Covered:

• Expository
• Opinion
• Narrative

August Passages Include:

• Vinyl Records Versus CDs- Nonfiction
• Kobe Bryant- Nonfiction
• Hurricanes- Nonfiction
• The Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge- Fiction
• The Day Before Third Grade- Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Context Clues
• Compare and Contrast
• Sequencing
• Cause and Effect
• Problem and Solution
• Summarizing

Writing Skills Covered:

• Compare and Contrast
• Explanatory
• Opinion
• Narrative
• Persuasive

September Passages Include:

• Online Learning- nonfiction
• George Washington Carver- nonfiction
• An American Hero- fiction
• Dot Day- fiction
• Grandparent’s Day- fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Fact or Opinion
• Text Features
• Character Traits
• Point of View
• Key Details

Writing Skills Covered:

• Explanatory
• Opinion
• Narrative

October Passages Include:

• Fossils- Nonfiction
• Absolutely Batty- Nonfiction
• The Contest Conundrum- Fiction
• Thank You, Mr. Terry- Fiction
• Football in the Fall- Poetry

Reading Skills Covered:

• Cause and Effect
• Compare and Contrast
• Character Traits
• Point of View
• 5 Senses Poem

Writing Skills Covered:

• Explanatory
• Opinion
• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Persuasive

November Passages Include:

• Harvesting Cranberries- Nonfiction
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- Fiction
• Turkey for Thanksgiving- Fiction
• American Football- Nonfiction
• Veterans: American Heroes- Realistic Fiction (Interview- Nonfiction)

Reading Skills Covered:

• Ask and Answer Questions
• Vocabulary
• Character Changes
• Main Idea
• Biography

Writing Skills Covered:

• Explanatory
• Opinion
• Narrative
• Thank-You/Friendly Letter

December Passages Include:

• Candy Canes- Nonfiction
• Amy Purdy- Nonfiction
• Thank-You Notes- Nonfiction
• Gingerbread House Contest- Fiction
• Hot Chocolate and the Snowstorm- Fiction

Reading Skills Covered:

• Sequencing
• Identifying Details
• Author’s Purpose
• Story Elements
• Figurative Language

Writing Skills Covered:

• Opinion
• Narrative
• Writing a Thank You Note
• Explanatory

How to Use:

Follow the “At a Glance” calendar plan for implementing these no-prep close reading activities in the classroom:

• Day 1: Close read and mark up the text
• Day 2: Comprehension questions
• Day 3: Standards-based activity
• Day 4: Text-dependent writing activity

You can use these reading comprehension passages in a number of ways:

Whole group:

• Use these passages during whole group instruction. Simply project a passage on the whiteboard. You can model how to do a close read and think aloud as you complete the reading. You can also use the strategies to mark up the passage.
• Use class discussion to answer the questions and model how to write good answers to comprehension questions using evidence from the text.
• These short reading passages are perfect for whole group review and test prep.

Small Group:

• Use these passages in small groups. These passages are the perfect tool for intervention. Select a passage that reviews a skill your small group is struggling with (don’t be afraid to mix up your groups and pull together kids who are all struggling with the same skill). Use small group instruction to reteach difficult skills and provide additional support.
• Use these passages for enrichment. Select a passage that reviews a more advanced skill and use it with more advanced readers. You can work on the skill in a small group or allow students to work independently or with a partner.
• The passages are perfect for guided reading groups.

Independent Work:

• Assign individual passages to be completed independently or with a partner.
• Place passages in reading centers.
• Complete the writing activities during writing time.
• Use passages for morning work or fast finishers.
• Assign passages for homework.

Differentiation:

• The passages are also easy to differentiate.
• Assign different passages to different students based on individual mastery of skills.
• Group students together based on skill and use them at the teacher table to provide extra support.
• Let advanced students work independently for enrichment.
• Two versions of student anchor charts (with and without symbols) are included for use with different grade levels.

Each set of close reading passages is intended to be used over a month period, but you may adapt the activities to meet your needs.

Why You’ll Love It 

• No-prep practice of tough close reading skills
• “At A Glance” calendar makes planning easy
• Students LOVE the readings and activities
•  Teacher anchor charts to provide academic support, especially for your visual learners
• Student anchor charts that they can reference when marking up the text and understanding close reading
• Individual writing activities that help deepen students’ response to reading skills