Complete Nonfiction Close Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions Bundle

I have used these nonfiction close reading passages with my own fifth graders to promote more meaningful interactions with text. I purposefully wrote these texts to be high-interest and short so that the students would be motivated to read the text multiple times. The follow-up activities have gotten my students to go back to the text and dig deeper.

How are my close reading texts unique?

★ Original, high-interest, and short passages written by me

★ Discreetly differentiated into FIVE levels of difficulty to address a wide range of student abilities

★ Variety of engaging follow-up activities that require students to dig deeper into the passages

★ Paired text and activity for each topic

★ Format options for use with or without interactive notebooks

Perfect for:

★ Whole group

★ Guided reading

★ ELA centers

★ Homework

Here's what some highly satisfied educators have said about this bundle:

★ "This is outstanding...one of the best purchases I've made on TpT. Your unit is extremely through and really interesting. The students enjoy the varied topics...I do too!"

★ "What a brilliant and most comprehensive bundle. I love that it provides texts for different ability levels. It enables me to cater for all of my students whilst not showing that there are clear differences through different texts. Money well spent."

★ "This has been by far the best purchase I have ever made on TPT. I use these in my reading groups and they are perfect! They are engaging, informative, and follow our standards nicely."

What is included?

★ Overview of close reading

★ Lesson plan pacing guides for whole group, small group, and homework options

★ FIVE levels of passages, second and third reading activities, writing response, paired text and activity, and answer keys for each topic

★ Half-page and notebook page header options for interactive notebooks

★ BONUS 10-question assessments for test prep or alternative assignments (separate file)

Pearl Freebie

Download this freebie to see one topic in its entirety so you know if this product will work for you and your students.

Included in the Bundle (August-June):

{August}

S'mores - Sequence, author’s voice, opinion writing, paired with Campfires (text structure)

Swimming Safely - Synthesizing information, main idea/details, opinion/persuasive writing, paired with Lifeguards (making inferences/drawing conclusions)

Hawai'i/Hawaii - Synthesizing information, context clues, opinion writing, paired with Alaska (compare/contrast)

State Fairs - Determining fact and opinion, main idea/supporting details, opinion writing, paired with World's Fair (opinion writing)

{September}

The Birth of American Football - Timelines, cause and effect, opinion writing, paired with Soccer (text structure)

The U.S. Constitution - Synthesizing information, primary sources, opinion writing, paired with The Bill of Rights (opinion writing)

Jim Henson - Synthesizing information, opinion, descriptive writing, paired with Franz Oz (compare/contrast)

Jesse Owens - Identifying challenges, chronological structure, narrative writing, paired with Wilma Rudolph (narrative writing)

{October}

Columbus Day - Pros/cons, cause/effect, persuasive writing, paired with Leif Erikson (opinion writing)

Candy Corn - Sequencing, alliteration, opinion writing, paired with Popcorn (opinion writing)

Peanuts (Charles M. Schulz) - Cause/effect (influences), main idea/details, personal narrative, paired with Diary of a Wimpy Kid (narrative writing)

Hot Air Balloons - Context clues, nonfiction text features, opinion writing, paired with Blimps (compare/contrast)

{November}

Pardon Me (pardoning a turkey) - sequence, pronouns, persuasive writing, paired with Wild Turkeys (compare/contrast)

Mark Twain - timeline, context clues, narrative writing, paired with Mississippi River (influences)

Shopping Frenzy (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) - synthesizing information, proper/common nouns, opinion writing, paired with Credit Cards (advantages/disadvantages)

Diabetes - compare/contrast, main idea/details, descriptive writing, paired with Diabetic Technology (comparative/speculative writing)

{December}

Ice Hockey - Inferences, diagram, narrative writing, paired with The Great One (opinion writing)

Happy Holidays (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa) - Synthesizing/comparing information, prepositions, narrative writing, paired with Aussie Christmas (narrative/opinion writing)

A Tea Party (Boston Tea Party) - Summarizing, cause/effect, opinion writing, paired with Boston Massacre (opinion writing)

Pearl Harbor - Timeline/sequence, making inferences, narrative writing, paired with Code Talkers (compare/contrast, opinion writing)

{January}

Elvis - Timeline, vocabulary/context clues, descriptive writing, paired with Taylor Swift (compare/contrast)

How to Build a Snowman - Sequencing, synonyms/antonyms, descriptive writing, paired with Snow Crystals (opinion writing)

Inauguration Day - Compare/contrast, cause/effect, opinion writing, paired with Election Day (synthesizing information)

Emperor Penguins - Synthesizing information, main idea/details, opinion writing, paired with Little Penguins (compare/contrast)

{February}

Festive Foods (Chinese New Year) – Synthesizing information, homophones, descriptive writing, paired with Fortune Cookies (opinion writing)

Thomas Edison – Synthesizing information, Greek/Latin roots, descriptive writing, paired with Franklin the Scientist and Inventor (compare/contrast)

Groundhog Day – Synthesizing information, identifying fact/fiction, creative writing, paired with Animals and Weather (opinion writing)

Grand Canyon – Determining main idea, writing numbers as words, opinion writing, paired with The Conservationist President (summarizing)

{March}

Theodor Seuss Geisel - Synthesizing information, cause/effect, descriptive writing, paired with Shel Silverstein (narrative writing)

Basketball - Synthesizing information, diagrams, descriptive writing, paired with Michael Jordan (opinion writing)

The Alamo - Summarizing, context clues, opinion or descriptive writing, paired with Davy Crockett (opinion writing)

Sled Dog Racing - Synthesizing information, main idea/details, opinion writing, paired with Alaskan Husky (important details)

{April}

Opening Day (history and celebrations) - Cause/effect, supporting details, opinion writing, paired with Take Me Out to the Ball Game (opinion writing)

Titanic (ship's features) - Author’s purpose, main idea/supporting details, opinion writing, paired with Luxury Airlines (compare/contrast)

Jelly Beans (how they're made) - Details, sequencing, opinion writing, paired with Ronald Reagan (opinion writing)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (how to) - Context clues, imperative sentences, opinion writing, paired with Vermicomposting (visualizing)

{May}

Bike Safety - Synthesizing information, imperative sentences, opinion writing, paired with Tour de France (inferencing, opinion writing)

Kentucky Derby - Synthesizing information, main idea/supporting details, opinion writing, paired with Triple Crown (opinion writing)

Jewish Americans - Synthesizing information, text structure, opinion writing, paired with More Jewish Americans (compare/contrast)

Golden Spike - Greek and Latin roots, cause/effect, opinion writing, paired with Panama Canal (compare/contrast)

{June}

Pearls - Compare/contrast, cause/effect, narrative writing, paired with Diamonds (problem/solution)

Fishing - Sequencing, figurative language, narrative writing, paired with Invasive Species (problem/solution, narrative writing)

Flag History - Context clues, primary source, opinion writing, paired with Flag Code (visualizing)

Adopt a Cat - Synthesizing information, alliteration, persuasive writing, paired with Shelter Animals (problem/solution)

Big Savings on Bundles

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★ Spring Bundle – Save almost 30%

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Blog Posts

Fifth in the Middle - {Monday Made It - Close Reading}

Fifth in the Middle - {What is Close Reading}

Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans - {Using Close Reading in the Classroom}

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