Common Core Informational Reading Passages and Assessments: Grades 3-4

**ALL GRADE 3-4 COMMON CORE INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARDS** Engaging and meaningful standards-based passages and assessment work for ALL TWENTY Common Core Informational Text Standards in Grades 3-4 in ONE bundle of 16 teacher-friendly and student-friendly printables!

These passages and assessments are ideal for implementing a close reading program in your Grade 3-4 classroom based around mastery of the Common Core! What does that mean to you as a classroom teacher? It means that this is not the typical “one reading I'm done” comprehension work often given before the Common Core Standards were created. To complete the assessments for each passage, students will need "to undertake the close, attentive reading and re-reading that is at the heart of understanding and enjoying complex and worthy works.” Please download and look at some of the Preview pages for a better understanding of the collection.

This content-rich bundle of Common Core Informational Text passages and assessments is easy to teach with and has interesting topics for students. It can also lead to multiple extension activities related to science or history. This collection was created for Grades 3-4 and includes reading work in three domains: historical, scientific, and technical text types. It can be used in a number of ways by teachers: teacher-guided study, independent practice, homework, test prep, centers, assessment, etc.

A table of contents with an introduction to the article, text type, the number of words and questions, readability level, and detailing which Common Core skills the text is aligned with is included in the PDF document. Specific ideas and instructions for introducing, teaching with, and concluding each passage and assessment are also included in this collection. Please see the Preview for additional information.

Why two grade levels in one bundle? Well, I have never had a class where the reading level between the top readers and the lower ability students wasn’t at least two years, have you? This collection allows you to have CCSS practice work for both the top and bottom of your class across a range of abilities and interests.

NOTE: At the request of teachers, there are now TWO versions of every printable in this collection, one in a creative, stylish font and one in a more standard, traditional font. You choose the font you want to use, you have every printable in both fonts!

***NOTE: None of these sixteen printable assessments are sold individually or as part of any other collection or set. If you buy this bundle you will not receive any duplicates of other products that I offer.

Each of the SIXTEEN multi-page printables includes:

1) An engaging grade-level informational text of between 500-700 words for students to read. Ideal for close reading in the classroom!

2) A variety of exercises, from simple to more challenging and in a full variety of formats, with the CCS Standard addressed listed with each. Questions were written to align with one of these 23 Common Core Informational Text Standards, including ALL the Grade 3 and 4 Standards: RI.2.2, RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.5, RI.3.6, RI.3.7, RI.3.8, RI.3.9, RI.3.10, RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, RI.4.4, RI.4.5, RI.4.6, RI.4.7, RI.4.8, RI.4.9, RI.4.10, L.2.4d, and L.4.5c

3) Answers to every question, including clear student examples for all the written response questions. Please see the Preview for samples of the work included.

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #1

Students read a useful 600-word science text on porcupines, those exotic little creatures of the north woods with their quills and strange living habits. After the reading are a total of 25 questions of varying difficulty written to align with informational text standards RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.6, and RI.3.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.0

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #2

Students read an engaging 600-word history and technical text on Joseph Dixon and the invention of the “writing stick,” which we now call the pencil. After the reading are 20 questions of varying difficulty aligned with informational text standards RI.3.1, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.8, and RI.3.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 3.9

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #3

Students read an interesting 500+-word science text on those amazing insects known as crickets. After the reading are 20+ questions of varying difficulty written to align with informational text standards RI.2.2, RI.3.1, RI.3.6, RI.3.8, RI.3.10, and L.4.5c. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 3.9

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #4

Students read a fascinating 700-word historical text on Henry Bergh, the first 19th century American to advocate for societies focused on ending cruelty to animals and the proud founder of the ASCPA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This is followed by 20+ questions written to align with Common Core standards RI.2.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.10, RI.4.1, and RI.4.4. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 3.7

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #5

Students read a 700-word history and technical text on the modern mass production of crackers and cookies called “Button Baking.” At the end of the reading are 22 questions written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.7, RI.4.1, RI.4.7, RI.4.8, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.9

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #6

Students read a 600+-word history and technical text on the earliest alternative energy vehicle, the famous “Stanley Steamer” automobile of the early 20th century. This is followed by 20 questions created to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.5, RI.3.7, RI.4.4, RI.4.5, RI.4.7, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.7

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #7

Students read an exciting 700+-word historical text on Horatio Jackson, who in 1903 became the first man to travel across the rugged landscape of the United States in an automobile. At the end of the reading are 19 questions written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.4, RI.4.1, RI.4.3, RI.4.7, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.6

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #8

Students read a 600-word historical and travel text on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, including their history, character, and beauty. The text is followed by 25 questions of varying difficulty written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.4, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.5

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #9

Students read a 700-word scientific and historical text on icebergs, the Titanic, and the International Ice Patrol. The text is followed by 18 questions of written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.4.1, RI.4.5, RI.4.7, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.2

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #10

Students read a 700-word text on the history of the National Archives building in Washington DC, where the most important and also obscure documents of US history are preserved forever. The text is followed by 12 questions created to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.7, RI.4.1, and RI.4.10. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.6

Common Core Practice: Read Two Texts On The Same Topic

Students read two short texts, each of approximately 200 words. Each text tries to answer the question: How much sleep does a ten-year child need each night? Students must comprehend, interpret, and evaluate the texts in a grade-appropriate manner after reading them. The texts are followed by 8 questions written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.9 and RI.4.9.

Common Core Reading: Firsthand and Secondhand Accounts Of The Same Event

This printable was created specifically for the most challenging of the CCS Grade 4 Standards: RI.4.6. Students will read through and discuss a set of eight short firsthand and secondhand accounts of a tragic factory fire that occurred in New York City in 1911. This deadly fire led to public outrage across America and a move for improved safety standards and working conditions all across the land. The text set is followed by 11 fill-in-the-blank questions and two short answer questions aligning with RI.4.1 and RI.4.6.

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #13

Students read a 650-word historical account of the famous “Tillamook Inferno” forest fire of 1933 in Oregon. The text is followed by 24 questions created to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.8, and RI.4.1. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.4

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #14

Students read a 600-word science text on nature’s magnificent creation of the volcanic island of Surtsey, off the coast of Iceland, about fifty years ago. Following the text are followed by 18 questions written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.4, RI.3.6, RI.3.8, RI.3.10, RI.4.3, and RI.4.7. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.0

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #15

Students read a 750-word historical account of Howard Carter’s incredible search for and eventual discovery of the treasures of King Tutankhamen in Egypt. At the end of the reading are 19 questions written to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.3, RI.3.10, and RI.4.1. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 4.2

Common Core Reading Informational Text: Grade 3-4 Printable #16

Students read a 550-word scientific and technical text on the world’s lightest and more unusual wood: balsa wood. The characteristics and many uses of this amazing wood are presented. The text is followed by 21 questions created to align with Common Core Informational Text Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.3, RI.3.7, and L.2.4d. Flesch Kincaid Reading Level = 3.7

This item is a PAID digital download from my TpT store. As such, it is for use in one classroom only. This item is also bound by copyright laws and redistributing, editing, selling, or posting this item (or any part thereof) on the Internet are all strictly prohibited without first gaining permission from the author. Violations are subject to the penalties of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Any claims of correlation or alignment to the Common Core State Standards are solely those of Mark Aaron and have not been evaluated or endorsed by the NGA. Mark Aaron is the sole creator of this product and does not claim endorsement or association with the creators of the CCSS.