Reading Comprehension Passages

12 Non-Fiction Passages
Common Core Aligned 2nd & 3rd Grade

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade 2014

Dear Teacher,

This packet is designed with you in mind! Included are 12 NON-

FICTION reading passages for you to use however you see
fit in your classroom. Passages can be used for
assessments, in-class assignments, homework, and centers.
These passages with open-ended questions are tried and
true in my own 2nd grade classroom, but I feel they would also
work in a 3rd grade classroom. I have also heard from buyers
that they work with their advanced firsties.
Unlike other editions of my comprehension passages, all
passages featured here are non-fiction.
Also provided are “definition cards” used to define the bolded,
underlined words in each passage. These definition cards
would be ideal for you to use if you use the passages in small
groups or centers. Just pop them on a key ring and allow your
students to use them to define unfamiliar words. (They can
also use their own words or a dictionary to define the bolded,
underlined word).
Answer keys are also provided; however, I urge you to be
flexible with your students’ responses. They will not match
the provided answers 100% of the time.
I hope this packet is a great success in your elementary
classroom.
This edition completes my
Reading Comprehension Passages Bundle. You can check out
the bundle or any of my other reading passages here.

Sincerely,

Halle Hird

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

 Story Title Page
Niagara Falls 4
Anteaters 6
Hot Air Balloons 8
Cats 10
Clouds 12
Meerkats 14
The American Flag 16
Helicopters 18
Ladybugs 20
Video Games 22
Sharks 24
Types of Volcanoes 26
Definition Cards 28-29

Standards Addressed:
2.RI.2.1, 2.RI.2.2, 2.RI.2.4, 2.RI.2.5, 2.RI.2.6, 2.RI.2.8, 2.RI.2.10
3.RI.3.1, 3.RI.3.2, 3.RI.3.5, 3.RI.3.7, 3.RI.3.10

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls are located on the border
of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. That
means you can be standing on one side of
the falls and look across to another country.
Pretty cool!
The Niagara Falls are made up of three
different waterfalls, The American Falls, The 1. Where are the Niagara Falls
Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe Falls. Over located?
3,000 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls
every second. All of this water makes the ______________________________________________
Niagara Falls an amazing source of
______________________________________________
hydropower, which produces electricity for
both Canada and the United States. ______________________________________________
The Niagara Falls were created by melting
2. What three waterfalls make up the
glaciers over 10,000 years ago. In 1885, they
became part of the oldest park in America, Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls State Park. This park helped to
______________________________________________
protect the falls. Four of the five Great
Lakes empty into the Niagara Falls. Niagara ______________________________________________
Falls then empties into the fifth lake, Lake
______________________________________________
Ontario. All of these lakes and Niagara Falls
are made up of fresh water, and make up 3. How do the falls produce electricity
about 1/5 of the world’s fresh water supply.
for the U.S. and Canada?
It is illegal to cross the Niagara Falls, but a
few people have tried. Some were ______________________________________________
successful, but some got injured or killed in
______________________________________________
their attempts. Remember, Niagara Falls is
extremely powerful! ______________________________________________
______________________________________________

Define It: electricity 4. How were the Niagara Falls

created?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Niagara Falls KEY

The Niagara Falls are located on the border
of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. That
means you can be standing on one side of
the falls and look across to another country.
Pretty cool!
The Niagara Falls are made up of three
different waterfalls, The American Falls, The 1. Where are the Niagara Falls
Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe Falls. Over located?
3,000 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls The Niagara Falls are located on the
every second. All of this water makes the border of Ontario, Canada and New
Niagara Falls an amazing source of York, USA.
hydropower, which produces electricity for 2. What three waterfalls make up the
both Canada and the United States. Niagara Falls?
The Niagara Falls were created by melting
The three waterfalls that make up the
glaciers over 10,000 years ago. In 1885, they
became part of the oldest park in America, Niagara Falls are the American Falls,
Niagara Falls State Park. This park helped to
Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls.
protect the falls. Four of the five Great
Lakes empty into the Niagara Falls. Niagara 3. How do the falls produce electricity
Falls then empties into the fifth lake, Lake
for the U.S. and Canada?
Ontario. All of these lakes and Niagara Falls
are made up of fresh water, and make up The Niagara Falls produce electricty
about 1/5 of the world’s fresh water supply.
for the US and Canada by using
It is illegal to cross the Niagara Falls, but a
few people have tried. Some were hydropower from all of the water
successful, but some got injured or killed in
flowing over the falls.
their attempts. Remember, Niagara Falls is
extremely powerful! 4. How were the Niagara Falls
created?

Define It: electricity The Niagara Falls were created by

melting glaciers over 10,000 years ago.
Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Anteaters
Have you ever seen an anteater? They are
pretty funny looking creatures with a pretty
funny sounding name. Despite their funny name
and appearance, anteaters are very interesting
animals, and there is a lot to learn about them.
There are four types of anteaters. The Giant
Anteater can be as big as seven feet long from
the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. and weigh 1. How are Silky Anteaters and Giant
about 90 pounds! The Silky Anteater is much Anteaters different?
smaller, about the size of a squirrel. Silky
Anteaters live and spend all of their time in trees, ______________________________________________
while their Giant relatives live on the ground.
What do Giant Anteaters and Silky Anteaters have ______________________________________________
in common? They both eat ants of course! ______________________________________________
Anteaters have very poor eyesight so they rely
on their strong sense of smell to find their prey. ______________________________________________
Anteaters use their long, sticky tongues to eat
2. What sense do anteaters use to
ants and termites. They find ants and termites
through the holes at the top of their homes. find their food? Why?
Anteaters must eat ants quickly because the ants
can bite. In fact, an anteater flicks its tongue ______________________________________________
between 150-160 times a minute during a snack ______________________________________________
session!
Anteaters are solitary animals, they spend much 3. How do anteaters eat ants and
of their time alone. They spend much of their
termites?
day sleeping, up to 15 hours a day! Eating all
those ants must tire them out! ______________________________________________
Now you know a few things about anteaters, not
just that they have a funny name! ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Define It: solitary 4. Why do anteaters have to eat ants
quickly?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Anteaters KEY
Have you ever seen an anteater? They are
pretty funny looking creatures with a pretty
funny sounding name. Despite their funny name
and appearance, anteaters are very interesting
animals, and there is a lot to learn about them.
There are four types of anteaters. The Giant
Anteater can be as big as seven feet long from
the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. and weigh
about 90 pounds! The Silky Anteater is much
1. How are Silky Anteaters and Giant
smaller, about the size of a squirrel. Silky
Anteaters live and spend all of their time in trees, Anteaters different?
while their Giant relatives live on the ground.
What do Giant Anteaters and Silky Anteaters have Silky Anteaters are very small and
in common? They both eat ants of course! Giant Anteaters are very big. Silky
Anteaters have very poor eyesight so they rely
on their strong sense of smell to find their prey. Anteaters live in trees, Giant
Anteaters use their long, sticky tongues to eat
Anteaters live on the ground.
ants and termites. They find ants and termites
through the holes at the top of their homes. 2. What sense do anteaters use to
Anteaters must eat ants quickly because the ants
can bite. In fact, an anteater flicks its tongue find their food? Why?
between 150-160 times a minute during a snack Anteaters use their sense of smell to
session!
Anteaters are solitary animals, they spend much find their food because they have
of their time alone. They spend much of their
poor eyesight.
day sleeping, up to 15 hours a day! Eating all
those ants must tire them out! 3. How do anteaters eat ants and
Now you know a few things about anteaters, not
just that they have a funny name! termites?
Anteaters eat ants and termites by
Define It: solitary using their long, sticky tongues.
4. Why do anteaters have to eat ants
Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of quickly?
the define it! cards or a dictionary Anteaters must eat ants quickly
because ants can bite them.

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Hot Air Balloons

When you think of things flying in the sky, what
do you think of? Airplanes? Birds? I bet you
don’t think of hot air balloons, but maybe after
reading this passage, you will!
Hot air balloons have been around a very long
time. In fact, the first hot air balloon flight with
passengers on board was in 1782. The first
airplane flight was in 1903, over 100 years later!
Hot air balloons are able to fly due to the hot air 1. Which flight was first, the hot air
inside the big balloon on top called the envelope. balloon or the airplane? Explain how
The envelope holds in hot air created by the you know.
flame from the burner. The hot air inside the
envelope is more dense than the air outside of ______________________________________________
the envelope, and this allows the hot air balloon
to float. The power of the burner helps control ______________________________________________
how high or low the hot air balloon can go.
______________________________________________
The pilot and passengers of hot air balloons
stand in a wicker basket below the envelope. 2. What is the “envelope” of the hot
There is not a lot of room to move around in a
hot air balloon, but that’s okay, passengers air balloon. What does it do?
spend their time enjoying the view around and ______________________________________________
below them!
Hot air balloon festivals are popular all over the ______________________________________________
world. A popular festival in the United States is
______________________________________________
the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. It takes place
during the first week of October every year. 3. How is it possible for the hot air
There you can see hundreds of hot air balloons
take off at the same time. It really is a sight to balloon to float?
see! ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Define It: festivals 4. Would you like to go on a hot air
balloon ride? Why or why not?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Hot Air Balloons KEY

When you think of things flying in the sky, what
do you think of? Airplanes? Birds? I bet you
don’t think of hot air balloons, but maybe after
reading this passage, you will!
Hot air balloons have been around a very long
time. In fact, the first hot air balloon flight with
passengers on board was in 1782. The first
airplane flight was in 1903, over 100 years later!
Hot air balloons are able to fly due to the hot air 1. Which flight was first, the hot air
inside the big balloon on top called the envelope. balloon or the airplane? Explain how
The envelope holds in hot air created by the you know.
flame from the burner. The hot air inside the The hot air balloon was the first flight.
envelope is more dense than the air outside of It happened in 1782, the first airplane
the envelope, and this allows the hot air balloon flight wasn’t until 1903.
to float. The power of the burner helps control 2. What is the “envelope” of the hot
how high or low the hot air balloon can go. air balloon. What does it do?
The pilot and passengers of hot air balloons
stand in a wicker basket below the envelope. The envelope is the balloon part. It
There is not a lot of room to move around in a holds in the hot air.
hot air balloon, but that’s okay, passengers
spend their time enjoying the view around and 3. How is it possible for the hot air
below them!
balloon to float?
Hot air balloon festivals are popular all over the
world. A popular festival in the United States is It’s possible for the hot air balloon to
the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. It takes place
during the first week of October every year. float because the hot air inside the
There you can see hundreds of hot air balloons balloon is more dense than the air
take off at the same time. It really is a sight to
see! outside.
4. Would you like to go on a hot air
Define It: festivals balloon ride? Why or why not?
Answers will vary.
Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Cats
Do you have a cat at home? If you do, you
know that cats make great pets and love to
take naps, but there is a lot more to learn
about these felines!
Cats love to sleep! They save up their energy
by sleeping 16-18 hours a day. That is about
double the time you sleep per night! Cats
also spend a lot of their time licking their 1. How long do cats sleep and why do
coats to keep them clean. Their tongues are they sleep so much?
not smooth like ours, they are actually rough
like sandpaper. Their rough tongues help ______________________________________________
them keep their fur clean.
______________________________________________
Cats have excellent night vision. Humans need
a flashlight to see around at night but cats ______________________________________________
can see at a light level six times darker than
2. How are cats’ tongues different
us. Their whiskers are also very helpful for
nighttime exploring or hunting, they can help than ours?
detect and sense nearby objects. They also
______________________________________________
have an excellent sense of smell; a cat’s
sense of smell is 14 times greater than a ______________________________________________
human’s.
3. What makes it easy for a cat to
Does your cat meow when it needs
something? Cats have over 100 different explore at night?
vocal sounds. They use their different
______________________________________________
meows to communicate only with humans, not
each other! Cats also communicate with ______________________________________________
humans by hissing, purring, and using body
______________________________________________
language. Watch a cat’s tail, the higher up it
is, the happier the cat is! ______________________________________________
4. What are some ways cats
Define It: feline communicate with humans?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade ______________________________________________
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Cats KEY
Do you have a cat at home? If you do, you
know that cats make great pets and love to
take naps, but there is a lot more to learn
about these felines!
Cats love to sleep! They save up their energy
by sleeping 16-18 hours a day. That is about
double the time you sleep per night! Cats
also spend a lot of their time licking their 1. How long do cats sleep and why do
coats to keep them clean. Their tongues are they sleep so much?
not smooth like ours, they are actually rough Cats sleep 16-18 hours a day to save
like sandpaper. Their rough tongues help up their energy.
them keep their fur clean.
Cats have excellent night vision. Humans need 2. How are cats’ tongues different
a flashlight to see around at night but cats than ours?
can see at a light level six times darker than
Cats’ tongues are rough like
us. Their whiskers are also very helpful for
nighttime exploring or hunting, they can help sandpaper, ours are smooth.
detect and sense nearby objects. They also
3. What makes it easy for a cat to
have an excellent sense of smell; a cat’s
sense of smell is 14 times greater than a explore at night?
human’s.
Cats explore easily at night because
Does your cat meow when it needs
something? Cats have over 100 different they can see extremely well in the
vocal sounds. They use their different
dark. They also have whiskers that
meows to communicate only with humans, not
each other! Cats also communicate with help them detect nearby objects.
humans by hissing, purring, and using body
4. What are some ways cats
language. Watch a cat’s tail, the higher up it
is, the happier the cat is! communicate with humans?
Cats communicate with humans by
Define It: feline meowing. They also purr, hiss and
Answers may vary, especially if you have use body language.
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Clouds
Look up in the sky. What do you see?
Chances are you see a cloud or two. We all
see clouds nearly everyday, but how much do
you really know about those fluffy, white
clouds that dot the sky?
The clouds that we see in the sky are actually
an immense group of tiny water droplets.
They are formed when water from planet 1. What are clouds made of?
Earth evaporates and gathers up in the sky.
These clouds contains millions of tons of ______________________________________________
water. That is a lot of water!
______________________________________________
Did you know there are different types of
clouds? There are three main types of 2. What are the three main types of
clouds: cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds.
clouds?
When most people picture clouds in their
mind, they are picturing cumulus clouds. They ______________________________________________
are the white, puffy clouds that look like big
______________________________________________
pillows.
Stratus clouds are flat, long clouds that lay ______________________________________________
lower in the sky. They can be white or gray
3. What does the author compare
and look fog-like. It can be hard to see the
sun when stratus clouds are around! cumulus clouds to?
Cirrus clouds are very thin and wispy. They
______________________________________________
hang around high up in the sky. Cirrus clouds
generally mean that it is going to be a good ______________________________________________
weather day.
4. Victor walks outside. It is a very
Next time you are outside, look up into the sky.
See if you can tell what kinds of clouds are cloudy day. What type of cloud is he
up in the sky!
most likely seeing in the sky? How do

Define It: evaporates you know?

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Clouds KEY
Look up in the sky. What do you see?
Chances are you see a cloud or two. We all
see clouds nearly everyday, but how much do
you really know about those fluffy, white
clouds that dot the sky?
The clouds that we see in the sky are actually
an immense group of tiny water droplets.
They are formed when water from planet 1. What are clouds made of?
Earth evaporates and gathers up in the sky. Clouds are made of tiny water
These clouds contains millions of tons of droplets.
water. That is a lot of water! 2. What are the three main types of
Did you know there are different types of clouds?
clouds? There are three main types of
The three main types of clouds are
clouds: cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds.
When most people picture clouds in their cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds.
mind, they are picturing cumulus clouds. They
3. What does the author compare
are the white, puffy clouds that look like big
pillows. cumulus clouds to?
Stratus clouds are flat, long clouds that lay
The author compares cumulus clouds
lower in the sky. They can be white or gray
and look fog-like. It can be hard to see the to big pillows.
sun when stratus clouds are around!
4. Victor walks outside. It is a very
Cirrus clouds are very thin and wispy. They
hang around high up in the sky. Cirrus clouds cloudy day. What type of cloud is he
generally mean that it is going to be a good
most likely seeing in the sky? How do
weather day.
Next time you are outside, look up into the sky. you know?
See if you can tell what kinds of clouds are
Victor is probably seeing stratus
up in the sky!
clouds. I know this because the
Define It: evaporates passage says that stratus clouds are
Answers may vary, especially if you have gray and cover the sky, and that it
students use their own words instead of can be hard to see the sun when
the define it! cards or a dictionary
stratus clouds are out.

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

1. Where do meerkats live?

Meerkats
Meerkats are small, furry mammals that live ______________________________________________
together in a large group of up to 40, called a ______________________________________________
gang or mob. You won’t find any mobs of
meerkats in your backyard though, unless you 2. In this passage, what is a mob?
live in the southern part of Africa in the What is another name for a mob?
Kalahari Desert.
Meerkats have many adaptations that allow ______________________________________________
them to live in the hot desert environment. ______________________________________________
They have dark circles around their eyes to
help them see better in the hot glare of the ______________________________________________
sun. Meerkats also live in burrows _____________________________________________
underground to help keep them safe from
the hot sun and their predators. 3. What helps meerkats survive in the
Because meerkats weigh only about two desert?
pounds and hunt large prey like poisonous
snakes, they hunt in mobs. They also take ______________________________________________
turns guarding their burrows and keeping ______________________________________________
watch of the area around their homes. It
would be much harder for a meerkat to ______________________________________________
survive if it wasn’t part of a large mob. 4. Name one way meerkats help each
Meerkats also take turns watching and raising
each other’s pups (baby meerkats). They other.
teach them how to hide, hunt, and clean ______________________________________________
themselves while their mothers are out
hunting for food. ______________________________________________
Meerkats are a great example of how ______________________________________________
important it is to work together!
______________________________________________

Define It: adaptations

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

1. Where do meerkats live?

Meerkats KEY
Meerkats are small, furry mammals that live Meerkats live in the Kalahari Dessert.
together in a large group of up to 40, called a
gang or mob. You won’t find any mobs of 2. In this passage, what is a mob?
meerkats in your backyard though, unless you What is another name for a mob?
live in the southern part of Africa in the A mob is a group of about 40
Kalahari Desert.
Meerkats have many adaptations that allow meerkats. Another name for a mob is
them to live in the hot desert environment. a gang.
They have dark circles around their eyes to
help them see better in the hot glare of the 3. What helps meerkats survive in the
sun. Meerkats also live in burrows desert?
underground to help keep them safe from
the hot sun and their predators. Meerkats have dark circles around
Because meerkats weigh only about two their eyes to help them see in the hot
pounds and hunt large prey like poisonous
snakes, they hunt in mobs. They also take sun. Their burrows protect them from
turns guarding their burrows and keeping the sun.
watch of the area around their homes. It
would be much harder for a meerkat to 4. Name one way meerkats help each
survive if it wasn’t part of a large mob. other.
Meerkats also take turns watching and raising
each other’s pups (baby meerkats). They Answers will vary.
teach them how to hide, hunt, and clean
themselves while their mothers are out
hunting for food.
Meerkats are a great example of how
important it is to work together!

Define It: adaptations

Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

The American Flag

You could probably recognize the
American flag anywhere, with its
signature red and white stripes and blue
patch with white stars. But did you know 1. Who sewed the first American
flag? When did she sew it?
our flag hasn’t always looked the way it
does now?
______________________________________________
The first American flag was sewed by
Betsy Ross in 1776. The flag had thirteen ______________________________________________
red and white stripes like our current flag, 2. What did the American flag look like
but had only 13 stars. These 13 stars and
in 1776?
stripes represented the 13 colonies in
America at that time. The 13 white stars ______________________________________________
were in the shape of a circle on a blue
______________________________________________
square in the corner.
The American flag went through a few ______________________________________________
more changes between 1776 and 1818. In _____________________________________________
1795, the flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes
for the 15 states in our country at that 3. Why does the current American
time. Finally, in 1818, congress ruled that the flag have 50 stars?
amount of stripes must stay at 13 to
______________________________________________
represent the original 13 colonies, but that
the stars must represent the amount of ______________________________________________
states in the United States of America. ______________________________________________
In 1960, when Hawaii became a state, the
American flag got its 50th star. Our flag 4. How is our flag the same as it was
has remained the same ever since. in 1776? How is it different?
______________________________________________
Define It: 13 colonies ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

The American Flag KEY

You could could probably recognize the
American flag anywhere, with its
signature red and white stripes and blue
patch with white stars. But did you know 1. Who sewed the first American
flag? When did she sew it?
our flag hasn’t always looked the way it
does now?
Betsy Ross sewed the first flag in
The first American flag was sewed by 1776.
Betsy Ross in 1776. The flag had thirteen
red and white stripes like our current flag, 2. What did the American flag look like
but had only 13 stars. These 13 stars and in 1776?
stripes represented the 13 colonies in
In 1776, the American flag had 13 red
America at that time. The 13 white stars
were in the shape of a circle on a blue and white stripes. It had 13 stars that
square in the corner. were in the shape of a circle on top
The American flag went through a few
more changes between 1776 and 1818. In of a blue square.
1795, the flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes 3. Why does the current American
for the 15 states in our country at that
flag have 50 stars?
time. Finally, in 1818, congress ruled that the
amount of stripes must stay at 13 to The current American flag has 50
represent the original 13 colonies, but that stars because there are 50 states.
the stars must represent the amount of
states in the United Sates of America. 4. How is our flag the same as it was
In 1960, when Hawaii became a state, the in 1776? How is it different?
American flag got its 50th star. Our flag
Both flags have 13 red and white
has remained the same ever since.
stripes and both have stars. In 1776,

Define It: 13 colonies our flag had only 13 stars. Our flag
now has 50 stars.
Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Helicopters 1. How is a helicopter different than

an airplane?
What is made of steel, has rotating blades, no
wings, and flies about 105 miles per hour? If ______________________________________________
you guessed a helicopter you are correct. You
______________________________________________
probably don’t see helicopters flying in the
sky as much as you do airplanes, but ______________________________________________
helicopters are important for many reasons.
2. How do helicopters help fight forest
One great thing about helicopters is that they
can take off and land vertically. This means fires?
they do not need a runway to start flying, like
______________________________________________
a plane does. Because they need less room
to take off and land, helicopters are often ______________________________________________
used by hospitals in emergencies. They can
______________________________________________
land in many places planes cannot, including
rooftops! _____________________________________________
Helicopters, also known as choppers, are also
3. Why do hospitals use helicopters?
useful for fighting forest fires. Helicopters
carry tanks or helibuckets filled with water to ______________________________________________
put out fires. The helicopter pilots do water
______________________________________________
drops, which is the action of releasing water
from the tanks onto the blazing fires. ______________________________________________
Something else that helicopters can do that
4. Write one new fact you learned
plans cannot is hover. It is incredibly difficult
for a pilot to hover a helicopter for long about helicopters.
periods of time. Hovering is helpful in rescue
______________________________________________
missions. Armed forces, police, and
firefighters may use hovering helicopters to ______________________________________________
rescue people or animals in danger.
______________________________________________
Helicopters may be noisy, but they sure are
important! ______________________________________________

Define It: hover

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Helicopters KEY 1. How is a helicopter different than

What is made of steel, has rotating blades, no an airplane.
wings, and flies about 105 miles per hour? If
you guessed a helicopter you are correct. You
probably don’t see helicopters flying in the Helicopters do not have wings and
sky as much as you do airplanes, but
airplanes do. Helicopters take off and
helicopters are important for many reasons.
One great thing about helicopters is that they land vertically. Airplanes do not.
can take off and land vertically. This means
they do not need a runway to start flying, like
a plane does. Because they need less room 2. How do helicopters help fight forest
to take off and land, helicopters are often
fires?
used by hospitals in emergencies. They can
land in many places planes cannot, including Helicopters help fight forest fires by
rooftops!
doing water drops. Water drops
Helicopters, also known as choppers, are also
useful for fighting forest fires. Helicopters release water over the fires.
carry tanks or helibuckets filled with water to
3. Why do hospitals use helicopters?
put out fires. The helicopter pilots do water
drops, which is the action of releasing water Hospitals use helicopters because
from the tanks onto the blazing fires.
they need less space for takeoff and
Something else that helicopters can do that
plans cannot is hover. It is incredibly difficult can be used in emergencies.
for a pilot to hover a helicopter for long
4. Write one new fact you learned
periods of time. Hovering is helpful in rescue
missions. Armed forces, police, and about helicopters.
firefighters may use hovering helicopters to
Answers will vary.
rescue people or animals in danger.
Helicopters may be noisy, but they sure are
important!

Define It: hover

Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Ladybugs
Thanks to their bright color and signature
spots, ladybugs are not hard to find. You’ve
probably seen these beautiful, spotted
creatures on a windowsill, leaves, or even 1. Describe the physical appearance
your clothes! of a ladybug:
There is a reason most ladybugs have a
bright red color and spots. It’s to help ______________________________________________
keep their predators away! Like tree frogs,
______________________________________________
the bright color of a ladybug tells
predators that they are no good for them. ______________________________________________
In fact, ladybugs can ooze out fluid from 2. How do ladybugs keep predators
their legs that makes them taste bad!
Besides being known for being good luck away?
charms, ladybugs are also known as a ______________________________________________
farmer’s best friend. This is because they
______________________________________________
eat plant-eating bugs that kill farmers’
crops. Even ladybug larvae like bugs; they ______________________________________________
begin eating them the minute they hatch
_____________________________________________
from eggs!
Ladybugs live about 2-3 years in their 3. How do ladybugs help farmers?
natural habitats. They are about ¼ of an ______________________________________________
inch long and weigh less than a paperclip.
Most ladybugs are red, but they can also ______________________________________________
be yellow, orange, brown, or even all black! ______________________________________________
So you see, ladybugs might be a good luck
______________________________________________
charm, but they are also an incredibly
important insect! ______________________________________________
4. Write one new fact you learned
Define It: predator about ladybugs.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade Image Courtesy of Free Digital Photos.net/Suvro Datta
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Ladybugs KEY
Thanks to their bright color and signature
spots, ladybugs are not hard to find. You’ve
probably seen these beautiful, spotted
creatures on a windowsill, leaves, or even
your clothes! 1. Describe the physical appearance
There is a reason most ladybugs have a of a ladybug:
bright red color and spots. It’s to help
keep their predators away! Like tree frogs, A ladybug has black spots. Most
the bright color of a ladybug tells ladybugs are red, but they can also
predators that they are no good for them.
be yellow, orange, brown, and black.
In fact, ladybugs can ooze out fluid from
their legs that makes them taste bad! 2. How do ladybugs keep predators
Besides being known for being good luck away?
charms, ladybugs are also known as a
farmer’s best friend. This is because they Ladybugs keep predators away
eat plant-eating bugs that kill farmers’ because they are bright. They also
crops. Even ladybug larvae like bugs; they
ooze out a fluid from their legs that
begin eating them the minute they hatch
from eggs! makes them taste bad.
Ladybugs live about 2-3 years in their 3. How do ladybugs help farmers?
natural habitats. They are about ¼ of an
inch long and weigh less than a paperclip. Ladybugs help farmers by eating the
Most ladybugs are red, but they can also bugs that kill farmers’ crops.
be yellow, orange, brown, or even all black!
4. Write one new fact you learned
So you see, ladybugs might be a good luck
charm, but they are also an incredibly about ladybugs.
important insect! Answers will vary.

Define It: predator

Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade Image Courtesy of Free Digital Photos.net/Suvro Datta
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Video Games
Children all over the world love to play video
games. You may think video games are a new
hobby that you and your friends enjoy, but they
have actually been around for a long time, and
they have seen a lot of changes! 1. What is the main idea of this
The first video games date back to the 1950s, and passage?
were played only on computers. That was over
60 years ago! However, video games did not
______________________________________________
become popular until the 1970s.
Early video games were known as arcade games. ______________________________________________
A popular game was called Pong. In Pong, the
player had to work to bounce a ball from side to ______________________________________________
side on the computer screen. Video games like 2. When were the first video games
Pong were very basic and looked nothing like the
video games you are used to playing on your invented? What were they played on?
computer, TV, and handheld devices today.
______________________________________________
The 1980’s brought about racing, adventure, and
fighting games. These games were much more ______________________________________________
like the games kids play today,
In 1989, Nintendo invented the Gameboy, which ______________________________________________
was a video game system players could hold in _____________________________________________
their hands and take from place to place.
3-D video games were invented in the 1990s. 3. What is a Gameboy? When was it
These are the games kids play to this day.
invented?
Think of the changes video games have been
through in less than 50 years. Players used to ______________________________________________
only be able to play a few basic games on their
computer. Then came the systems that players ______________________________________________
could use to play games on their televisions. ______________________________________________
These days, games can be played on systems
that fit in your hands. Video games are sure to ______________________________________________
go through many more changes in the years to
______________________________________________
come.
4. What do you think video games will
Define It: handheld be like in 10 years?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Video Games KEY

Children all over the world love to play video
games. You may think video games are a new
hobby that you and your friends enjoy, but they
have actually been around for a long time, and
they have seen a lot of changes!
The first video games date back to the 1950s, and 1. What is the main idea of this
were played only on computers. That was over passage?
60 years ago! However, video games did not
become popular until the 1970s. The main idea of this passage is that
Early video games were known as arcade games.
A popular game was called Pong. In Pong, the video games have been around a long
player had to work to bounce a ball from side to time and are always changing.
side on the computer screen. Video games like
Pong were very basic and looked nothing like the 2. When were the first video games
video games you are used to playing on your
invented? What were they played on?
computer, TV, and handheld devices today.
The 1980’s brought about racing, adventure, and The first video games were invented
fighting games. These games were much more
like the games kids play today, in the 1950s. They were played on the
In 1989, Nintendo invented the Gameboy, which computer.
was a video game system players could hold in
their hands and take from place to place. 3. What is a Gameboy? When was it
3-D video games were invented in the 1990s.
invented?
These are the games kids play to this day.
Think of the changes video games have been A Gameboy is a handheld video game
through in less than 50 years. Players used to
only be able to play a few basic games on their you can play in your hands. It was
computer. Then came the systems that players invented in 1989.
could use to play games on their televisions.
These days, games can be played on systems 4. What do you think video games will
that fit in your hands. Video games are sure to
be like in 10 years?
go through many more changes in the years to
come. Answers will vary.

Define It: handheld

Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Sharks 1. How many species of sharks are

Of all the animals swimming in the ocean, sharks there? Name two species the
might be one of the scarier species with their passage mentions.
sharp teeth and glassy eyes. It is true that
sharks can be scary and dangerous, but most ______________________________________________
keep to themselves and stay away from people.
There are over 440 different species of sharks ______________________________________________
swimming around, but some sharks are more
______________________________________________
popular than others. Angel, tiger, hammerhead,
and great white sharks are probably some 2. What is a shark’s skeleton made of?
sharks that you have heard of.
Did you know that sharks do not have a single How is it helpful to the shark?
bone in their body? It’s true! Sharks’ skeletons ______________________________________________
are made up of cartilage, which is a flexible kind
of tissue that makes up human ______________________________________________
ears and noses. This makes it easy for sharks
______________________________________________
to move in and out of tight spaces and glide
easily through the ocean waters. 3. How can you tell that sharks have
Sharks have excellent senses of smelling and
hearing. They can hear a fish swimming up to excellent hearing?
500 feet away and can smell a single drop of ______________________________________________
blood in a large pool!
Great white sharks are the deadliest sharks in ______________________________________________
the water; they can swim up to 25 miles per hour
______________________________________________
in the water and launch themselves up to 10 feet
in the air to catch their prey. While great whites 4. Why are basking sharks and
are indeed scary, there are plenty of harmless
sharks too. The basking shark prefers the taste nursing sharks considered mostly
of plankton to fish or people. Nurse sharks are harmless?
lazy and prefer to lay on the ocean floor and
wait for their dinner to come to them. As you ______________________________________________
can see, there are many types of sharks and a
lot to learn about each of them! ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Define It: species

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Sharks KEY 1. How many species of sharks are

Of all the animals swimming in the ocean, sharks there? Name two species the
might be one of the scarier species with their passage mentions.
sharp teeth and glassy eyes. It is true that There are over 440 species of
sharks can be scary and dangerous, but most sharks. (Second part of answer will
keep to themselves and stay away from people. vary)
There are over 440 different species of sharks
2. What is a shark’s skeleton made of?
swimming around, but some sharks are more
popular than others. Angel, tiger, hammerhead, How is it helpful to the shark?
and great white sharks are probably some A shark’s skeleton is made of
sharks that you have heard of.
Did you know that sharks do not have a single cartilage. It’s helpful because it allows
bone in their body? It’s true! Sharks’ skeletons the sharks to move in and out of tight
are made up of cartilage, which is a flexible kind
of tissue that makes up human spaces and move easily through the
ears and noses. This makes it easy for sharks
water.
to move in and out of tight spaces and glide
easily through the ocean waters. 3. How can you tell that sharks have
Sharks have excellent senses of smelling and
hearing. They can hear a fish swimming up to excellent hearing?
500 feet away and can smell a single drop of I can tell that sharks have excellent
blood in a large pool!
Great white sharks are the deadliest sharks in hearing because the passage says
the water; they can swim up to 25 miles per hour
they can hear a fish swimming 500
in the water and launch themselves up to 10 feet
in the air to catch their prey. While great whites feet away.
are indeed scary, there are plenty of harmless
sharks too. The basking shark prefers the taste 4. Why are basking sharks and
of plankton to fish or people. Nurse sharks are nursing sharks considered mostly
lazy and prefer to lay on the ocean floor and
wait for their dinner to come to them. As you harmless?
can see, there are many types of sharks and a
lot to learn about each of them! They are considered harmless
because they don’t attack humans.

Define It: species

Answers may vary, especially if you have
students use their own words instead of
the define it! cards or a dictionary

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Types of Volcanoes
Volcanoes are openings in the Earth’s surface.
You may think of volcanoes as mountains, and
many of them look like mountains or hills, but they
can simply be an opening in the ground. Active
volcanoes let ash, gas, and magma escape.
Sometimes we refer to these escapes as volcanic
eruptions when the release of magma, ash, and
gas is sudden and violent. 1. What is a volcano?
There are three main types of volcanoes; the
composite volcano, the shield volcano, and the ______________________________________________
cinder cone. The composite volcano, also called ______________________________________________
the stratovolcano, is probably what you think of in
your head when you picture a volcano. Composite 2. What is a volcanic eruption?
volcanoes are very old and are made up of layer
______________________________________________
upon layer of hardened lava, cinder, and ash.
These layers give them their steep sides and large ______________________________________________
size. They have a crater at the top which allows
magma to escape during an eruption. 3. How do composite volcanoes get
Shield volcanoes are shaped more like hills than their shape and size?
mountains. They are often called the “gentle
volcano” because they don’t have violent eruptions. ______________________________________________
Instead, lava flows slowly and builds up over time
______________________________________________
to create a sloping hill.
Cinder cone volcanoes are the smallest volcanoes ______________________________________________
and are created by violent eruptions that blow
chunks of lava into the air. The lava breaks upon 4. Why are shield volcanoes often
landing, creating a cinder cone volcano. called “gentle volcanoes”?
So there you have it! Volcanoes can be very
different! Next time you are learning about ______________________________________________
volcanoes, see if you can identify what type of
volcano you a reading about! ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Define It: magma ______________________________________________
5. Which volcanoes are the smallest
volcanoes?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Name: _________________________________________
Directions: Read the passage then answer the questions below.

Types of Volcanoes KEY

Volcanoes are openings in the Earth’s surface.
You may think of volcanoes as mountains, and
many of them look like mountains or hills, but they
can simply be an opening in the ground. Active
volcanoes let ash, gas, and magma escape.
Sometimes we refer to these escapes as volcanic
eruptions when the release of magma, ash, and
gas is sudden and violent. 1. What is a volcano?
There are three main types of volcanoes; the
composite volcano, the shield volcano, and the A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s
cinder cone. The composite volcano, also called surface.
the stratovolcano, is probably what you think of in
your head when you picture a volcano. Composite 2. What is a volcanic eruption?
volcanoes are very old and are made up of layer
A volcanic eruption is the escape of
upon layer of hardened lava, cinder, and ash.
These layers give them their steep sides and large magma, ash, and gas in a violent way.
size. They have a crater at the top which allows
magma to escape during an eruption. 3. How do composite volcanoes get
Shield volcanoes are shaped more like hills than their shape and size?
mountains. They are often called the “gentle
volcano” because they don’t have violent eruptions. Composite volcanoes get their size
Instead, lava flows slowly and builds up over time
and shape from hardened lava, ash,
to create a sloping hill.
Cinder cone volcanoes are the smallest volcanoes and cinder building up slowly over a
and are created by violent eruptions that blow
chunks of lava into the air. The lava breaks upon long period of time.
landing, creating a cinder cone volcano. 4. Why are shield volcanoes often
So there you have it! Volcanoes can be very
different! Next time you are learning about called “gentle volcanoes”?
volcanoes, see if you can identify what type of
volcano you a reading about! Shield volcanoes are called gentle
volcanoes because they don’t have
Define It: magma violent eruptions.
Answers may vary, especially if you have 5. Which volcanoes are the smallest
students use their own words instead of volcanoes?
the define it! cards or a dictionary
The smallest volcanoes are cinder
cone volcanoes.
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Define It: electricity Define It: solitary
a form of energy that is
carried through wires and is being alone; living without
used to operate machines, companions (friends or family)
lights, appliances, etc.

Define It: festivals Define It: felines

an annual celebration or a cat or other member of the
anniversary cat family (like cougars and
pumas)

Define It: evaporates Define It: 13 colonies

the 13 colonies were the original
to turn from liquid into vapor locations British settlers lived in
(mist, steam) North America. They later
became the first 13 states in
the United States of America

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

 Define It: hover Define It: predator
to stay floating or fluttering in an animal that hunts other
the air animals for food

Define It: handheld Define It: species

small and light enough to be a group of related animals
able to hold and carry in your
hands

Define It: adaptations Define It: magma

hot fluid from underneath the
changes in a living thing to help
earth's surface that turns into
it survive in its habitat
lava or igneous rock after it
cools

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

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