Find facts in texts

Practice finding answers in informational text with four short reading passages for grade 3. Students read about a beaver pond, sky lights, elephant calls and an ancient clay library. Each page has four questions with three choices. A completed example shows how an answer matches a fact in the passage.

What is included

• Four student pages with 16 numbered questions and one completed example.
• Short passages, simple line-art pictures and space to circle each answer.
• Questions about stated facts, supporting facts and one named-child claim.
• A separate two-page teacher companion with all 16 answers and matching text evidence, a short teaching sequence, feedback, support and extension.
• Separate student and teacher PDFs and editable Google Docs to copy.

Prepare and use

Students should read short grade 3 informational texts and choose between three answers. Allow 1–3 minutes to print the sheets and set out pencils. Use four short sessions of 10–15 minutes each.

Start with the Example on “The busy beaver” sheet. Find the matching fact in the text, then continue through the four pages. For support, read one sentence at a time and let students point to a fact before circling. Read aloud when decoding blocks comprehension. For an extension, ask students to write a new question about one passage on spare paper and name its supporting fact.

The packet practices part of CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1: answering questions using facts from texts. Ask students to point to or read the fact that supports a choice while teaching. A circled answer alone does not show how the student found it. Sign in to download the PDFs or copy either Google Doc.

Students will

• Choose answers to informational questions using facts from the text.