Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex: Reading Comprehension passages (Docs)
Science, ELA, Reading, Reading Comprehension, Strategies, Resources for Teachers, Life Sciences, Animals, Insects, Nature & Plants
Writing Prompts, Worksheets & Printables, Centers, Activities, Teacher Tools, Assessments, Quizzes and Tests, Quizzes, Tests
About This Product
Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex: Reading Comprehension Passages (Docs)
This very engaging collection of life science reading passages about Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex is designed to bridge the gap between science and literacy through strengthening reading comprehension and sparking scientific curiosity in middle school students. Each passage blends English Language Arts skills with accurate science content that supports NGSS classroom practice. Ideal for interdisciplinary learning in ELA and Science. Suitable for Grade 9 review, too!
What Is Included?
There are (3) informational passages:
Tyrannosaurus rex: The Tyrant Lizard King
Step into the late Cretaceous and see T. rex up close, from its towering build and crushing bite to the clues fossils give about speed and feeding. CT scans, trackways, and healed injuries help scientists piece together how this predator lived.
Cats and Sweetness: A Taste They Don’t Have
A small change in a taste receptor means cats do not detect sugar. This trait fits a meat-first diet and helps explain why scent, texture, fats, and proteins matter more than sweetness.
Animal Skin: A Tool for Survival
Skin works as armor, thermostat, camouflage, warning, and display. Examples include the hippo’s natural sunscreen, zebra stripes that confuse attackers, and king snakes that copy coral snake colors to stay safe.
Student Tasks for Each Passage:
5 multiple-choice questions targeting main idea, key details, inference, vocabulary in context, and use of evidence
5 vocabulary matching items with clear, student-friendly definitions
5 text-based questions that require citing specific lines or facts
1 summary prompt that asks students to condense central ideas accurately
Full answer key for every section
Available Formats for this Resource
FULL CATALOG OF DOWNLOADING LINKS HERE
Reading Passage Links:
Astronomy & Space Science
Volcanoes, Rocks, & Mountains
Rock Cycle, Soil, & Sinkholes
Mars, Glaciers, & Antarctica
Water Cycle, Acid Rain, & Wastewater
Insects, Animals, & Ecosystems
Bioluminescence & Insects
Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex
Product Details
Length: 1e pages total
Grades: 6–8, also suitable for Grade 9 review
Use cases: close reading, stations, homework, intervention, test prep, and sub plans
Standards support: reinforces informational-text skills and supports NGSS-style sense making through observation, modeling, and clear use of claim, evidence, and reasoning
Why Teachers Choose This Set
Authentic science content paired with rigorous literacy practice
Consistent task structure across all passages for easier planning and smoother student routines
Clear, age-appropriate writing that builds confidence without oversimplifying
Use this set to reinforce ELA skills in science, to add literacy to your lessons, or to support independent work. The passages strengthen main idea, evidence use, vocabulary in context, inference, cause and effect, and summary writing. With ready-to-use assessments and complete answer keys, you can provide focused practice that is simple to run and fast to review.
Resource Tags
0 Reviews
Check out these other great products
