Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex: Reading Comprehension passages (PDF)

Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex: Reading Comprehension Passages (PDF)

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

FULL CATALOG OF DOWNLOADING LINKS HERE

Reading Passage Links:

Astronomy & Space Science

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Volcanoes, Rocks, & Mountains

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Rock Cycle, Soil, & Sinkholes

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Mars, Glaciers, & Antarctica

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Water Cycle, Acid Rain, & Wastewater

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Insects, Animals, & Ecosystems

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Bioluminescence & Insects

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

Animal Skin, Cats, & T. Rex

• PDF

• Word Docs

• Google Docs

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.