Name: Reading Comprehension for Presidents' Day: President John F. Kennedy
SKU: 64e76c4e93d2001a448ff25f
Price: 39.99 USD
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Product description

From the author

Reading Comprehension for Presidents’ Day: President John F. Kennedy is a one-page PDF worksheet. A short biography, three comprehension questions and a lined personal-question panel combine reading and writing practice.

Students underline evidence for the first two questions. Print a copy for each learner and provide reading support suited to the group.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Answer questions about a short biography of John F. Kennedy and underline supporting evidence for the first two questions
Work out the meaning of the word equal from the sentence stating that Kennedy fought for equal (or the same) rights for all people
Determine the length of Kennedy's presidency from the dates 1961 to 1963 given in the text

Teaching tips

Model the underlining step on question 1 before students work alone, since two of the three questions ask for evidence to be marked directly in the passage.
Bring a real half dollar or a picture of one when reading the line about Kennedy's profile on the coin, so the detail is something students can look at.
Collect the responses to the side-panel prompt and sort the student-written questions into topics — childhood, Harvard, equal rights, the presidency — as a Presidents' Day discussion starter.

Skills covered

Citing text evidence — students underline the sentence in the Kennedy passage that supports their answer on the first two questions.
Vocabulary in context — students explain the word equal using the sentence about Kennedy fighting for equal rights for all people.
Question writing — students draft one question they would put to John F. Kennedy and give their reason for choosing it on the lined panel.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

What does the passage tell students about Kennedy before he reached the White House?

It covers his birth in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917, a near-fatal case of scarlet fever at age two, growing up with eight brothers and sisters, and graduating from Harvard University with honors.

How do students work out the third question, about the number of years Kennedy served?

The passage supplies the dates rather than the total: "He served as president from 1961 to 1963." Students read those years off the text and calculate the span, which turns the last item into a short reading-and-subtraction step.

What goes in the lined panel on the right-hand side of the sheet?

Student writing. The panel is headed "IF you could ask John F. Kennedy one question, what would it be and why?" and gives ruled lines for the question and the reason behind it.