Reading Passages Teaching Resources
Explore reading passages ready to be used in your primary classroom to assess your students' comprehension skills and build their confidence as readers!
Created by teachers for teachers, each reading passage in this extensive collection has been designed to enhance student comprehension skills and build understanding. This collection of Australian English curriculum-aligned comprehension passages was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team, and each has undergone a review by an expert on our team to ensure it’s ready for your classroom.
Not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick primer from our teacher team to help you get the most out of this teacher tool!
What Are Reading Passages?
Reading passages are a set of written texts that are typically used for reading comprehension exercises and assessments. They can come in various forms, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama. They are used to provide a text for students to read and analyse and are often accompanied by questions or tasks to assess comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and other language skills.
How to Use Reading Passages in the Classroom
This collection of short reading passages can be used for a variety of needs, including:
- Practising reading fluency
- Provide students with practise in reading comprehension and critical thinking skills
- Measuring students’ reading level
- Exposing students to different genres, authors and writing styles
Best of all? Teach Starter's reading passages have been developed so they can be used for individual or group activities.
- Plus Plan
Year 4 Magazine - "What's Buzzing?" (Issue 1) Task Cards
A set of five literacy rotation task cards to be used in conjunction with Issue 1 of Teach Starter's Year 4 magazine.
- Plus Plan
10 Fascinating Facts About the Sydney Harbour Bridge – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for an article including ten facts about the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.
- Free Plan
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: No Free Rides! – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a comic from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
10 Fascinating Facts About Mount Fuji – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for an article from the Year 6 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
10 Fascinating Facts About Minibeasts – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a fascinating facts article from the Year 2 magazine (Issue 2).
- Plus Plan
Jamie Oliver Biography – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a biography from the Year 3 magazine (Issue 2).
- Plus Plan
Wolfie: A Tell-all Interview – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 2 magazine (Issue 3).
- Free Plan
Letter to the Editor (Sugary Snacks Ban) – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a letter to the editor from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
The Aether – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
The Time Traveller’s Timepiece – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 4 magazine (Issue 2).
- Free Plan
Digital Warriors: Scroll Trolls – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for the comic from the Year 4 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
Advertisement Worksheet – Milton Mentor
A comprehension worksheet for a persuasive magazine advertisement about a digital personal assistant.
- Free Plan
Letter to the Editor (More Screen Time) – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a magazine article from the Year 2 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
J. K. Rowling Biography – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a biography from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 2).
- Free Plan
The Secret Society of Vegetable Venerators – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 2).
- Plus Plan
Welcome to India – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a country profile from the Year 6 magazine (Issue 2).
- Plus Plan
Year 6 Magazine - "What's Buzzing?" (Issue 1) Task Cards
A set of five literacy rotation task cards to be used in conjunction with Issue 1 of Teach Starter's Year 6 magazine.
- Plus Plan
Recess Rules: The More the Merrier – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a comic about the importance of making a variety of friendships.
- Plus Plan
The Changing Seasons – Worksheet
Read and write about the changing seasons with a comprehension passage and worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Human Histories: Helpful Heroes – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for an article about people around the world who have dedicated their lives to helping others.
- Plus Plan
Digital Warriors: Social Footprints – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a comic about being safe when sharing photos on digital platforms.
- Plus Plan
The Adventures of Pirate Nup and Captain Yet – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 4 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
The Teleporting Trampoline - Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a fake advertisement from the Year 6 magazine (Issue 2).
- Plus Plan
Colossal Cinemas: Save the Seat – Project
A project where students interact with grid reference systems for a realistic movie cinema context.
- Plus Plan
Home Reading Challenge #1 – Years 3-6
A set of reading activities that parents can use to educate children remotely or that teachers can send to students working at home when schools are closed.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension – Why Our Bodies Need Water
A comprehension activity about 'Why Our Bodies Need Water'.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension Task Cards - Finding Word Meaning In Context
A set of comprehension task cards to help students find word meaning in context when reading.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension Task Cards - Distinguishing Between Real And Make-Believe
A set of comprehension task cards to help students distinguish between real and make-believe when reading.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension - Muddy Footprint Mystery
A fun script and set of questions to help students develop reading and comprehension strategies.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension - Grandpa's Birthday Surprise
A fun script and set of questions to help students develop reading and comprehension strategies.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension - Three Billy Goats Gruff
A fun script and set of questions to help students develop reading and comprehension strategies.
- Plus Plan
Comprehension - Lion and The Mouse
A fun script and set of questions to help students develop reading and comprehension strategies.