Enhance your students' close reading strategies, vocabulary, and writing skills with a Westward Expansion reading passage and accompanying activities.
Westward Expansion Facts for Kids – Close Reading Worksheets for Social Studies
With such limited time, many teachers are finding ways to integrate Social Studies content into their reading and writing blocks. We’re here to help!
This Close Reading and Informational Writing activity focuses on Westward Expansion and would be great as a way to wrap up your study of nonfiction reading skills, brainstorming, and writing informational text. It could be fun to extend your students’ interest in American History.
The resource provides a nonfiction passage written to provide students with necessary background information on the historical event, along with providing the following activities:
- Reading Comprehension Assessment
- Facts and Details Sorting Activity
- Key Vocabulary Graphic Organizer
- Informational Essay Prompt & Writing Page
An answer key is included with your download to make grading fast and easy!
Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding
In addition to independent student work time, use this worksheet as an activity for:
- Guided reading groups
- Lesson warm-up
- Lesson wrap-up
- Fast finishers
- Homework assignment
- Whole-class review (via smartboard)
For struggling readers, try the following:
- Provide read-aloud accommodations.
- Allow students to partner read the passage and complete the comprehension check together.
- Pre-teach vocabulary related to passages before reading.
- Build background before completing by viewing videos and images or discussing prior knowledge on the topic.
For fast finishers, enhance their learning by trying the following:
- Encourage students to look into the historical figures responsible for westward expansion or have them create posters highlighting the process.
- Have students enhance their writing into a complete five-paragraph essay.
Easily Download & Print
Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to download the PDF
Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete.
To save paper, we suggest printing the 2-page worksheets double-sided.
Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks.
Don’t stop there! Grab more Social Studies reading passage worksheets to fill your plans.
Practice and review concepts associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition using a cloze passage. Practice and review vocabulary associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition using a crossword puzzle. Demonstrate knowledge of Westward Expansion with an end of unit brochure project.
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Lewis and Clark Expedition - Cloze Worksheet
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Lewis and Clark Expedition - Crossword Puzzle
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Westward Expansion Tri-Fold Brochure Learning Log
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