Presidents Day Reading Comprehension Passages

About this resource

Looking for Presidents Day reading comprehension passages for grades 2 to 4? This set has 4 original passages about four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Two are shorter (78 and 87 words) and two are longer (115 and 126 words). Every sentence is numbered, every passage has a highlight-the-proof prompt and 5 questions (3 multiple choice, 2 short answer), and the answer key gives the proof sentence for each answer. Fillable PDF: type in it or print it.

EVERYTHING INSIDE (29 sheets)

• 4 passages, each as two student sheets: the passage with a picture and a highlight-the-proof prompt, then a sheet of 5 questions with room to write (38 numbered sentences in all, 406 words)
• 20 questions: 12 multiple choice (the right choice is a, b or c four times each) and 8 short answer with two writing lines
• A Word Match sheet: 6 words from the passages (surveyor, lawyer, proclamation, wildlife, nickname, invasion) to match to their meanings
• An Ask 10 People survey: "Who was the first president of the United States?" with two tally boxes, 10 squares to color for each answer and sentence frames
• A Fact Sorter: 8 facts to sort into "before he was president" and "while he was president"
• A Main Idea Web and a Write About It sheet with a drawing box and writing lines
• 13 student sheets in all, each with a "My name" line at the top
• An answer key on 3 sheets: every answer with its proof sentence, plus the word match, the sorter and the survey
• A reading tracker, a class page for 20 students, a filled example (an invented student), a roll-up, a family page, 18 note starters, a binder cover and spine, a Start Here sheet, a guide to the passages, a What's Next sheet and a thank-you and terms sheet

How It Works

1. Pick a passage. Start with the two shorter ones, then move to the longer ones.

2. The child reads the passage, highlights the sentence that matches the prompt, and writes its number.

3. On the next sheet the child answers 5 questions and goes back to the text to check.

4. Check with the key and record it on the tracker.

The Four Passages

George Washington (shorter) · Abraham Lincoln (shorter) · Theodore Roosevelt (longer) · Dwight D. Eisenhower (longer). Each passage tells a few well-known facts about the president: where he was born, the work he did, and one thing he is remembered for. Every fact is easy to check in an encyclopedia. The passages do not rate a president or take a side, and each one is written in our own words.

Built For The Child Holding The Sheet

A big "My name" line, one short instruction with a small picture, big print, numbered sentences, real clip art and room to write. Nothing on a student sheet is written for an adult: the key, tracker and notes are on separate teacher sheets. A small circle or square at the foot of a sheet marks a shorter or a longer passage.

What This Is, And What It Is Not

Who This Is For

Second, third and fourth grade teachers, special education teachers, interventionists and families who want Presidents Day reading passages with questions that stay close to the text.

More Reading For The Same Readers

Groundhog Day Reading Passages, 2nd Grade Reading Comprehension Passages, 1st Grade Reading Comprehension Passages and Decodable Passages with Comprehension Questions are in the Bright Path Sped store.