4th Grade Common Core: RI.4.1

Find out about three different subgroups of arthropods- insects, arachnids, and myriapods.

Students will enjoy reading about bats, skunks, owls, and other nocturnal animals.

Learn about the weasel-like animal known as the polecat.

An amazing article about your brain, plus a series of seven reading comprehension questions to go with the article.

This non-fiction article about owls describes how they're adapted for nighttime hunting. Includes a page of reading comprehension questions, a vocabulary activity, and a writing prompt.

Answer the question on this worksheet. Questions include: "Can a dolphin drown? Explain." and "Is a bat a mammal or a bird? Explain."

Learn about a monarch butterfly's metamorphosis as it transforms from a caterpillar into a butterfly.
(Approx. Grade Level: 3-4)

Learn about the gas giants that can be found beyond the asteroid belt.

Have you ever heard of a barking deer? If you visit South America you may see muntjacs - small deer that like dogs.

The hammerhead shark is one of the fiercest and most dangerous animals in the sea. It uses electroreceptors in its unusual-shaped head to find prey.

Learn how alligators and crocodiles are different and how they're similar.

Learn how walnuts grow, and why they're important to people.

An enriching article about your bones; includes comprehension questions.

Even though they are sometimes called earth pigs, aardvarks aren't really related to pigs at all.

This short biography of Walt Disney is filled with interesting facts.  Students read the biography and test their comprehension with the questions that follow.

The bushy-tailed, big-eared fennec fox in an amazing species that is adapted to live in desert climates.

Read about the slow-moving sloth from Central and South America.

Learn about the anatomy and behaviors of one of the most feared spiders in the world.

An article about the history of the Jack o' Lantern.  Includes comprehension and vocabulary questions.
(Approx. Grade Levels: 3-5)

Discover why Benjamin Franklin thought the wild turkey would be the ideal bird to symbolize America. Approximately 4th grade reading level.
(Approx. Grade Levels: 4-5)

Read about the differences between carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores.

It's not a bird, nor a plane.  It's a flying fish!  Learn all about these strange animals.

This strange looking animal has four legs, a long snout, large ears,and lurks in the forests of Central and South America.

When President Theodore Roosevelt wouldn't shoot a bear on a hunting trip, he became known as a kind and humane person.  The toy that was named after him reminds us of his legacy.

Learn about the three layers of the skin, and find out how skin keeps our bodies safe and healthy.

In Hawaii, Santa arrives in an outrigger canoe, or sometimes he even catches a wave and surfs into the islands. Learn about this, and other unique Hawaiian Christmas traditions.
(Approx. Grade Level: 4-6)

The world's smallest bird - the bee hummingbird - can hover in place, fly upside down, and even fly backwards.

These unusual animals spend most of their lives at sea, but occasionally climb onto Pacific beaches for a period of rest and molting.

Discover the similarities and differences between frogs and toads.

This nonfiction article describes the many unknown virtues of dandelions.

Read about the lucky turkeys that have been pardoned by American presidents throughout history.
(Approx. Grade Levels: 4-5)

Earthworms have no eyes, no nose, no ears, no bones, no arms, and no legs. They do, however, have very complex bodies.

Learn about the terrestrial inner planets of our solar system.

Discover how jaguars live and hunt, and learn why these beautiful animals are endangered.

The wolverine is a solitary, but fierce, hunter who lives in snowy, northern climates across the world.

Are grasshoppers a farmer's friend or foe?  Actually, both.  Find out how grasshoppers can help and harm humans.

Are dragons real?  You bet they are.  Indonesians know all about the fierce lizard known as the Komodo dragon.

Discover everything you wanted to know about spiny hedgehogs.

Learn how dolphins and porpoises are alike, and how they're different. This article includes a question page, a Venn diagram, and a vocabulary activity.

Bighorn Sheep have horns that weigh up to 30 pounds. Males will battle by ramming each other in the head.

Learn about the unusual life of world's strangest-looking mammal.

This article teaches students the legends and history behind three symbols of St. Patrick's Day - shamrock, the Blarney Stone, and leprechauns. This article is written at approximately a 5th grade reading level.

I bet you didn't know that an octopus can vanish in a cloud of smoke.  It's just one of the unique ways an octopus can defend itself.

Learn about several birds that run and walk and swim instead of fly.

Bears don't wear glasses, but the spectacled bear from South America has circular markings that make it look like it's got spectacles.

An article about the history of trick-or-treat.  Includes questions.
(Approx. Grade Levels: 3-5)

A short passage about haiku and three haiku poems.

Discover the stink bug - an animal that uses a noxious odor to scare enemies away.

Can your students tell a reptile from an amphibian?  This compare and contrast article will help students learn the differences between these two vertebrate groups.

Learn about the events that cause winter, how animals prepare for winter, and wintertime activities people enjoy.

The article explains how constellations got their names (comparing it to finding pictures in the clouds) and how the same constellation can be known by different names across the globe.

A porcupine rattles its quills and sends off an unpleasant odor to protect itself.  Finding yourself on the wrong end of a porcupine's quills may be more thrills than you're looking for.

The flamingo is one of the most recognized birds in the world because of it's unusual body shape and hot-pink feathers.

Comparing two texts - an article and a poem; Learn about Venus Flytraps and answer the questions.

This informative article compares and contrasts Thanksgiving in the United States to Thanksgiving in Canada. Approximately 3rd grade reading level.
(Approx. Grade Levels: 3-5)

Discover the reasons animals migrate and read about the places they travel.

A scientific article about atoms, the building blocks for molecules and everything that's made of matter

The cutest mammals in Australia actually have very sharp claws and they spend more time asleep than they do awake.

From ancient cave discoveries to Aztec ceremonies to playing a part in the invention of the microwave, popcorn has a fascinating history.

Learn all about roly-poly pill bugs, which curl up in a ball to protect themselves.

Students will enjoy this cute poem about the unusual names that trees are given.

Read about the three different types of wetlands:  swamps, bogs, and marshes.

Discover how polar bears have adapted to live in the Arctic.

This passage features an overview of George Washington's life.

Learn how a tree makes its food (glucose) through a process called photosynthesis.

In 1953, two climbers, Edmund P. Hillary and Tenzig Norgay, became the first men to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.

The secretary bird is a large, terrestrial raptor from Africa. It eats mice, hares, mongooses, lizards, and even snakes.

A short biographical overview of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

Hibernation is when animals slow down for the winter and fall into a sleep-like state. Learn about animal hibernation with this interesting article.

Learn the similarities and differences between butterflies and moths.

Some desert plants are adapted to thrive in dry and hot climates.

Learn the similarities and differences between boas and pythons with this compare/contrast article.

Learn how ladybugs got their name, and why some farmers love them.

The honey badger is arguably the most fearless animal on Earth. It eats porcupines and venomous snakes, raids beehives for honey, kidnaps baby cheetahs, and steals food from hungry lions.

This article teaches students how and why we sneeze. 

Learn all about blimps, what they are used for, and how they work.

Read all about the life and works of Theodore Seuss Geisel. This passage was written at a 3rd or 4th grade reading level. There is also a page of reading comprehension questions to answer at the end of the passage.

Read the passage about Rosa Parks and answer the comprehension questions.

An informative article about simple machines

Here is a quick-read passage about an American symbol for freedom.

Here is a nonfiction passage about the desert cottontail, an interesting animal that lives in the American southwest.

Students read a short nonfiction paragraph about cheetahs and answer the questions that follow.

Learn tons of fascinating facts about iguanas in this article.

Chameleons can change color, rotate their eyes, and have toes that are specially adapted for climbing.

Learn the causes and effects of a toothache.

This biographical article highlights the major events of Abraham Lincoln's life.

Did you know that stingrays are in a group of fish called batoids because their bodies look like bats gliding through the water? Learn this and other interesting facts about stingrays in this reading comprehension activity!

Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States. It is home to Old Faithful, a geyser that regularly erupts with a spray of water and steam.

Learn how the recycling process works, and what items can be recycled.

Learn all about whale sharks - the world's largest fish! This reading comprehension activity includes questions about the text, vocabulary words, and a writing prompt. An answer key is included.

Read about Mount St. Helens and its famous volcanic eruption. Then answer reading comprehension questions about the article.

Crater Lake National Park is located in Oregon, in the United States. Crater Lake is a deep blue lake sitting within a crater. It is the deepest lake in the USA.

The Erie Canal is an important waterway in New York State. Built between 1817 and 1825, it impacted the economy of both the state and the country as a whole. Reading comprehension questions, a vocabulary exercise, and a writing prompt follow the article.

Students will read this informative article about spider monkeys--the acrobats of the rain forest! Then they'll answer questions, including a vocabulary activity and writing prompt.

Learn all about the sleep cycle, dreaming, and more in this fascinating nonfiction article!

In 1803, the President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France. This doubled the size of the United States.

Did you know that rabbits and hares are actually different? Learn the similarities and differences between rabbits and hares in this reading comprehension article. Comprehension questions, a writing prompt, and vocabulary words are included.

Learn about the reason why leaves change their color in the fall! This worksheet includes reading comprehension questions, a writing prompt, and vocabulary terms. An answer key is included.

This reading comprehension article and worksheet gives a great overview on the concept of erosion.

The Grand Canyon is known for its enormous size and colorful landscape. It also reveals some of the most ancient rock layers in all of North America.

This article includes lots of facts about the amazing saguaro cactus of the Sonoran Desert. Test students' reading comprehension skills by having them answer the questions after reading the article.

Your students will learn about how the first settlers in America established their colonies and the hardships they faced.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was an exploration of U.S. land from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

Pseudoscorpions are tiny, harmless scorpion-like creatures that can sometimes be found in bathrooms.  Read about these interesting arachnids and answer the questions.

What is that fuzzy green stuff growing on the sandwich you left out for too long? It's mold! Learn all about what mold is, how it forms, and how mold is both harmful and helpful in this fascinating article. Worksheet includes comprehension questions, a writing prompt, and vocabulary terms.

Glacier National Park covers over a million acres of Montana. It is home to grizzly bears, moose, wolverines and lynxes.

Niagara Falls is located between the United States and Canada. It is a popular tourist destination for visitors from around the world.

Learn about the Pentagon with this reading comprehension passage. The worksheet includes a vocabulary exercise, short answer and multiple choice questions, and a writing prompt.

In 1932, aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic.

This engaging article will teach readers all about otters. Then, they'll complete reading comprehension questions that reinforce key ideas from the article.

Did you know people have been chewing gum for thousands of years? Learn about the history of bubble gum in this fascinating article! Reading comprehension questions, writing prompt, and vocabulary words are included in this activity.

Learn what makes vertebrates and invertebrates different in this clever poem! Children will choose an animal to classify as a vertebrate or invertebrate in a writing activity, plus learn some new vocabulary words, and answer reading comprehension questions. An answer key is included.

Count the symbols in each picture to determine if each material is positively charged or negatively charged.

Draw arrows to show the path of electricity in the series and parallel circuits.