Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Over a thousand free reading comprehension worksheets updated daily. Fun facts and educational stories that parents and teachers can share with their kids and develop lesson plans.
- Skateboarding
- Football
- Giant Octopus
- John Adams
- Litmus Strips
- Bull Shark
- Jupiter
- Sleepover
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Goldfish
- Beluga Whale
- Outer Space
- Shawwal
- Parrotfish
- Judo
- Sun Bathing
- Truffles
- Surfing
- Gala
- Gun powder
- Poodle
- New Year's Eve
- Lemon
- Hot Dog
- Sabbath
- Flatfish
- Basking Shark
- Ghostflower
- Engine
- Backgammon
- Death Valley
- Director of Photography
- Ring Bearer
- Saturn
- Fried Rice
- Tennis
- Morel
- Store
- Youth Day
- Fish-eating Anemone
Skateboarding
Sunday March 21, 2010
Over 12.5 million people in the world skateboard. Skateboards started as "sidewalk surfboards" in the 1950's but the signature skateboard trick, the "ollie" that started it all, wasn't done until the 1970's. Skateboards got so popular that the military tested them in the 1990's to see if they were useful during combat operations.
Football
Saturday March 20, 2010
One of America's favorite sports, Football was actually played for the first time in ancient China. From there, the tackling and exciting pile-ups evolved in the Middle Ages as "mob ball," where loosely organized people would fight for a ball. If you think American football is intense and exciting, you should check out an English rugby match.
Giant Octopus
Friday March 19, 2010
Sailors once believed that giant octopi would pull down ships and eat men whole. The real giant octopus can reach up to 30 feet and weigh 600 pounds, but is shy and only comes out at night. Much like humans are left or right-handed, octopi have a favorite out of their eight tentacles.
John Adams
Thursday March 18, 2010
Unlike Washington and Jefferson, Adams, America's second President, only served one four-year term. He was one of the Founding Fathers and argued very passionately for passing the Declaration of Independence in front of the Continental Congress. He also had a lot of experience abroad and was key in dealing with Britain after the Revolutionary War.
Litmus Strips
Wednesday March 17, 2010
Litmus strips are very useful in testing how acidic or alkalide something is - to see whether it is an acid or a base. Lemons, for example, have a lot of acid and would show up red on a litmus test. Today's chemists and scientists use litmus paper while ancient scientists used lichens and tree moss.
Bull Shark
Tuesday March 16, 2010
Bull sharks live in shallow waters all around the world. Unlike most other sharks, they can swim in fresh water and often make their way up rivers and streams. Because of this, bull sharks are responsible for most shark attacks on humans. They're naturally solitary and very aggressive, so don't get too close.
Jupiter
Monday March 15, 2010
Jupiter is two and a half times as big as every other planet combined. It is known as a gas giant, which means a planet made out of gas without a solid surface.
Sleepover
Sunday March 14, 2010
Make sure Mom and Dad order pizza and get out of the way. Take over the den and play sleepover games like truth or dare and hide and seek. Tell secrets, stay up way past your bedtime and wake up in the morning to make pancakes. Your parents won't get any sleep and neither will you, but that's the fun!
Kung Pao Chicken
Saturday March 13, 2010
The preparation for Kung Pao chicken originates in the Sichuan province of China, and to be authentic, the dish must use Sichuan peppers and peppercorns. Western versions have peanuts and chili peppers. Watch out for this one, it is packed with a fiery flavor. If you like spicy food, be sure to give Kung Pao chicken a try.
Goldfish
Friday March 12, 2010
Goldfish are one of the most popular aquarium fish. They're members of the carp family and originated in Asia. There are many types of goldfish, and with proper care, most can live up to 20 years in good health. Are goldfish trouble? You decide. A group of goldfish is called a "troubling."
Beluga Whale
Thursday March 11, 2010
Considered small for a whale, the Beluga whale is the size of a dolphin. They also have a large bump on their heads, giving them a dome-like appearance. They live in large groups, or "pods," in Arctic waters and survive on fish. You may have heard about Beluga whales in the popular children's song, "Baby Beluga."
Outer Space
Wednesday March 10, 2010
Believe it or not, astronauts can enjoy very perishable foods, such as ice cream, in space. Ask your parents to search online for a place that sells freeze dried astronaut food. Your friends will never forget biting into a chunk of astronaut ice cream, which flew into space for the first time in 1968.
Shawwal
Tuesday March 9, 2010
The month of Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar and comes right after the month of Ramadan. During this month, devoted Muslims fast for six additional days. According to some Islamic beliefs, this is equal to fasting for an entire year and is a tradition of the very faithful.
Parrotfish
Monday March 8, 2010
Funny-looking parrotfish are bright colored and their faces are pinched, much like a parrot's. Their teeth are fused together and they eat coral by grinding their teeth and spitting out sand. As they eat, parrotfish play a big role in building up coral reefs and providing the sand necessary for the coral reef environment to survive.
Judo
Sunday March 7, 2010
Judo arose from another Japanese martial art, Jujutsu in the late 19th century. It is more like wrestling than other martial arts, even though the name "judo" means "gentleness" and "softness." The point is to force an opponent out of the ring with a series of punches and kicks. It became a male Olympic sport in 1964.
Sun Bathing
Saturday March 6, 2010
There is nothing nicer than lying out in the sun with a good book or your favorite music. It's even nicer to warm up after a long, cold swim. Make sure you're wearing the right amount of sunscreen and put another coat on after you've gone swimming. That way you can be happy, tan and healthy, too!
Truffles
Friday March 5, 2010
Truffles are a fungus that grows underground in France and Italy. However, these ugly lumps can cost around $1,000 a pound! Very flavorful, with an incredible smell, truffles are rare and prized in gourmet cooking. Truffle hunting is a booming industry and animals like pigs and dogs are trained to sniff out these gems, worth their weight in gold.
Surfing
Thursday March 4, 2010
The Hawaiian culture is ruled by the ocean. For hundreds of years, Hawaiian chiefs surfed on hardwood boards to unite with nature and they started the surfing craze. In 2007, surfers in Brazil broke the world record for the most surfers catching the same wave with 84 surfers riding at the exact same time.
Gala
Wednesday March 3, 2010
Gala Apples came from Australia and, just like the Pink Lady, are a child of the Golden Delicious apple. They are red and pink with yellow stripes and are some of the softest apples around, perfect for older folks and kids with braces. They are sweet and have a very mild flavor, making them a mellow snack.
Gun powder
Tuesday March 2, 2010
In 156 BC, Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty paid researches to look for the fountain of eternal life. Gunpowder, a substance that would end many lives, was invented instead. At first, this compound was used for bombs. Then the Chinese figured out that it was better contained inside a tube and shot out. The first bullet was born.
Poodle
Monday March 1, 2010
Hunters used the French poodle to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl after a hunt. These strong dogs had to be excellent swimmers, so most of their coarse hair was shaved off to eliminate drag. Hair was left on a poodle around joints that would get cold in the water, like the hips. This tradition inspired poodles' unique haircuts.
New Year's Eve
Sunday February 28, 2010
America's most famous New Year's Eve party is in Times Square, right in the middle of New York City. Right before midnight, a giant motorized ball "drops" during the last minute of the countdown. People scramble to get a kiss from a loved one when the ball drops all the way down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!
Lemon
Saturday February 27, 2010
Lemons are super-tart yellow fruit, high in vitamin C. They make a delicious and refreshing summer drink. They are very acidic and they make a great preservative for foods that turn yellow when exposed to air, like apples. Did you know that some lemon trees can grow up to 33 feet tall?
Hot Dog
Friday February 26, 2010
The first American hot dogs were served on Coney Island in 1870 and at the World's Fair in 1893. While it's usually made from beef and pork, veggie alternatives of the classic dog are popping up. Since hot dogs are sold completely cooked, they are an easy snack to make anytime, especially if you're watching baseball!
Sabbath
Thursday February 25, 2010
The Sabbath is a day of rest. It is a day when faithful people can stop what they are doing and pray, worship and remember their faith. Orthodox Jewish families celebrate the Sabbath by abstaining from most electrical and mechanical objects and not driving their cars on the day of rest.
Flatfish
Wednesday February 24, 2010
Flatfish are funny-looking fish that lie flat and camouflage against the sea bottom, with both of their eyes on top of their heads! Famous flatfish that are good to eat are: halibut, turbot, sole and flounder.
Basking Shark
Tuesday February 23, 2010
Right after the whale shark comes the world's second largest shark, the basking shark. The largest basking shark was caught in 1851 and was over 40 feet long. Basking sharks are filter feeders, just like whale sharks. They filter 2,000 tons of water per hour to draw out plankton and small fish.
Ghostflower
Monday February 22, 2010
The ghostflower is a delicate white flower with a splash of brown dots on the inside. It flowers from March to April and likes the arid environment of the desert. The hot temperatures and low altitudes in the Southwest are just right for groves of ghostflowers, which are native to North America.
Engine
Sunday February 21, 2010
A fine mist of gasoline and a spark from a spark plug ignite inside an "internal combustion engine" to create an explosion. This explosion shoots a piston away and makes the engine run. These engines have been around for over 100 years and find uses in locomotives and airplanes, not just cars.
Backgammon
Saturday February 20, 2010
Backgammon has a rich and ancient history. There have been backgammon boards found in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran and at sites from the Byzantine Empire. There was even a wooden backgammon board recovered from the wreckage of the Swedish ship, Vasa, which sunk in 1628. The name backgammon is English and most likely comes from the words “back" and “game."
Death Valley
Friday February 19, 2010
Straddling Nevada and California, east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest park in America. One attraction, Badwater, is 282 feet below sea level. The oldest stone in Death Valley is 1.7 billion years old and comes from a time when Death Valley was a lake.
Director of Photography
Thursday February 18, 2010
The director of photography works very closely with the film's director to achieve the artistic vision of the film. Another name for the director of photography is the cinematographer, and they control the camera and take responsibility for the shots that make up the movie.
Ring Bearer
Wednesday February 17, 2010
The ring bearer is a child from the family who dresses up in a handsome tuxedo and carries the wedding rings to the altar. A few wacky people have their favorite pet, like a beloved golden retriever, deliver the rings. It's an important job and somebody's got to do it!
Saturn
Tuesday February 16, 2010
Not only does Saturn have rings made of ice, rocks and dust, it has Titan, the second largest moon in the Solar System and the only moon to have a significant atmosphere.
Fried Rice
Monday February 15, 2010
Fried Rice uses leftovers from the kitchen. Rice, veggies, spices and meats are all mixed together and cooked with egg and soy sauce. In traditional Chinese meals, Fried Rice is served as a "palate cleanser," a course to wash down the meal and get your mouth ready for dessert.
Tennis
Sunday February 14, 2010
Tennis has remained virtually unchanged since its European invention in the 19th century. The only change to the rules of tennis was the addition of the tie-breaker in the 1970's. With large tournaments like Wimbledon and the Grand Slam, tennis has fans the world over. Did you know that a score of zero in tennis is called "love"?
Morel
Saturday February 13, 2010
Farmers have had a hard time cultivating the morel mushroom. Hollow on the inside, the cap of the mushroom looks like brown honeycomb. Because of all their crannies and their forest home, they need to be thoroughly washed. When people want to give mushroom hunting a try, they will most likely start out in search for Morels because they're easy to spot.
Store
Friday February 12, 2010
There are many different kinds of stores, especially with the advent of online shopping. Whether you go to a department store, a retail store or a marketplace, the term “retail" means to sell in small quantities. The first supermarket opened in America in the 1920's and was the first time a store offered self-service, or products that customers could browse without help.
Youth Day
Thursday February 11, 2010
Education, youth and children are very important in the Chinese culture. They symbolize the growth of the nation and a hope for the future. Youth Day is celebrated hand in hand with Martyr's Day, a day when Chinese youth are reminded of China's historic and courageous martyrs who made China what it is today.
Fish-eating Anemone
Wednesday February 10, 2010
This anemone is eight inches tall and ten inches across. It doesn't bother eating plankton or veggie bits like its relatives, it likes shrimp and small fish. Painted greenlings, a certain kind of fish, live inside fish-eating anemones and enjoy a special relationship that gives them a home and protection from being eaten.
Check out our fun facts website for more reading comprehension worksheets organized by subject.
