Hurricanes (Nonfiction Passage)

Start with a minute of talk: What do you think a giant storm needs in order to grow? Then have students read the passage on page 1, about 180 words in 4 short paragraphs, pencil in hand. They can underline facts as they go. On page 2 students circle three answers and write two. Encourage them to go back to the text and underline the words that back up each answer. Check the work with the answer key.

Hurricanes gives 3rd grade students a nonfiction passage of about 180 words about how hurricanes form and why they are dangerous when they reach land, followed by five questions. The questions practice the main idea, vocabulary in context and cause and effect, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RI.3.2. An answer key is included.

Hurricanes is a nonfiction passage of about 180 words about how hurricanes form and why they are dangerous when they reach land. It is written for 3rd grade readers (ages 8-9) and has 4 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.

Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice the main idea, vocabulary in context, cause and effect and comparing and contrasting. Questions include "Which sentence best tells the main idea" and "How is the eye different from the wall around it". The sheet is aligned to Common Core RI.3.2, and the answer key is included so you can check responses quickly.

Try this conversation starter: What do you think a giant storm needs in order to grow? Let students skim the title, then read once for the gist. A second pass with a pencil helps them mark the facts they need.

Most students need about 15 to 20 minutes for the passage and the questions together. The sheet works at a kitchen table with a parent talking through the written answers, or at a reading center as independent work on the main idea and vocabulary in context.