Engage your 3rd–6th grade students in rich Early Exploration nonfiction while building powerful ELA skills. Perfect for Social Studies connections, this resource combines text-based RACE strategy practice, constructed response prep, and historical content—ideal for state test readiness, reading comprehension growth, and interdisciplinary lessons.

What’s Included:

• 6 nonfiction passages about key Early Explorers & New World voyages
• RACE-aligned response questions: Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain
• Text evidence practice to support written answers
• Multiple-choice + open-response items ideal for practice or assessment
• SCR Rubric for student self reflection or teacher grading.
• Teacher answer keys included for efficient grading
  

Perfect for:

• ELA lessons on reading comprehension, text evidence, and constructed responses
• Social Studies units on Age of Exploration, New World explorers, and historical literacy
• Test prep: building confidence with RACE strategy for short answer & constructed responses
• Close reading practice, independent workstations, distance learning, or small-group instruction
  

Why This Resource Stands Out:

• Seamlessly blends ELA & Social Studies standards
• High-interest content on explorers like Columbus, Cortez, and Cabot
• Structured to reinforce RACE strategy, boosting clarity and rigor
• No prep needed—just download, print, and go on paper or digital
• Supports both Common Core and state standards
  This 5-passage reading and writing set is perfect for back-to-school bell ringers, test prep, sub plans, and daily constructed response practice — all while covering key events and figures from early American history.

Each passage includes:

• 1 nonfiction reading selection
• 1 STAAR-style multiple choice question
• 1 RACE writing short constructed response
• A simple rubric for quick teacher or student scoring
• Answer key included
  

Passages Included:

1. Leif Erikson – Viking explorer and early European contact
2. Explorers in the New World – Life, travel, and hardship
3. Jamestown – The first successful American colony
4. Pocahontas – A story of peace, friendship, and survival
5. Life in the Colonies Before the Revolution – Regional differences and growing independence
   

Perfect For:

• 5th Grade ELA & Social Studies
• Morning work / bell ringers
• STAAR or state test prep
• RACE writing practice
• Close reading / text evidence
• Sub plans or spiral review
• Centers, small groups, or intervention
  

Skills Students Will Practice:

• Citing text evidence
• Answering inference-based questions
• Writing with the RACE strategy
• Summarizing & analyzing historical nonfiction
• Using a rubric to revise and self-assess
• Understanding early American history
  

Standards-Aligned:

Texas TEKS:

• 5.1(A), 5.4(A) (Social Studies)
• 5.7(C), 5.10(D), 5.11(A), 5.12(A) (ELAR)
  

Common Core:

• RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3 (Reading)
• W.5.1, W.5.4, W.5.9 (Writing)
  

Try before you buy:
Download the FREE Christopher Columbus passage in my store — a perfect sample of this set’s structure and quality!

Follow @MakeItFifthy for future bundles covering:

• The American Revolution
• Westward Expansion
• The Civil War
• Government & Civics

More U.S. History reading + writing practice coming soon!