Help your students master text evidence and inference while strengthening their constructed response writing using the RACE strategy! This resource combines a rigorous reading assessment with structured writing supports that have worked successfully in a real 5th-grade classroom.

Students will read the engaging narrative passage “The Last Library Key” and practice identifying text evidence, making inferences, and explaining their thinking using RACE.

Perfect for ELA test prep, literacy centers, independent practice, small group instruction, or formative assessment.

📚 What’s Included

Reading Assessment

✔ 1 original narrative passage: The Last Library Key

✔ 9 multiple choice questions aligned to RL.5.1: Text Evidence and Inference

✔ Answer key

RACE Strategy Writing Supports

These materials are based on the exact RACE strategy structure that has worked best in my own classroom to help students provide stronger written responses using text evidence.

✔ Teacher directions explaining how to introduce and model the RACE strategy

✔ RACE printable anchor chart with sentence starters

✔ RACE graphic organizer for guided student writing

✔ RACE short answer response page with writing lines and sentence starters

✔ RACE answer key / exemplar response

✔ RACE peer editing rubric

✔ RACE teacher grading rubric

✏️ Skills Students Practice

Students will learn to:

• Quote text evidence

• Make logical inferences

• Support answers with specific details from the text

• Write clear responses using the RACE strategy

• Explain their thinking in complete academic responses

🧠 Standards Addressed

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

📖 Passage Summary

In The Last Library Key, fifth grader Mateo learns that his town library may close due to low attendance. Determined to help, he encourages classmates and community members to speak at the town council meeting. Their efforts show how important the library is to the community, and the council ultimately decides to keep it open.

Students use the passage to practice finding evidence in the text and making inferences about character motivations, actions, and the importance of community involvement.

👩‍🏫 Perfect For

• Reading assessments

• Test prep

• Literacy centers

• Guided reading groups

• Writing instruction

• RACE strategy practice

• Sub plans

• Homework or independent work

📄 Pages Included: 11 pages

• Passage

• Multiple choice assessment

• Answer key

• RACE strategy teacher directions

• Anchor chart

• Graphic organizer

• Short response page

• Model answer

• Peer editing rubric

• Teacher grading rubric

💡 Why Teachers Love This Resource

✔ Combines reading comprehension AND writing instruction

✔ Provides scaffolds for struggling writers

✔ Helps students practice test-style questions

✔ Encourages evidence-based thinking

With any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at littlemisselementary@gmail.com.

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