Discover the secret to boosting student engagement with seasonal and holiday-themed activities! Join me as I share my top fall reading activities for upper elementary classrooms. Witness the power of this simple approach in enhancing student learning!

Mastering Main Idea

As upper elementary teachers, one of the key skills we repeatedly focus on is helping students identify the main idea and supporting details. We believe there is no such thing as too much practice in this area.

To begin, it is important to captivate students with engaging and relevant reading material. These fall-themed reading passages provide the perfect opportunity to connect seasonal concepts with classroom learning. Delve into the fascinating topics of leaf color changes, animal adaptations, the mesmerizing Northern Lights, the Harvest Moon, and an array of other fall-themed activities and events that are sure to ignite your students’ interest.

These main idea passages provide students with a single paragraph to concentrate on finding the main idea and its supporting details. Unlike many reading passages, where the main idea is just one of many questions, these fall passages offer a targeted opportunity for focused skills practice.

Reading Passages with a Twist

We all know the importance of having our students work on reading comprehension skills. While connecting those skills to a short story or novel is great, it is not always an option due to time. A shorter reading passage with questions is a great way to work on skills in a less time-consuming way. But by the time our students reach upper elementary, the novelty of reading passages has worn off.

I don’t want my students to dislike reading just because they aren’t crazy about reading passages, so I set out to create a fun reading passage. The result is these Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade.

Students will focus on a different reading skill or strategy in each reading activity. Using the text, students will answer the question. So far, it’s pretty typical – but the fun is about to begin. Next to each answer is a color. Students will use the color next to their answer choice to complete the mystery picture. It makes it a very easy way to grade or self-check by just looking at the picture.

A Digital Version, Too!

With the increase in technology integration and virtual learning, I created a digital version of these fun reading skills activities. The digital version has students completing the activity using Google Sheets.

Students will complete the reading activity and enter their answers into the digital mystery picture. If their answer is correct, part of the mystery picture will automatically be revealed.

These reading skills mystery pictures quickly became a class favorite, and my students would ask for more. These fall Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade come in two different levels:

• Fall Activities Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions 3rd 4th Grade
• Fall Activities Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions 4th 5th Grade

Veterans Day Reading Activities

Teach your students about Veterans Day, its history, and why it is celebrated with this Veterans Day reading comprehension activity. Students will love learning about this important holiday.

This activity is an excellent way to connect language arts and social studies standards. Students will start by reading the 2-page reading passage. This non-fiction passage provides a great overview of the holiday. Then, students can learn some little-known facts about Veteran’s Day and the U.S. Flag. Students will be able to connect their learning with key reading comprehension skills.

Conclude your Veteran’s Day lesson with an engaging cross-curricular activity. Students will express their gratitude by writing a heartfelt thank you note using the provided template. These notes can make a meaningful impact when collected and shared with veterans at a VA Hospital. Alternatively, students are encouraged to take their notes home and personally deliver them to a veteran they know. Let’s appreciate and honor our heroes together!

Fall Fun for Teachers, Too!

Have you used digital stickers yet? These are a fun way to add some fall pizazz to your grading, notes, emails, or classroom management.

These holiday/seasonal digital stickers are so easy to use! Simply add them to a document like you would any image. They are perfect for grading digital assignments and adding a personal touch.

Not doing digital grading? Use them to create a fall-themed classroom management reward system. Students can earn a sticker when they meet a goal. The goal could be anything you are working on, like class compliments, 100% homework completion, or following the class rules. You can even let students keep them in a digital sticker book!

Learn more about how to use digital stickers in your classroom, and download a FREE set here!

Save these Fall Reading Activities

Not quite ready for fall reading activities? Save this post to your favorite classroom Pinterest board so you can quickly get back here when you are!