Need More Non-Fiction? Get Our Leveled Student Reading Passages

We know students need to read more non-fiction but finding high-quality non-fiction texts written at a level that students can access is a real problem. Knowing this, we created a new resource for teachers: leveled student reading passages (+ worksheets!) on high-interest science and social studies topics pulled from award-winning BBC magazines. Read on to learn more!

How does this new resource work?

We’ve taken articles that originally appeared in BBC magazines and leveled them for three different grade bands (you can also see the Lexile for each):

• Grades 3-5 (Lexile range: 400-800)

• Grades 6-8 (Lexile range: 800-1200)

• Grades 9-12 (Lexile range: 1000-1400) 

Each article covers the same topic and follows the same structure but varies in the complexity of the text and vocabulary. We all know that there are multiple reading levels represented in every classroom, so this is a great way for students to access the same information at an appropriate level for them (and no one will ever know — we’ve intentionally left the levels off the student versions). On each article’s teacher page, you’ll find a summary of the article. You’ll also be able to preview the student reading passage at each level and will have multiple ways to share those articles with students:

• Share to Google Classroom

• Copy Student Link

• Print PDF

Where do the articles come from?

BBC’s magazine publishing division owns numerous titles, and we’re so excited to be able to share articles from:

1. BBC's Discover Wildlife brings you closer to nature with expert advice, conservation news, the best nature writing, and stunning wildlife photography. Featured articles:

• Iron-Coated Teeth: The Secret of Komodo Dragons

• Hibernation: How Animals Sleep Through the Heat and Cold

• Masters of Regeneration: These Death-Defying Animals Can Regrow Body Parts Better Than Deadpool

2. BBC's Science Focus is packed with news, discoveries, ideas, and innovations to keep you up to speed with the complexities of the fast-moving world around us. Featured articles:

• The Poop-Propelled "Headless Chicken Monster" of the Deep Sea

• Can We Stop Hurricanes? Exploring Innovative Solutions

• The Science of Smell: How Our Nose Understands Odors

3. BBC's HistoryExtra is devoted to both British and world history and aimed at readers of all levels of knowledge and interest. Featured articles:

• Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: The Mystery of the Missing Aviator

• Cracking the Code: The Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs

• What Were the Ancient Olympics Like? Take a Visit to the Games of 436BC

How can I use the reading passages in my classroom?

You can use our search feature to browse by resource type (just filter by Reading Passages) and find something that strikes your fancy. Or you can search for a specific topic like “polar bears” or “outer space.” Once you’ve nailed down an article, you can share or print the version (or versions!) that work for your students. 

Did you say there were worksheets?

Yes! We’ve created a bundle of article response worksheets that can be used with ANY of our student articles. Simply download the bundle of 10 and print and copy the worksheet (or worksheets!) you’d like to use. We have worksheets for summarizing, making connections, vocabulary, and more!