220+ Reading Comprehension Passages + Questions

Looking for a no-prep Social Studies reading activity to build early literacy skills while keeping learners engaged? These 220+ Social Studies-themed reading comprehension passages are designed for young readers at a Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade reading level. Each passage supports reading skills for 1st grade, vocabulary and fluency development, and comprehension strategies, and features engaging nonfiction texts centered around Social Studies topics, including American history, geography, and cultural studies. 

Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, tutoring, or small group instruction, this resource offers a meaningful way to practice reading skills with age-appropriate and accessible content.

What’s Included:

• 220+ nonfiction reading comprehension passages
• Comprehension questions for each passage
• Vocabulary words related to Social Studies
• Print-and-go format—no prep required!
  

Topics Included:

Colonial Jobs – Basket Maker | Blacksmith | Silversmith | Cooper | Wigmaker | Shoemaker | Tailor | Brickmaker | Printer | Town Crier | Cabinet Maker

Countries Around the World – Brazil | Canada | Denmark | Egypt | New Zealand | Switzerland | Zimbabwe | Austria | Bolivia | Israel | Kenya | Liberia | Libya | Mozambique | United States

Families – What is a Family? | Who Can Be Part of a Family? | Mother | Father | Siblings | Cousins | Step-Parents | Grandparents | Aunts and Uncles | Adoption

Famous Native Americans – Sacagawea | Black Hawk | Chief Joseph | Chief Seattle | Comcomly | Crooked Hand | Geronimo | Osceola | Sequoyah | Sitting Bull | Squanto

Founding Fathers – Ben Franklin | Alexander Hamilton | James Madison | Thomas Jefferson | John Adams | John Hancock | John Jay | George Washington

Holidays Around the World – Chinese New Year | Diwali | Hannukah | Kwanzaa | Las Posadas | St. Lucia's Day | Ramadan | Dia de los Muertos | Cinco de Mayo | Mardi Gras

New World Explorers – Christopher Columbus | Francisco Pizarro | Francisco Coronado | Henry Hudson | Hernan Cortes | Juan Ponce de Leon | Jacques Cartier | Meriwether Lewis | Ferdinand Magellan | John Cabot | William Clark | Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Places in the Community – Fire Station | Hospital | Library | Police Station | Church | Movie Theatre | Coffee Shop | Post Office | Hotel | Airport | Dentist Office | School | Synagogue | Farm | Shopping center | Laundromat | Car Wash | Zoo | Town Hall | Bank | Veterinarian Office | Gas Station | Grocery Store | Museum | Prison | College | Bus Station

School Staff – Principal | Teacher | Librarian | Secretary | Custodian | Bus Driver | Crossing Guard | Cafeteria Staff | Coach | School Nurse | School Counselor

US Presidents – Abraham Lincoln | Barack Obama | Joe Biden | John F. Kennedy | Teddy Roosevelt | Andrew Jackson | Jimmy Carter | Woodrow Wilson | Harry Truman | Franklin Roosevelt | Ronald Reagan | George Washington | John Adams | Thomas Jefferson | James Madison

Westward Expansion – Gold Rush | Alamo | Pony Express | Covered Wagon | Lewis & Clark Expedition | Transcontinental Railroad | Louisiana Purchase | Oregon Trail | Buffalo | Sacagawea | Mining for Gold | Prospector | Railway Line | Rail Worker

The First Thanksgiving – Pilgrims | Wampanoag Tribe | Plymouth Colony | Mayflower | Cornucopia | Thanksgiving Feast | Today's Traditional Feast

Elections – Ballot | Absentee Ballot | Canvassing | Democratic Party | Republican Party | Super Tuesday | Voting Machine | Early Voting | Speeches

Groundhog's Day – What is a Groundhog? | Seeing a Groundhog's Shadow | A Groundhog's Home | City of Punxsutawney | Gobbler's Knob | Clymer Freas | History of Using Animals to Predict Spring | Ancient Celebrations of Spring | Religious Celebrations of Early Spring

Native American Tribes – Plains Tribes | Wampanoag | Sioux | Cheyenne | Apache | Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) | Pueblo | Navajo | Chippewa (Ojibwe) | Choctaw 

Native American Regions – Arctic | Subarctic | California | Northwest Coast | Northeastern Woodlands | Plateau | Southwest | Southeast | Great Plains | Meso-America | Caribbean

American Revolution – British Soldiers | Colonial Soldiers | Bunker Hill | Cannons | Declaration of Independence | Union Jack | American Flag | Thomas Jefferson | Molly Pitcher | Muskets | Paul Revere | George Washington

Civil War – Clara Barton | Harriet Tubman | Confederate Soldiers | Union Soldiers | Jefferson Davis | Abraham Lincoln | Robert E. Lee | Ulysses S. Grant | U.S. Flag | Confederate Battle Flag | Mason Dixon Line

Jamestown Settlement – Elizabeth I | Three Ships | Gold | Settler's Houses | Jamestown | Jamestown Settlers | John Smith | Pocahontas | Tobacco | Powhatan Tribe

United States Regions – Northeast Region | Midwest Region | Southeast Region | Southwest Region | West Region

Each passage introduces fun, familiar topics connected to Social Studies, helping learners build key reading comprehension skills, fluency, and vocabulary in a meaningful and engaging way.

Perfect For:
✔ Blending literacy and Social Studies learning in one activity
✔ Small group work, independent reading, or one-on-one instruction
✔ Classroom teachers, homeschool families, tutors, and interventionists
✔ Literacy centers, morning work, early finishers, or homework
✔ Supportive for ESL learners, special education, and differentiated instruction