85+ Colonial America Reading Comprehension Passages + Questions
85+ Colonial America Reading Comprehension Passages + Questions
Flexible Ways to Use
Flexible Ways to Use
✔ Great for use during reading time at school or home
✔ Pairs well with seasonal or thematic units to add variety
✔ Works as a close reading activity—read once for fluency, again for comprehension
✔ Use as independent practice, small group instruction, homework, or extra review
Supports a Range of Learners
Supports a Range of Learners
✔ Adaptable for various reading levels—perfect for differentiated instruction
✔ Helpful for homeschoolers, special education programs, and intervention settings
✔ Designed to support English language learners and developing readers
✔ Clear structure and vocabulary build confidence and comprehension
✔ Engaging topics keep students motivated and focused
Quick Setup
Quick Setup
Just print and go—no prep needed! Whether you're teaching in a classroom, tutoring one-on-one, or supporting your child at home, these reading comprehension passages offer a ready-to-use solution for building literacy skills through engaging content.
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Looking for a no-prep Colonial America reading activity to build early literacy skills while keeping learners engaged? These Colonial America–themed reading comprehension passages are designed for young readers at a Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade reading level. Each passage supports fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies, and features engaging informational nonfiction text centered around daily life in Colonial America.
Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, tutoring, or small group instruction, this resource offers a meaningful way to practice reading skills while building US history reading and background knowledge through accessible nonfiction reading passages.
What’s Included:
- 85+ nonfiction reading comprehension passages
- Comprehension questions for each passage
- Vocabulary words related to Colonial America and early American life
- Print-and-go format—no prep required!
Topics Included:
Colonial Chores – Churning Butter | Chopping Wood | Collecting Firewood | Feeding Chickens | Gathering Eggs | Preparing Food | Sewing | Weeding
Jamestown Colony – Queen Elizabeth I | The Three Ships | Jamestown Settlement | John Smith | Pocahontas | Gold Rush | Tobacco Economy | Settler Homes | Powhatan Tribe
The Mayflower & Life at Sea – The Mayflower | Mayflower Compact | Life Aboard the Ship | Ship's Biscuit | John Howland | Mortar and Pestle | Seasickness | Cabin Life | Fishing & Food Storage | Barley | Salt | Cannon | Beer Barrel | Knitting | Whipstaff | Shipmaster Jones
Colonial Homes – Saltbox House | Plantation Big House | Plantation Worker’s Home | Governor’s Palace | Chicken Coop | Smokehouse | Schoolhouse | Well House
Colonial Jobs – Basket Maker | Blacksmith | Silversmith | Shoemaker | Tailor | Cooper | Wigmaker | Printer | Brickmaker | Town Crier | Cabinet Make
Colonial Blacksmithing – Anvil | Forge | Bellows | Hammer | Vice | Nails | Kettle | Chandelier
Colonial Farrier Work – Horse | Horseshoe | Tongs | Horseshoe Nail | How to Shoe a Horse | Flatter | Hammer
Colonial Woodworking – Barrel | Drawknife | Peeling Iron | Vanity Desk | Mallet | Peeling Bark | Items Made From Wood
Each passage introduces fun, familiar topics connected to life in the colonies, helping learners build key reading skills while exploring colonial economy and trades, homes, jobs, and early American culture in a meaningful and engaging way.
Perfect For:
✔ Blending literacy and elementary social studies 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
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