These economics reading passages give students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade two texts on the same topic side by side, so they compare details, connect information, and draw conclusions across both. The pairs cover goods and services in our economy, budgeting, and supply and demand, which makes the set an easy pick when you need supply and demand reading comprehension for 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade.
This set includes three pairs (six passages). Two pairs match an informational article with a fiction story, and one pair matches an informational article with a sample budget sheet showing income and expenses. Each pair comes with seven multiple-choice questions, each on a different standard, and one constructed response question. You get printable passages and questions plus Google Slides and Google Forms versions.
How the economics paired texts work:
Read and annotate: Students read each passage closely and mark it up, so they understand both texts before they compare them. In Google Slides, they can annotate with text boxes and lines, and copy a highlight box to mark key details.
Answer the questions: The multiple-choice questions send students back into the texts, and the constructed response question asks them to pull each pair together. In Google Forms, the answer choices shuffle for each student, the questions score automatically, and the passages appear at the top of the form.
Match the level: Each passage comes in two versions, one written on grade level for 4th grade and one for 5th grade, so you can give students the version that fits them.
What’s included:
Three pairs of passages about economics (six passages total):
Our economy, including goods and services, paired with a fiction story about earning money to buy a bicycle
Budgeting money, paired with a sample budget sheet showing income and expenses
Supply and demand, paired with a fiction story about running a lemonade stand
Seven multiple-choice questions and one constructed response question for each pair
Two reading levels for every passage: 4th grade and 5th grade
Printable passages in two layouts: a two-column article and a full page
Google Slides versions of the passages for digital annotating
Google Forms versions of the questions that score automatically
Ways to use these paired texts:
Model close reading with your whole class or a small group.
Read and annotate the passages together, then hand out the questions as a comprehension check and let students use their marked-up passages.
Assign them as independent practice for students reading above a 4th-5th grade level.
Why teachers love these paired texts:
Students enjoy the topics, so lessons don’t drag.
Science and social studies content comes into your ELA block, which saves precious time.
Two reading levels let you match the passages to your readers.
The multiple-choice questions cover a range of standards and require students to go back into the text, not just recall basic facts.
The digital questions grade themselves.
Print and digital versions let you move between in-person and virtual learning, or go paperless in a 1:1 classroom.
