Paired Texts [Print & Digital]: February and March History of Valentine’s Day & St. Patrick’s Day Leveled Reading Passages and Questions

Sale!

Original price was: $6.50.Current price is: $6.00.

* Open the preview for more details! *

Description

These paired passages, or paired texts, meet the demand for more complex texts that students can use to compare and build knowledge to integrate information and draw conclusions. The high-interest, rigorous passages in this set are great to stretch your 4th and 5th graders, and still appropriate for many students in middle school as well. The passages in this set are differentiated. Two levels are provided: on grade level for 4-5 and on grade level for 6-7.

I have included printable AND Google App formats of the passages along with the multiple-choice and constructed response questions. There are seven multiple-choice questions (each question assessing a different standard) and one constructed response/essay question PER PAIR.

The printable passages are provided in two styles: article (two column) as well as full page.

⬆️ Please check out the preview for a look at the resource! ⬆️

This set contains three pairs of texts (six total passages) that are seasonal for February and March.

⭐️ the history and origin of Valentine’s Day, and the myth of Cupid
⭐️ George Washington’s short biography, and early US government creation
⭐️ the history of St. Patrick’s Day, and a poem called “Pot of Gold”

WAYS TO USE THIS RESOURCE:

  • whole group or small group modeling
  • read and annotate the texts together, then provide the questions for comprehension check, allowing students to use the annotated passages
  • completely independent practice for students reading above 4th-5th grade level

WHY TEACHERS LOVE THESE PAIRED TEXTS:

  • students enjoy the topics of the passages (no yawns through lessons)
  • integrate social studies and science content into ELA to maximize much-needed time
  • differentiate reading levels for students’ abilities
  • the multiple-choice questions cover a variety of standards per paired set, and they require students to go back into the text for the answer (not basic-level comprehension)
  • digital formats are self-grading
  • having both printable and digital formats allows teachers to transition seamlessly from in-class to virtual learning, or use in paperless 1:1 classrooms

SEE IT IN ACTION:

Click here to see a blog post showing how I model purposeful annotating!

INFO ABOUT THE DIGITAL FILES:

The assessments are provided in Google FORMS. The multiple-choice options will be shuffled for each student, and the items will be automatically scored.

The passages are provided in Google SLIDES and can be annotated by adding text boxes. Students could use lines to underline or draw arrows with the line tool. I have also inserted a “highlight box” on the title of each passage. Show students how to select the box, then copy and paste it to use for highlighting purposes in the text. They can resize the box by dragging the corners to highlight only what they need.

You could allow the students to use their annotated passages for their assessments by having them share the screen (or “split screen”) for both files. I have also included the passages at the top of the assessments.

Get a free digital pair of texts delivered to your inbox, along with more useful information about implementing paired texts in your classroom.

See the other paired texts sets in my store, or click here to BUY ALL of the Grades 4-6 Paired Texts and get any new sets I create in the future for free!

Are you looking for DIFFERENTIATED passages to use for assessments? Click here to see my Mix and Match Assessments, differentiated for student reading level and grade level comprehension!

Please remember, this purchase is for the use of one teacher. It is not intended to be shared. Please use the ‘additional license’ purchase if more than one teacher will be using it. Thank you!

Copyright © 2014-2020 Ideas By Jivey, LLC
All rights reserved by author, Jessica Ivey.
Permission to copy for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display.

★★★★★ TpT buyer review

Great theme passages

The students loved reading the history of the different holidays. The questions were engaging and I liked the paired text.
Katherine S. Grades taught: 4 · March 4, 2026
★★★★☆ TpT buyer review

A helpful resource that I used in class

I felt that the digital version of this was not exactly the same as the written version. I was expecting it to be, so that might be a "me" problem instead of a flaw with the product. I'm going to revamp it a bit and try again. I do love so many things by this seller!
Dawn G. Grades taught: 5 · February 10, 2026
★★★★★ TpT buyer review

Great Practice

This resource was great for practicing skills using an interesting topic.
Gigi's Teaching Tools Grades taught: 3 · February 6, 2026
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
My students read and completed the activity during one of our February snow / remote learning days. It was simple enough for them to complete on their own, but also review skills and standards that we were covering or already covered.
Rachael C. Grades taught: 5 · March 2, 2025
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
This is a great resource to have. Thank you so much!!
Digital Dynamo Grades taught: 6 · October 5, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
I really enjoy using these paired passages. I have bought several of these from this author. I think it really helps my students to practice their comprehension skills!
Christen M. Grades taught: 3, 4 · August 12, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
This is a great resource to use when students are practicing reading and analyzing paired passages. HIghly recommend.
Tracy A. Grades taught: 5 · August 6, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
This was a great resource. Thank you for all the hard work.
The Old Barn Teaching Co August 6, 2024
★★★★☆ TpT buyer review
These were great texts for my students to use in February and March.
Christa W. Grades taught: 5 · March 22, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
We used this for MCAS state testing practice. Excellent resource!
Lisa J. Grades taught: 4, 5, 6 · February 8, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
Love these resources for my students to compare texts - I use them in small group rotations and they work great!
Julie D. Grades taught: 5 · February 7, 2024
★★★★★ TpT buyer review
This was perfect for my students. It was great to work on before our state testing!
Holly F. Grades taught: 4 · July 12, 2023