Middle School Close Reading Resources

Generic Novel Study Activities for Any Book: Reading Response Graphic Organizers

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

Transform any novel study, book reading club, or literature circle into an engaging, high-level learning experience with zero prep! Take your reading comprehension instruction to the next level with these 42 Printable Generic Novel Study Reading Response Graphic Organizers.

3rd - 6th English Language Arts, Close Reading, Literature

Also included in: Book Activities Bundle: 42 Reading Response Graphic Organizers & 24 Bookmarks

Google Drive

Book Activities Bundle: 42 Reading Response Graphic Organizers & 24 Bookmarks

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

Transform reading time with this Book Activities Bundle, featuring 42 reading response graphic organizers for ANY novel study and 24 interactive reading comprehension bookmarks to practice standards-based reading skills and strategies.

3rd - 6th English Language Arts, Close Reading, Reading Strategies

50 AVID One-Pager Templates: Printable and Customizable Digital Version include

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

These 50 printable and digital customizable editable one-pager templates allow kids to think critically and creatively in order to show what they know in ANY subject. Perfect for AVID schools.

3rd - 6th Close Reading, For All Subjects

Google Drive

Close Reading Comprehension Reading Skill Bookmarks, Posters and Google Slides

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

Use these 24 standards-based Interactive Reading Comprehension Skills & Strategies Bookmarks, correlating posters, and Google Slides to differentiate for student reading needs and practice close reading for reading comprehension.

3rd - 6th Close Reading, ELA Test Prep, Reading Strategies

Also included in: Book Activities Bundle: 42 Reading Response Graphic Organizers & 24 Bookmarks

Google Drive

Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Writing Skills Interactive Bookmarks

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

Differentiate for your students with this engaging bundle of printable, interactive reading comprehension, grammar, and writing skills bookmarks. You'll get printable interactive bookmarks, printable posters, and digital Google Slides.

4th - 7th Close Reading, Grammar, Writing

SWBST Story Planning Graphic Organizer Worksheets and Summary Writing Activities

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

SWBST (somebody, wants, but, so, then) isn’t just for summarizing a story anymore. This story planning resource includes a SWBST graphic organizer, bookmark tools, and a fun, hands-on activity with mix-and-match character and conflict cards you cut apart.

4th - 7th Close Reading, Creative Writing

Also included in: Reluctant Writers Mini Bundle Writing Worksheets and Activities for Practice

Google Drive

ELA Foldable Note-Taking Graphic Organizers for Reading and Research Skills

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

Make reading and research easy with 8 ELA foldable style note-taking graphic organizers. You’ll get a trifold for the following: narrative stories, expository texts, biographies, state reports, animal reports, planet reports, as well as a customizable Q&A style trifold, and a generic ALL ABOUT ___ research report trifold.

3rd - 6th English Language Arts, Close Reading

Google Drive

Fantasy Story Reading Fun Independent Activity Grade 4 Short Reading Passage 5th

Created by
The Wordsmith Cat

This Fantasy-themed short story reading comprehension is suitable for 4th and 5th-grade students. The 8-page fictional short story has reading comprehension questions. Students will enjoy the short story reading passage and feel confident with the consistent structure to answer the comprehension que

4th - 6th Close Reading, Reading, Short Stories

Also included in: Short Stories Imaginative Narrative Writing Unit Activities 4th 5th 6th Grade

The Open Window | Saki Short Story | Irony, Characterization & Twist Ending

Created by
Plotting Something

Teach Saki’s “The Open Window” in one class period without stopping the story to death. Students read the complete story straight through, briefly sort out the ending, and then go back to examine how Vera gets Framton to believe her. Includes the full public-domain text in a beautifully illustrated

8th - 12th Close Reading, Literature, Short Stories

Figurative Language Scoot Game Task Cards - Review & Test Prep: Print & Digital

Created by
iTeach & iWrite

In this educational grammar SCOOT game, students move through 20 different task cards to identify 9 different types of figurative language: alliteration, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, adage, idiom, and imagery. Ideal for elementary and middle school ELA teachers.

4th - 7th English Language Arts, Close Reading, Reading

Also included in: Figurative Language Bundle: Notes Booklet, Scoot Task Cards, Printable Card Game

Google Drive

First Week ELA Diagnostic Without the Dread | Close Reading & Writing Sample

Created by
Plotting Something

Start the year with a real English lesson that gives you useful information about your students without making the first week feel like a test. In this low-pressure activity, students read an original short story, discuss possible interpretations, and write a brief evidence-based response.Student-fa

8th - Higher Education Close Reading, Literature, Writing

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe | Close Reading Mini Unit, Analysis & Quizzes

Created by
Plotting Something

Help students understand what happens in “The Raven” before asking them to interpret its symbolism and psychological horror.This close reading mini-unit follows Poe’s poem chronologically, with a stanza-numbered reading text, vocabulary support, a student analysis packet, and coordinated lesson slid

8th - 12th Close Reading, Literature, Poetry

Also included in: Edgar Allan Poe Unit Bundle | Background, The Raven & House of Usher

The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe | Drawing & Extended Metaphor Activity

Created by
Plotting Something

Let students picture Poe's palace before they decide what it means. In this two-part lesson, students closely read and draw "The Haunted Palace," then return to the poem to trace its tonal shift, identify its human features, and discover how the palace becomes a picture of Roderick Usher's mind.FULL

8th - 12th Close Reading, Literature, Poetry

Gothic Literature FREE Activity | Poe Close Reading & Gothic Elements

Created by
Plotting Something

Need a quick way to introduce Gothic literature without turning it into an elements checklist? This free Gothic literature activity pairs a student-friendly field guide with a continuous public-domain excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Students identify details that cre

8th - 12th Close Reading, Literature, Reading

The Monkey's Paw Lesson | Gothic Suspense, Foreshadowing, Irony & Ambiguity

Created by
Plotting Something

KeKeep “The Monkey’s Paw” tense instead of turning it into a worksheet marathon. This two-day secondary ELA lesson uses a few deliberate reading stops, then asks students to go back and examine how W. W. Jacobs builds suspense through warning, irony, pacing, Gothic atmosphere, and ambiguity.“The Mon

8th - 12th Close Reading, Literature, Short Stories

Earthquakes Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Earthquakes. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The Reading Looks at:- How earthquakes work- The dangers of eart

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

NGSS MS-ESS3-2

Also included in: Emergency Science Sub Plans | 6th, 7th, 8th | Reading Comprehension Questions

Concussions Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Concussions. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties. The reading looks at:What is a concussion?Signs and symptomsTre

5th - 7th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: Reading Comprehension Article & Question Mega Bundle | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

The Common Cold Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about The Common Cold. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The reading looks at:What is the common cold?What causes the

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: Emergency Science Sub Plans | 6th, 7th, 8th | Reading Comprehension Questions

Invasive Species Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Invasive Species. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The reading looks at:- What is an invasive species?- How do

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: South Carolina State Standards-Science: Gr 7 SC.7-4. Ecology: Biotic and Abiotic

Hurricanes Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Hurricanes. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The reading looks at:- What is a hurricane?- Hurricane wind- How

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

NGSS MS-ESS3-2

Also included in: Natural Disasters & Weather Reading Comprehension & Questions 6th, 7th, 8th

How Weather Works Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about How Weather Works. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The reading looks at:- Weather- Kinds of weather- What cau

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

NGSS MS-ESS2-5

Also included in: Emergency Science Sub Plans | 6th, 7th, 8th | Reading Comprehension Questions

Allergies Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Allergies. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties. The reading looks atWhat are allergies?SymptomsExamples of allerg

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: Reading Comprehension Article & Question Mega Bundle | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Urban Sprawl Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Urban Sprawl. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties.The reading looks at:- What is urban sprawl?- What causes urban

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: MS-ESS3 California 8th Grade Science Preferred Integrated Model BUNDLE | Earth

Cancer Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article about Cancer. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting, application, and open-ended varieties. The reading looks at:What is cancer?Types of tumorsWhat causes cance

6th - 8th Balanced Literacy, Close Reading, Science

Also included in: Reading Comprehension Article & Question Mega Bundle | 6th, 7th, 8th Grade