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How Forests Affect Air — Reading Comprehension

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5-ESS2-1

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This engaging 400-word reading passage aligned to NGSS standard 5-ESS2-1 introduces fifth-grade students to the crucial relationship between forests and Earth's atmosphere. Students discover how trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, effectively cleaning the air we breathe. The passage explains that large forests function like Earth's lungs, demonstrating a key biosphere-atmosphere interaction. Additionally, students learn how forests affect local weather by releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. This audio-integrated resource includes a simplified differentiated version for struggling readers, Spanish translations of both passages, a comprehensive glossary of key terms, multiple-choice questions testing recall and comprehension, writing activities that encourage application of concepts, and graphic organizers to help students visualize cause-and-effect relationships. The passage uses age-appropriate language and relatable examples to build foundational understanding of Earth's systems and prepares students for hands-on investigations about how living things interact with and influence the atmosphere around them.

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Lush Amazon rainforest trees reflected in the calm water, capturing the serene beauty of Manaus, Brazil. — Amazon rainforest trees reflected in the calm water, capturing the serene beauty of Manaus, Brazil. by Jean Gc / Pexels.

Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide—a gas that humans and animals breathe out—and release oxygen, the gas we need to breathe in. This process is important because it helps keep the right balance of gases in Earth's atmosphere, the layer of air surrounding our planet.

Trees and other plants act like natural air cleaners. When there are many trees together in a forest, they take in large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. At the same time, they release oxygen back into the air. Think of forests as Earth's lungs—just as your lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, forests do the opposite. They breathe in what we breathe out and give us back fresh oxygen to breathe.

Forests also affect the atmosphere in another way. Trees release water vapor, which is water in gas form, through tiny holes in their leaves. This process is called transpiration. When millions of trees release water vapor together, it can affect local weather. The water vapor rises into the atmosphere and can form clouds. These clouds may bring rain to the area. In fact, large forests like the Amazon rainforest release so much water vapor that they help create their own rain.

The interaction between forests and the atmosphere shows how Earth's systems are connected. The biosphere—the parts of Earth where living things exist—affects the atmosphere through the actions of plants and trees. When forests are cut down, there are fewer trees to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This means more carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, which can affect air quality and climate. Protecting forests helps keep our air clean and our atmosphere balanced.

Interesting Fact: A single large tree can produce enough oxygen in one year to supply oxygen for two people for that entire year!

What gas do plants take in?

OxygenCarbon dioxideNitrogenHydrogen

What do trees release during photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxideWater onlyOxygenSoil nutrients

What is the atmosphere?

The layer of soilThe layer of air around EarthThe ocean waterThe forest floor

How do forests act like lungs?

They breathe in oxygenThey make loud soundsThey take in carbon dioxideThey pump water

What happens when trees release water vapor?

It forms ice immediatelyIt can affect local weatherIt disappears completelyIt turns into soil

Why does cutting down forests harm air?

More trees make noiseFewer trees take in carbon dioxideTrees produce too much oxygenForests create too much rain

Forests are part of Earth's biosphere.

TrueFalse

What is transpiration?

Trees falling downPlants making foodPlants releasing water vaporAnimals breathing

Perfect For:

👩‍🏫 Teachers

• Reading comprehension practice
• Auto-graded assessments
• Literacy skill development

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents

• Reading practice at home
• Comprehension improvement
• Educational reading time

🏠 Homeschoolers

• Reading curriculum support
• Independent reading practice
• Progress monitoring

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Reading Passage

Engaging fiction or nonfiction text

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Comprehension Quiz

Auto-graded questions

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Read Aloud

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