Battles of the North

Battles of the North: Reading Passages & Comprehension (Grade 5)

Follow the Continental Army through the northern campaigns of the American Revolution with this set of 8 short reading passages. Told in the army's journey order, each passage covers one key moment and is written at a grade 5 reading level with an illustration that helps students picture the action. From the first shots at Lexington to the game-changing surrender at Saratoga, students see how a string of battles slowly turned the war in America's favor.

Battles and moments students will explore: Lexington and Concord, Fort Ticonderoga, Bunker Hill, the Battle of Long Island, Crossing the Delaware and Trenton, Princeton, Valley Forge, and Saratoga.

What's included

• 8 illustrated reading passages, one battle or moment per card
• 2 multiple-choice questions per passage that build real skills: main idea, key details, inference, sequence, and cause and effect
• A student recording sheet for collecting answers quickly
• A complete answer key with short explanations
• Print-friendly black-and-white pages, ready to copy

How to use it in your classroom

• Task cards: Cut the passages apart, place them around the room, and have students rotate, read, and record their answers.
• Reading centers: Drop a few cards at a literacy station for independent work.
• Small groups or partners: Read and discuss one battle at a time.
• Homework, sub plans, or unit review: Assign as no-prep reading before a quiz or test.

Aligned to Common Core Reading: Informational Text for grade 5 (RI.5.1 to RI.5.4) and the C3 social studies framework for history (D2.His.1, D2.His.14), this resource strengthens nonfiction comprehension while teaching the battles that shaped the war for independence. Everything is standards-aligned and low-prep, so you can simply print and teach.