A non-fiction biography text for P7, linking to the topicBiodiversity and interdependence. Nicknamed the ‘Termite Lady’, Margaret S. Collins was the first female African-American entomologist (insect scientist) and an important campaigner for civil rights. Margaret’s academic achievements would be extremely impressive today, but to have achieved all she did during an era of widespread sexism and racism makes her accomplishments even more remarkable. To honour her huge contribution to the field, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History named a collection of termites after her. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets.

This non-chronological report for P3, linking to the topicbiodiversity and interdependence, investigates the micro-sized world of the ultimate social insect, the ant. The text explains how many different types of ants live in a colony, how they see, what they use their antennae for and much more. The downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this interview text for year 4, linking to the topic Animals including humans , Darren Mann explains how he looks after a huge collection of insects in his job at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. He explains how he was fascinated with insects from an early age and how his interest in beetles has developed. The downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This non-chronological report for year 2, linking to the topics of living things and habitats , investigates the micro-sized world of the ultimate social insect, the ant. The text explains how many different types of ants live in a colony, how they see, what they use their antennae for and much more. The downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this interview text for P5, linking to the topic Biodiversity and interdependence, Darren Mann explains how he looks after a huge collection of insects in his job at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. He explains how he was fascinated with insects from an early age and how his interest in beetles has developed. The downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This non-chronological report for P3, linking to the topicbiodiversity and interdependence, investigates the master desert digger, the meerkat. The text explains what they eat, who their predators are, how they survive living in the desert without drinking water, and much more. The downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this non-fiction text for year 3, linking to the topics rocks , discover ten awesomely amazing wonders of deserts. They include the Artist’s Palette in Death Valley, the Eye of the Sahara, the Nazca Lines, which are enormous geoglyphs, and lots more. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this interview text for year 4, linking to the topic living things and habitats , Mindi Lehew explains how she works in a desert for the US Forest Service. She explains the differences between the Mojave desert and the Sonoran desert and what vegetation lives there. During wildfire season, Mindi assists the emergency response team. The downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this interview text for P5, linking to the topicbiodiversity and interdependence, Mindi Lehew explains how she works in a desert for the US Forest Service. She explains the differences between the Mojave desert and the Sonoran desert and what vegetation lives there. During wildfire season, Mindi assists the emergency response team. The downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this non-fiction text for P4, linking to the topic Earth’s materials, discover ten awesomely amazing wonders of deserts. They include the Artist’s Palette in Death Valley, the Eye of the Sahara, the Nazca Lines, which are enormous geoglyphs, and lots more. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This biography text for P4, linking to the topic Forces and Magnets, describes the life of the historical scientist Ralph Alger Bagnold. Ralph explored some of the world’s most inhospitable deserts and made important advances in sand dune science. Deserts contain large amounts of iron ore, which make magnetic compasses unreliable for desert exploration. To solve this problem, Ralph designed a sun compass to plot his path during the daytime. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This explanation text for year 4 , linking to the topic Animals including humans, describes in detail how an electric toothbrush works. In a 2019 study, scientists found that people who used an electric toothbrush had healthier gums, less tooth decay and also kept their teeth for longer, compared with those who used a manual (non-electric) toothbrush. The labelled diagram with expanded captions explains each part of the toothbrush in detail. An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This explanation text for year 3, linking to the topic forces, describes in detail how a wing turbine works. Generating electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, is crucial if we are to reduce our carbon emissions. Wind turbines are one of the main green power technologies. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This reading comprehension instruction text for P3, linking to the science topic biodiversity and interdependence, explains how to plant a mini garden for the tooth fairy. This downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This explanation text for P6, linking to the topic forces, describes in detail how gears work. Gears are used in many technologies, from clocks to racing cars. They allow us to massively increase and control the power we can exert through machines. This text looks specifically at gears on a bike. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

A non-fiction biography text for P5, linking to the topicBiodiversity and interdependence about Sir David Attenborough. He has inspired millions of people to fall in love with nature by bringing the natural world into our homes. He received a knighthood in 1985 and has won several awards. As David saw the damage that humans were doing to the natural habitats and animals he was filming, he became increasingly concerned. In his documentaries about the climate crisis, David has shown millions of people how important it is that we care for our planet. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

A non-fiction biography text for year 4, linking to the topic Animals including humans about Sir David Attenborough. He has inspired millions of people to fall in love with nature by bringing the natural world into our homes. He received a knighthood in 1985 and has won several awards. As David saw the damage that humans were doing to the natural habitats and animals he was filming, he became increasingly concerned. In his documentaries about the climate crisis, David has shown millions of people how important it is that we care for our planet. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This explanation text for P4, linking to the topic forces, describes in detail how a wing turbine works. Generating electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, is crucial if we are to reduce our carbon emissions. Wind turbines are one of the main green power technologies. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

In this non-fiction text for year 5 , linking to the topic living things and habitats , discover ten awesomely amazing climate activists. All around the world, young people are taking action against the climate crisis, from picking up litter to taking governments to court. Inspire your class with these incredible kids. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder.

This interview text for year 6 explains the work of plant biologist professor Joanne Chory. She recently realised she could play a role in solving the problem of climate change by using her knowledge of biology. Professor Chory explains how plants can be optimised to store more carbon in their roots. The downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets.