This biography text for P7, describes how Gladys West helped to develop the first Global Positioning System (GPS). Gladys was hired by the American government as a mathematician in coding and computer programming. In 1978, Gladys led the Seasat project, processing data from a NASA satellite that was one of the earliest Earth-observing systems. The satellite was designed to measure variation in sea-surface winds, temperatures, wave heights, sea ice, ocean geography and liquid water in the Earth’s atmosphere. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. A reading comprehension question and answer sheet.

This biography text for year 5, linking to the topic Earth and Space, explains how important Galileo Galilei’s contributions to science were. He pioneered the scientific revolution and popularised scientific debate. Our understanding of the Universe was advanced through Galileo’s observations, methods and use of applied mathematics. He made many advances in the study of physics and promoted Copernican theory and the relativity of motion. 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 year 4, linking to the topic states of matter , Brendan McCormick explains what he does in his job as a volcanologist. Brendan studies the gases emitted by volcanoes, looking for clues about when they might erupt. He explains how difficult it can be to collect samples, his first visit to a volcano as a scientist as well as much more! 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.

A non-fiction text linking to the topic light for year 6 and P7. This interview with Gregg Suaning, a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, explains how his team is developing a bionic eye called Phoenix99 that could help people who have lost their sight to see again. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheet.

This biography text for year 6 , linking to the topic evolution and inheritance , describes the lives of palaeontologists William Buckland and Mary Morland. One of their biggest breakthroughs was studying bones that had been found in a local quarry in Oxfordshire years earlier. For more than 150 years, no one at the museum knew how to label them. Were they from an elephant? Or perhaps a giant human? In 1824, William announced his own theory – that they were from a huge, extinct reptile! He named this ancient creature Megalosaurus, meaning ‘great fossil lizard’. It was the very first dinosaur ever to be named and described! This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. A reading comprehension question and answer sheet.

A non-fiction biography text for year 5 about the female scientist Maria Sibylla Merian. By combining her talent as an artist with her skill in scientific observation, she uncovered the secrets of the life cycles of moths and butterflies. This links with the topics Living things and habitats and *biodiversity and Interdependence. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet.

In this non-fiction text for year 3 and year 4, linking with Roman history, discover ten things the Romans did for us. Here are some examples: before the Romans there was no reading or writing in Britain, they brought rabbits to Britain and they invented pivoted scissors. 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 non-chronological report for year 3 and year 4, linking to the topics of living things and habitats, investigates these ultimate avian predators. The text explains what different species of eagles eat, how they catch their prey, where they live and what has been done to protect threatened species. The downloadable reading pack includes: A 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 for year 3 and year 4, Alex Mather explains what civil engineering is. In her job she inspects bridges, attends project meetings and designs parts of new bridges. She loves to problem solve and was part of solving a traffic problem in Newcastle where the solution was a three-tier roundabout! Not only did it shorten people’s journeys, it has also had a positive impact on the environment because less fuel is being used. 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 for P4 and P5, Alex Mather explains what civil engineering is. In her job she inspects bridges, attends project meetings and designs parts of new bridges. She loves to problem solve and was part of solving a traffic problem in Newcastle where the solution was a three-tier roundabout! Not only did it shorten people’s journeys, it has also had a positive impact on the environment because less fuel is being used. 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 year 3, linking to the topics 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.

A non-fiction biography text for year 6, linking to the topic electricity. Mathematician Alan Turing is celebrated for his incredible contribution to the development of computer science. After World War II, Alan was awarded an OBE by the government for his work breaking German codes. But most of his achievements were kept secret to prevent enemy states from using the technology. The Turing Test is extremely important in computer science, creating the standard for artificial intelligence (AI). This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets.

This interview with a tree surgeon for year 5 links to the topic living things and habitats . Pablo Sanchez Moreno is a tree expert who maintains and preserves trees as his job. He explains why it is important to cut away the dead tissue in trees, to plant the right tree in the right place and what you need to become a tree surgeon and get paid to climb trees! 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 P7, linking to the topics Biodiversity and interdependence. Known as Mama Miti, which means ‘Mother of Trees’, Professor Wangari Maathai was an environmental activist who inspired the planting of millions of trees across Africa. In 2004, Wangari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace, becoming the first African woman to win the prestigious prize. This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question and answer sheets.

One of the most famous structures built in the Stone Age is Stonehenge, a massive circle of standing stones in Wiltshire in the UK. This explanation text for year 3 and year 4 describes in detail how it is thought Stonehenge was built. 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 non-chronological report about plastic for year 2, linking to the topic everyday materials, explains what plastic is and how it can be used. It also discusses how plastic cannot biodegrade and the effect it’s having on the environment. This downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet including the objective for each question, which is taken from the reading national curriculum. Sign up at whizzpopbang.com/schools to access all of the teaching resources.

This biography for year 5, linking to the topic forces, reveals the amazing life of Leonardo da Vinci. Not only was he a famous artist, he was also a brilliant engineer who loved science. He loved inventing things and came up with all sorts of ideas such as a mechanical flying machine, a giant bridge spanning over 200 meters and a steam-powered cannon! This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet including the objective for each question, which is taken from the reading national curriculum. Sign up at whizzpopbang.com/schools to access all of the teaching resources.

This non-chronological report for year 2 and P3, linking to the topic animals including humans, investigates donkeys. The text explains how donkeys are related to horses, their diet and why their milk is marvellous. This downloadable reading pack includes: Two differentiated A3 reading spreads for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet including the objective for each question, which is taken from the reading national curriculum. Sign up at whizzpopbang.com/schools to access all of the teaching resources.

In this interview for year 4 and P5, linking to the topic sound, Caoimhe Doyle explains what she does in her job as a sound engineer. A Foley artist is someone who creates sound effects for film, television and video games. They recreate the footsteps for all the characters in the movie and also create many of the other sound effects using various props, from car bumpers to celery! This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet including the objective for each question, which is taken from the reading national curriculum. Sign up at whizzpopbang.com/schools to access all of the teaching resources.

There’s no doubt that microphones are an incredible invention – but no one can agree whose invention it was! This explanation text for year 4, linking to the topic sound, investigates each scientist’s claim to the invention. Was it Emile Berliner, David Edward Hughes or Thomas Edison? This downloadable reading pack includes: An A3 reading spread for you to print. Reading comprehension question sheets, differentiated using our magnifying glasses key (on the bottom right). One magnifying glass indicates easier and two means harder. An answer sheet including the objective for each question, which is taken from the reading national curriculum. Sign up at whizzpopbang.com/schools to access all of the teaching resources.