Catch My Words

Nonfiction High School Reading Passages

2025-10-29T16:19:00.006-05:00

I took a writing course that focused on nonfiction because this is what magazines are interested in. I was told fiction is fun but nonfiction sells. The main focus was how to make nonfiction interesting. This is easy because nonfiction is often fascinating by itself.

My second high school reading bundle is full of nonfiction articles and questions to engage your high school students.

Engaging Reading Articles Included:

Smoothies

Teach about the history of Smoothies while stretching critical thinking skills.

The History of Playing Cards

A historical peek into the world of cards.

Coronavirus and Other Pandemics

COVID-19 and diseases of the past help develop reading skills through discussion questions and writing prompts.

Racism

Contains issues related to racism, particularly in terms of black lives.

Drawing Conclusions on the Topic of American History

Find eight drawing conclusions reading passages with questions concerning people, events, or procedures related to American history.

Reading Passage with Questions on COVID Safety

Activity allows for class discussion on safety concerns surrounding COVID.

Bonus Resource

Writing Satire

If you want some fascinating articles, check out my second Reading Passages for High School Bundle!

Thanks for reading!

Joyce

Catch My Products

🎃 Ready for Halloween?

2025-10-21T20:04:00.006-05:00

Happy October!

Read about my inspiration behind this story.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Middle-School-Ghost-Story-Halloween-Grade-7-Reading-Passage-Grade-6-Reading-ELA-6788947

Back before Covid, I was a tour guide for Historical Haunts. I would dress in my Victorian gown and guide guests through the haunted areas of downtown Memphis.

As I explained on our tour, we may not be the most haunted city, but we certainly are the most cursed.

This was due to the Chickasaw Tribe being angered by Hernando DeSoto, who brought European diseases to their tribe, such as Smallpox and venereal disease. Explorers were rarely nice to natives.

Everything from Memphis to the northern areas surrounding her has been cursed from then to forevermore. We had a nasty bout of Yellow Fever, a miserable boat wreck from the Sultana, and recently, many of our trolleys caught fire.

As a tour guide, I visited several ghosts, but my favorite has always been Claude Pugh! Now, you and your kids can read about him for only a dollar! This spunky ten-year-old ghost has a lot of personality, as told in his story and my author's note.

This high-interest, no-prep reading passage includes:

5 Page Story
Author Notes
6 Vocabulary Words
4 Additional Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Fill Ins
9 Discussion Questions
4 Short Writing Prompts
2 Research Questions
Print, link to Google, or use on Easel
Complete Answer Key Included

If you purchase this story, I promise it won't disappoint!

Look at this . . .

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Logic-Puzzles-5th-Grade-Brain-Teaser-Games-Wizards-Math-Logic-Puzzles-2790762

This resource started as a Harry Potter pack, but due to copyright, I changed it to a Wizards Puzzle Pack. Unfortunately, I didn't write the Harry Potter books. Nonetheless, this is a fun brain teaser pack that my kids enjoyed when I was still in the classroom.

Inside this no-prep resource, you'll find:

5 Logic Puzzles
Enrichment Writing Prompts for Early Finishers
2 Sudoku Puzzles
Chop Logic Challenge
Chop Logic Writing Page
Bonus item Math
Printable Worksheet
Google Link
Easel Access
Complete Answer Key

Thanks for Reading!

Joyce

Catch My Products

Dog Rescue

2025-09-29T15:48:00.006-05:00

Dominique's
original photo

A couple of weeks ago, I found a gorgeous dog at the shelter who was scheduled to be euthanized at 7:00 the next morning. She had a few notes on her profile and a shelter profile picture, which did not do her justice. To make matters worse, the notes were not positive! The shelter suggested she be placed in an adult-only home because she had "growled" at someone, and she was not eligible to be fostered through the shelter, due to high fear, anxiety, and stress. (FAS) Why a FAS dog cannot be fostered makes no sense to me!

Upon our first meeting, the odds of getting her out of the shelter seemed slim to none. As I approached her cage, Dominique and her sister Flo barked ferociously. Usually, when I get that kind of reception, I back off. I gingerly placed my hand for her to smell, in which she momentarily stopped barking only to start again. However, I noticed a wagging tail, so something possessed me to move forward and open the cage. Somehow, I got Dominique out, without Flo darting down the hall, and brought her outside.

Once outside, I saw a beautiful and loving animal!

Dominique - video links

Dominique is a true love dog, and her videos got a lot of traction. By day's end, she had almost $600 in pledges and a rescue commitment. The rescue ended up taking both her and Flo. I drove the ladies to meet their foster about an hour and a half out of Memphis.

This woman, who will foster both animals, only has 28 dogs: eleven are indoor dogs, three puppies, and she has multiple other animals, such as cats, on her farm. Why does she have so many? She falls in love with them and foster fails. I get that, because we still have Kumquat.

The fosters have changed Flo's name to Angelique and fluffed them up with a professional grooming session. Aren't they gorgeous?

Dominique is on the left and Flo (Anqelique) is on the right.

I tell this story because rescue has become a part of my life, and the positive stories keep me going. Seeing dogs I love die is the worst!

I have a new realistic fiction story based on another dog whom I helped find a home for. I changed a lot in the story to protect the owner's identity and add a new element, bullying. I have no idea if the owner was bullied, but I do know she had a beautiful, acne-free face!

If one kid in a teacher's class adopts a shelter dog, my job is done. Unfortunately, I will never know unless a customer tells me it happened.

Click the picture or here to find Rescue Both of Us at my store on TpT. Plus, if you buy it before tomorrow morning, you can get it at half price! Here is a little bit about it.

$2.73

$5.45

SAVE

$2.72

Build reading comprehension skills with this delightful, realistic fiction story about a bullied middle schooler's encounter with a lovable dog. This original reading passage comes complete with vocabulary words, high-level reading comprehension, research, and point of view questions, plus an answer key. The engaging story is based on real events at an animal shelter.

Use this story and questions for literacy groups, reading centers, whole or small group activities, partner or independent work, emergency sub plans, or homeschool for grades 5 - 7. Quick and easy setup makes this a win for you and your students.

Inside this no-prep activity, you'll find:

Reading Passage ~ 6 pages
16 Vocabulary Words Matching
Vocabulary Fill-ins
7 Reading Discussion Questions
4 Research Questions
Point of View Questions
Answer Key
Printable PDF. File
Link to Google Slides
Easel Worksheets

Please check out my resource at Catch My Products, and thanks for reading Catch My Words!

Joyce

Catch My Products