Looking for a middle school social studies lesson on North American geography and history? North America Informational Text includes a digital and a printable format. The digital format is completely paperless (for use in Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Edge). The included printable format is a print-and-go version of the same eight nonfiction reading passages of about 130 words each (around 1,000 words altogether). Each brief informational passage is followed by three text-based questions (24 questions altogether). An answer key for all questions is included.


If you’re searching online for computer-based social studies lessons for your middle school (or homeschool) students, you’ve found them. This lesson resource about North America is also included in the Continents set. Included:

• Digital format: In this format, students can type directly into the file and save their answers. Stunning and compelling images of North America are built in. (PDF, 19 pages)

• Full digital answer key. (PDF, 19 pages)

• Printable format: Each printable nonfiction passage can stand on its own so you can use one, two, or all eight of them at a time to teach about the geography and history of North America. (PDF, 9 pages)

• Full printable answer key. (PDF, 9 pages)

Excerpt:

“Thousands of years ago, settlers from Asia came to North America and swept across the continent. They became the first Native Americans. North America’s first people subsisted on wild and farmed plants, fish, and game. A wide range of cultures and languages developed.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas from Spain, setting off the global historic event known as the Columbian Exchange. With this, the Americas became connected to the rest of the world. Plants, animals, ideas, and technology flowed between the ‘New World’ of the Americas and the ‘Old World’ of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Horses and cows arrived in North America for the first time. So did wheat and other plants. Sadly, the Columbian Exchange also brought much violence and disease to the New World…”

Included North America Reading Passage Titles:

• Physical Geography

• Northern Reaches

• Great Lakes

• Temperate Forests

• Columbian Exchange

• Native Cultures

• Human Settlements

• North America’s Hot Climates

Applicable Grades: 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, homeschool


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