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Reading and Science Task Cards!

Reading and Science combined into one fabulous task card set! Yes, please!

This is such a fun premise for a task card set and it’s one I invented several years ago. The sets have evolved over the years and my newest versions are just spectacular!

Let me explain…

Reading and Science task cards combined with highly engaging topics students love. Sets feature a magazine-style layout with questions and text features and the science content.

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How best to combine reading and science?

My thinking, as I was inventing this format, was to make attractive reading selections that resembled a newspaper or magazine. Prior to this invention we used a popular kids’ magazine and loved it. But, the topics were not always connected to what we were studying.

So, I started creating my own newspaper layouts. More recently I started making these layouts horizontally and making the pages look like side-by-side pages of a magazine.

Now, how about the task cards?

Well, one thing we always did with our real magazines was to take note of the text features being used. So, I added many, many text features to my inventions and labeled them with alphabet letters.

Are you ready for this? The task cards have students identifying the text features or their purpose and answering content questions. It’s a perfect combination. Plus, the combination of reading and science- #Win-win

Here’s a peek at the Reading and Science Task Cards!

Reading and Science task cards combined with highly engaging topics students love. Sets feature a magazine-style layout with questions and text features and the science content.

Isn’t that fabulous?! I love this one. This sample is from the space set and it includes four pages of articles. Each page has the text features labeled.

The first set of task cards is blue and has students take a closer look at the text features.

Reading and Science task cards combined with highly engaging topics students love. Sets feature a magazine-style layout with questions and text features and the science content.

This one is also from my space set and you can see the green task cards that ask content questions.

So, what would your prep be to get a set ready for students? Great question!

  • Print and laminate the magazine pages. There are four to most of the sets. You would never need to print copies for every student! Print a couple of sets and students can work together. They only need one page at a time so share and trade.
  • Also, I provide each set in black/white so you can choose to make more copies using less ink!
  • Print, laminate, and cut apart the task cards. These are also provided in black/white.

I have a great alternative to the Reading and Science task cards…

Because I love making Boom sets, I decided to try converting these magazine reading task cards into Boom sets. Take a look:

Reading and Science task cards combined with highly engaging topics students love. Sets feature a magazine-style layout with questions and text features and the science content.

This sample is from the Skeleton set. Notice that the magazine part only covers half the page. The question and answer choices are on the opposite side. Same great colors and photos, but no printing, laminating, or cutting. Also, Boom cards are self-checking!

What topics are available?

Another great question! I currently have six different sets- both are provided in the printable and Boom formats. Take a look:

Informational Text Features and Task Cards: Let’s explore the Polar Regions! Magazine style reading selections decorated with images of polar region animals and labeled nonfiction text features create an interesting study!
Informational Text Features and Rocks, Minerals, and Volcanoes! This set of reading selections and task cards is perfect for working with your study of rocks and minerals!
No bones about it! Skeletons are fascinating to kids! This is for those students that prefer nonfiction reading! This terrific set of 64 Task Cards will address many things: nonfiction text features, informational reading, and applying what has been learned. Your students will love this set of articles and task cards!

These are all from the reading and science task card versions which includes:

  • The Polar Regions
  • Rocks, Minerals, and Volcanoes
  • Skeleton

Which one do you think kids like the most?

My vote is Rocks and Minerals- I think that topic is always fascinating!

This set of Boom Cards features 48 cards all about Groundhog Day. Students will read about the origin of the groundhog legend, find out where the annual celebration takes place, learn more about the community of Gobbler's Knob, read about groundhogs, and more. Students will answer questions to identify text features or their purpose and respond to basic comprehension questions. These digital self-checking Boom Cards are such a great way for students to enjoy learning about Groundhog Day.
This set of Boom Cards features 50 cards all about the Sharks. Students will read about shark habits, the kinds of sharks, the anatomy and fins of the shark, shark teeth, and more. The reading passages have the text features marked. Students will answer questions to identify the text feature or its purpose and respond to basic comprehension questions. These digital self-checking Boom Cards are such a great way for students to enjoy learning about sharks.
This set of Boom Cards features 56 cards all about space and planets. Students will answer questions to identify text features or their purpose and respond to basic comprehension questions. These digital self-checking Boom Cards are such a great way for students to enjoy learning about space topics.

These three are from the Reading and Science Boom versions which includes the same topics as the task card sets.

The three pictured are:

  • Groundhog Day
  • Sharks
  • Exploring Space

The kid-favorite with these is, of course, sharks!

These sets work perfectly for centers, morning work, seat-work at small group time, small group instruction, and virtual learning. Pages can be sent home or used on the Boom site.

Will I add more sets? Absolutely! I currently have several additional sets that are not science-related. And, I have more planned!

You can see the sets by clicking on any of the images! You might also like these blog posts:

Reading and Science task cards combined with highly engaging topics students love. Sets feature a magazine-style layout with questions and text features and the science content.