How Do We Tell How Old Things Are? Reading Comprehension 2 Passage & Questions

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Learning how we tell how old things are builds powerful connections between science, history, and math by introducing students to methods like relative dating, stratigraphy, tree rings, ice cores, and radiometric techniques such as carbon-14 and half-life calculations. A two level set of reading passages with questions lets every learner access the big ideas at the right depth: the higher level passage connects decay curves, error ranges, and cross-checking evidence from fossils and rock layers, while the more accessible passage explains layers, rings, and simple timelines in clear language with engaging images. Each passage includes a accessible scientific language and building difficulty scaffolded questions that progress from recall to interpretation and claim-evidence-reasoning, aligning with NGSS MS-ESS1 and HS-ESS1 while strengthening numeracy and science literacy. This differentiated resource simplifies planning and helps students see how scientists build reliable timelines for Earth’s past, artifacts, and climate records, turning abstract time scales into concrete, evidence based understanding.

This tiered approach - offering two sets of guiding reading and questions tailored to each text - builds foundational skills in reading, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry, so you can use the right one for you. Through such structured resources, students develop a deeper appreciation for the processes that create and preserve this incredible natural phenomenon, and gain the scientific literacy necessary to make informed decisions.

This 2 article set of How Do We Tell How Old Things Are? reading passages with questions provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can help your students learn all about How Do We Tell How Old Things Are? For digital, you can provide a Google doc copy for ease of submission or a Microsoft word version as well. In this How Do We Tell How Old Things Are? article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking.

The accessible version is geared towards approximately 5th / 6th / 7th grade science students, while the more advanced version is geared towards approximately 8th / 9th / 10th grade science students. This range for both could be extended with prep work or additional materials.

THIS HOW DO WE TELL HOW OLD THINGS ARE? ARTICLE CAN BE USED SO MANY WAYS:

Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy in your class
A weekly reading task
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
To inspire students on a particular topic
Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS HOW DO WE TELL HOW OLD THINGS ARE? READING PASSAGE WITH QUESTIONS:

2 - 3 page Word doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page Word doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
2 - 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
2 - 3 page Google doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page Google doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill answers (text boxes)

Please note: That the Doc versions are images with editable text boxes overlayed on top and this is the most effective way to keep the article sleek and well-designed and also that students cannot change things significantly.

WANT MORE AMAZING ARTICLES LIKE THIS HOW DO WE TELL HOW OLD THINGS ARE - ARTICLE? MANY ARE AVAILABLE!

I am very proud of this series of science articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of science. Each science article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable).