Instead of spending countless hours creating reading activities that cater to every student’s level, take the stress out of literacy planning with our expansive collection of reading and comprehension worksheets.
Created by experienced NZ teachers, our teaching resources for NZ parents and educators provide everything you need to develop strong reading skills in your students, from engaging texts and structured comprehension activities to detailed marking guides.
Browse our reading comprehension pages below and find the perfect reading resources for your classroom today!
The Whaling and Sealing in New Zealand Scavenger Hunt is an engaging cross-curriculum reading comprehension activity. Allow your students to move around the room, visit reading passages and answer questions. Solve the mystery of the First Mate’s Peril! The task card scavenger hunt is designed so students must visit/read each of the ten fact…
This resource is designed as a decodable text for older readers (year 4 – Year 8). It is a narrative about going away on a camping trip with friends. Focus Phonemes and Graphemes: It has a particular focus on: /k/ phoneme represented by –ck, c and k /oa/ phoneme represented by oa, ow and…
Learn about soccer star Lionel Messi with these print-and-go worksheets. In this set of reading comprehension and literacy activities pack, pitched at Year 3-4 learners, students will learn about the famous football player, Lionel Messi In this pack, you receive: a reading passage suitable for Year 3 a reading passage suitable for Year 4…
Learn about soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo with these print-and-go worksheets. In this reading comprehension and literacy activities pack, pitched to Year 3-4 learners, students will learn about the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo. In this reading pack, you receive: a reading passage suitable for Year 3 a reading passage suitable for Year 4 Each…
Learn about notable New Zealand authors: Patricia Grace, Keri Hulme, Witi Ihimaera and Alan Duff with our Authors of Aotearoa Activity Bundle. Improve reading comprehension in your classroom with our differentiated close reading passages and questions. Also useful to integrate into a financial literacy unit. This Authors of Aotearoa Reading Comprehension Activity Bundle features the following two resources:…
Ramp up your reading comprehension program with this Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions Mega Bundle. It features differentiated Reading Comprehension passages and questions with Higher Order Thinking activities based on TEN topic areas: Sports Stars, Kiwiana, Video Games, Natural Disasters, Myths and Legends From Around The World (Volume One and Two), Māori Myths and Legends…
Stop teaching literacy skills in isolation! This comprehensive unit brings a pivotal moment in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history to life while systematically building the reading and writing skills your students need. Grounded in the Science of Learning, this Women and the Vote unit is more than just a set of activities. It’s a carefully sequenced,…
Enhance Reading Comprehension with Science of Reading Principles Empower your students’ literacy skills with this whole class teaching structured literacy resource, tailored for teaching comprehension through The Art of Taiaha—a captivating article from the Level 4 June 2024 School Journal. This comprehensive resource integrates Science of Reading strategies, making it the perfect addition to your…
Explore the structure and design of pā in New Zealand with this dynamic whole-class teaching resource. These whole-class teaching slides work for Year 5-8 learners and align with the Science of Reading and the principles of a knowledge-rich curriculum. In this Structure and Design of Pā Whole-Class teaching pack, you receive: 1. A…
Explore the structure and design of pā in New Zealand with this dynamic teaching resource. These print and digital independent activities are pitched at Year 5-8 learners and align with the Science of Reading and the principles of a knowledge-rich curriculum. In this Structure and Design of Pā independent activities pack, you receive: …
Explore the history of pa in New Zealand with this dynamic whole-class teaching resource. These whole-class teaching slides work for Year 5-8 learners and align with the Science of Reading and the principles of a knowledge-rich curriculum. In this History of Pā Whole-Class teaching pack, you receive: 1. A whole-class teaching set of…
Learn about the history and design of pā in Aotearoa, NZ, with this engaging resource! In this History, Reading Comprehension & Literacy Activities pack, pitched at Year 4 learners, students will learn what pā are, their origins, and design and structure. This resource is provided in both print and digital form – great for Google…
Explore the traditional legend of the Philippines: ‘The Legend of Mount Makiling’ with our set of reading and literacy activities. We have provided two options for you: a set of whole-class teaching slides and worksheets for small-group or independent use. These activities work for Year 4-6 learners. In this Philippines Legend Reading Comprehension and…
Supercharge your reading programme with this engaging five-pack Reading Skills Check Mega Bundle! Designed for Year 4 learners, this resource uses high-interest themes – Food, Natural Disasters, Sports, Insects and Vehicles – to build comprehension, vocabulary, inference, and analytical skills in a structured, easy-to-implement format. Five weeks included! Each pack offers a week of…
We’ve put together a set of reading response activities for the School Journal Story Library text: In His Blood – The Bruce McLaren Story. This resource has everything you need to dive into the story of Bruce McLaren’s life! Rev your engines, motorsport enthusiasts! This School Journal Story Library text covers content great for…
Manu o te Wiki: Bird of the Week Reading Activities In this reading task for students working at phase two: year 4, 5 and 6; we have included: 5 x slideshows, each with their own Manu o te wiki and activities for each PowerPoint slideshows and Google Slides included 5 x worksheets for students…
Beyond simply decoding words, understanding what they read empowers students to explore new ideas, think critically, and connect deeply with the world around them. Research shows that children who develop strong comprehension skills early on are more likely to excel across all subjects, from science and maths to social studies.
These skills are particularly crucial in today's digital age, where students must navigate and understand increasingly complex information. Poor reading comprehension can create a ripple effect, impacting academic performance, self-esteem, and future career opportunities.
By building these essential skills through targeted reading comprehension worksheets, students develop the confidence to tackle challenging texts, engage in meaningful discussions, and become independent, lifelong learners.
Teachers and parents can support this development by equipping our children with the tools they need to understand, analyse, and succeed in an information-rich world. Through structured literacy and science of reading principles, Top Teaching Tasks’ resources provide systematic, evidence-based support for essential reading skills. Our comprehensive approach addresses all key components—from phonemic awareness and phonics to vocabulary and fluency—ensuring students build strong foundations while developing critical thinking abilities.
These resources support readers at every level by integrating Phonics Plus follow-up activities and targeted spelling exercises with higher-level comprehension strategies. Whether working with emerging readers who need extra support or advanced learners ready for more challenges, our systematic approach helps students develop both the decoding skills and language comprehension needed for reading success.
Top Teaching Tasks prides ourselves on reading practice worksheets that tackle one of the biggest classroom challenges: meeting diverse learning needs without doubling the planning workload.
Each carefully crafted reading comprehension worksheet comes with passages at two different reading levels, meaning you can differentiate instruction while keeping your whole class engaged with the same topic.
Our diverse range of topics supports content-area literacy, helping students build knowledge across the curriculum while strengthening their comprehension skills. Transform them from passive readers into active, analytical readers with higher-order thinking skills.
Whether you're teaching about science, social studies, or current events, these ready-to-use reading activities for students save precious planning time while ensuring every kid in your class is appropriately challenged and supported.
Our reading and comprehension worksheets are suitable for new entrants to Year 8 students. Many of our activities come with two differentiated reading levels within the same topic, making them incredibly flexible for mixed-ability classrooms.
Both levels include the same core content and themes, allowing all students to participate in whole-class discussions while working at their appropriate reading level. Each reading activities worksheet indicates the reading levels included, and teachers can easily assign the most suitable version to different students within the same lesson.
Absolutely! Our reading comprehension pages are perfectly suited for homework assignments. Here"s why they work so well:
Each worksheet includes space for student responses, clear learning objectives, and guidance notes that help parents support their child's learning at home.
Yes, experienced New Zealand teachers design our reading activities and primary teaching resources in NZ to align with The New Zealand Curriculum"s English learning area requirements. Each reading comprehension worksheet supports the development of critical literacy skills outlined in the curriculum, making it easy to select appropriate resources for your teaching programme.
Give your students and children the building blocks they need to become confident, capable readers with our comprehensive collection of reading and comprehension worksheets.
Our carefully crafted activities support diverse learning needs while saving valuable planning time. From daily reading practice to in-depth comprehension tasks, each resource is designed to engage students while developing essential literacy skills that last a lifetime.
Browse our collection to get started, or contact our friendly team to find the perfect reading activities for your students now!
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