4th Grade Reading Passages Common Core

Use the Free printable Common Core 4th and 5th Grade Reading Passages below to prepare students for CCSS ELA reading comprehension questions.

Grade Level Reading Passage Fluency Goals 4th Grade 180 Correct Words Per Minute (CWPM) 5th Grade 195 CWPM

Apollo 11 Reading Fluency Passage | Reading Level Grade 4 and 5

Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969, at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface six hours later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. Armstrong spent about two and a half hours outside the spacecraft, Aldrin slightly less, and together they collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material for return to Earth. A third member of the mission, Michael Collins, piloted the command spacecraft alone in lunar orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned to it just under a day later for the trip back to Earth. CWPM 100

Launched by a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, Apollo 11 was the fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program. The Apollo spacecraft had three parts: a Command Module with a cabin for the three astronauts, and the only part that landed back on Earth; a Service Module, which supported the Command Module with propulsion, electrical power, oxygen, and water; and a Lunar Module for landing on the Moon. After being sent toward the Moon by the Saturn V's upper stage, the astronauts separated the spacecraft from it and traveled for three days until they entered into lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into the Lunar Module and landed in the Sea of Tranquility. They stayed a total of about 21½ hours on the lunar surface. After lifting off in the upper part of the Lunar Module and rejoining Collins in the Command Module, they returned to Earth and landed in the Pacific Ocean on July 24. WCPM 276

Broadcast on live TV to a world-wide audience, Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and described the event as "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Apollo 11 effectively ended the Space Race and fulfilled a national goal proposed in 1961 by the late US President John F. Kennedy in a speech before the United States Congress, "before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." CWPM 355

What is the main idea of the reading passage?

Why do you think they proposed a Space Race and how did Apollo 11 end it?

More Sample Reading Fluency Drills all grades
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean
Treasure Island
Snow-White and Rose-Red
Alice in Wonderland
The Story that Wouldn’t be Told
The Wind in the Willows
The legend of Sleepy Hallow
Macavity the Mystery Cat
Under the Lilacs
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Special Sounds
Hurry with my Food and Drink, Boy!
John Carter of Mars 6th Grade Fluency Drill With DOK Questions

Fluency Drills By Grade Level
Fluency Drills: 6th Grade
Fluency Drills: 5th Grade
Fluency Drills: 4th Grade
Fluency Drills: 3rd Grade
Fluency Drills: 2nd Grade

Grade Level Fluency Drills K-5 | Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading