Students will get one mission for each letter of the RACES acronym. All five missions include an engaging informational text that students must read and complete correctly, before passing to the next.

Missions include 

• Mission One: Re-state the question
• Mission Two: Answer all parts of the question(s)/prompt
• Mission Three: Cite the text to provide evidence
• Mission Four: Explain your citation
• Mission Five: Summarize your main ideas

When detectives in training (your students!) successfully complete and pass all missions, they are awarded with the official Text Detective status.  All text detectives get sworn in by the head of the department, their name and picture (with me!) gets posted on the “Meet the Text Detective” bulletin board. Families are notified of the official news, they are sworn in, and receive their official badge.

This resource is interactive, creative, and perfect for teaching:

• RACES writing strategy
• Constructed reading response
• Well-written paragraphs
• Short response for state testing
• Well-written essays
• Test prep

Excellent for RACES strategy practice and teaching and practicing short constructed responses!

Resource includes:

1. Detailed, step-by-step directions for how to transform your classroom into a Detective Agency
2. Pictures showing this resource in action inside my own third-grade classroom
3. 8 Color posters to print and display for the Detective Agency: Case Files, Detective Hats, Highlighters, Magnifying Glasses, Highlighters, Chief Detective Gear, Detective Gear, Detective Notebooks, Detective Badges
4. Detective Badges to print- Two different options
5. Meet the Text Detectives Bulletin Board Letters in BW
6. Top Secret Case Files- color and BW option
7. Private Detective Status Packet- The Chief of Detective (that’s you!) checks “pass” or “retest” as students complete each mission. This is a great way to keep track of each student’s status.
8. RACES strategy posters to print and display- color and BW option
9. RACES student bookmarks- This is an effective tool for students to reference as they write a constructed response.
10. RACES graphic organizer- This handout will help students organize their writing and learn to write the perfect response while citing text evidence and responding to a writing prompt or a constructed response question.
11. RACES writing rubric
12. RACES checklists for
13. RACES self-assessment- The perfect interactive tool for writers to take ownership over their writing.
14. RACES highlighter strategy lesson and materials
15. TOP SECRET
16. RACES bulletin board posters
17. Scaffolded Options  – graphic organizer, sentence stems,
18. Say goodbye to short, one-sentence answers and hello to strong, detailed paragraphs!

The RACES Constructed Response Paragraph Writing Resource is here to turn even the most hesitant writers into confident, capable responders. With this resource, your students will master the art of answering text-dependent questions with clear, well-structured responses that showcase their understanding. Get ready to see their writing skills take off!

A breakdown of this 69 page resource:

1. Reading passage and comprehension questions- Students read the two-page reading passage, titled The Food Groups. Using evidence from the text, students answer a mix of true/false, multiple-choice, and short response questions. An answer key is included.
2. Food group posters- There are three different posters for each food group- Fruits, Vegetables, Protein, Grains, Dairy. One poster has clip art images of the foods in that food group and the other poster has real photographs of the foods in that food group. The third poster includes the image of the MyPlate Graphic of each food group highlighted. There is also a poster for “empty calorie foods,” to teach students about foods that are high in sugar, fat, or salt but do not contain many nutrients.
3. Food group flipbook- There is one page for every food group, and also 3 different options for a cover page. Students write about the benefits of eating foods from each food group, examples of foods from each food group and draw their favorite foods from each food group.
4. Food Group Sorting Activity- Students will love learning about the five food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy) with this engaging sort and classify activity. There is a total of 76 different foods for students to sort. Food images are clean, beautiful, and high resolution- engaging for all ages. Students will also learn what “empty calorie” foods are, and examples of different foods that would fit into this category. This is also an excellent opportunity for students to learn about new and unfamiliar foods, such as papaya and wild rice. Yum! Students will sort the foods under the correct headings- fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, and empty calories. An answer key is included. This activity is 26 pages total.

Please email me any questions prior to purchasing!

A breakdown of this resource (24 pages total):

• Reading passage and comprehension questions- Students read the two-page reading passage, titled Eat a Rainbow Every Day. Using evidence from the text, students answer a mix of true/false, multiple-choice, and short response questions. An answer key is included.
• Eat a rainbow posters- There are two different posters to print in color. Both posters have photographs of red, orange, yellow, purple/blue, and green-colored fruits and vegetables.
• Choosing healthy foods- On this one page (black and white) printable, students identify the foods that are the highest in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. This worksheet includes food items labeled with names and clip art.
• Eat a rainbow flip book- In this interactive activity, students cut out different colored fruits and vegetables from magazines and grocery store advertisements. Students search for pictures of foods that are red, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and green. A note to send home to families requesting food magazines, along with pictures of the completed project are included.

Questions? Please ask me prior to purchasing! :)

Included in this resource:

Nutrition Labels

1. Reading a nutrition label- This one page, color printable points out the different parts of a nutrition label.
2. Reading a nutrition label- On this one page worksheet, students read the nutrition label and then answer questions about the food.
3. Analyzing a nutrition label for chocolate milk- Students analyze the ingredients and the nutrition facts of a half pint of chocolate milk. In this two page worksheet, students answer a variety of short answer questions after analyzing the nutrition label.
4. My nutrition label- Students can use the blank template of the nutrition label to fill in with their own information from a food that they brought from home. Students write the ingredients and write what they learned on this one page reflection.
5. Eggs and Cereal Nutrition Facts- For this activity, students read the different nutrition facts for Honey Nut Cheerios and an egg. Students answer the mix of true/false, short answer, and multiple choice questions about the two nutrition facts.

Healthy and unhealthy meals

1. Healthy and unhealthy lunches- In this lesson, students dissect their lunch and observe the different food groups represented. Students will write and/or draw the included foods on the graphic organizer.
2. Compare and contrast lunches- In this lesson, students compare the differences between a healthy and unhealthy lunch. There are two options- posters with clip art of food and posters that are photographs of real foods. Students write about what the lunches have in common and what is different about the two lunches on the graphic organizer of a Venn diagram. This activity also includes two printables of the “Choose my Plate” images.
3. Comparing Two Different Breakfasts– In this lesson, students look at pictures of two different breakfasts. The pictures are photographs of real food. Students identify how many different food groups are represented and place the foods in the correct food group. Lastly, students will use the graphic organizer to determine, if, overall the breakfast is healthy. There is a one page printable with an image of an empty food tray. On this page, students draw their own healthy lunch or breakfast, carefully choosing foods from each food group.

Please ask questions prior to purchasing!

1. A Helmet Full of Baby Birds
2. Carla’s Mittens
3. Frogs in the Pond
4. Molly the Flower Girl
5. My New Puppy
6. Nevaeh’s Snow Angel
7. The Apple Tree Escapade
8. The Maple Tree
9. White Water Rafting
10. The Snowsuit

This resource includes 10 fiction reading passages at the guided reading level O. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your third-grade readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level O is the equivalent of a third-grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages include:

• Sunny and the Couch
• Bye-Bye Apple Tree
• Polar Bear Swim
• Riley and the Pizza Box
• Riley and the Tube
• The Bird and the Window
• The Bunk Bed
• The Raccoon and the Frisbee
• The Winter Bonfire
• Riley and the Wakeboarding Rescue

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There are two pages of reading comprehension questions per passage. The comprehension questions include a mix of true/false, short answer, and multiple-choice questions.

There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

1. Meet Lebron James
2. Being a Nurse
3. Valentine’s Day
4. History of Mario Kart
5. How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies
6. How to Make Macaroni and Cheese
7. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
8. Lizards vs. Salamanders
9. Straws and Sea Turtles
10. The History of Video Games

This PDF resource includes 10 original, non-fiction reading passages at the guided reading level H. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your first grade beginning readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level H is the equivalent of a first-grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages are as follows:

1. Let’s Celebrate Earth Day!
2. History of St. Patrick’s Day
3. How to Play Go Fish
4. States of Matter
5. Who Is Beyonce?
6. All About Doctors
7. Celebrating Veterans Day
8. Who Was George Washington?
9. The Dung Beetle
10. Asian Elephants vs. African Elephants

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There is one page of reading comprehension questions per passage.

The comprehension questions include a mix of short answer, and multiple-choice questions, and drawing and labeling a response.

There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

Looking for a way to practice fluency for your beginning readers? There is a recording sheet with the word count listed, and a chart to mark the words correct/incorrect for the first, second, and third reading.

This resource includes 10 original, non-fiction reading passages at the guided reading level G. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your first grade beginning readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level G is the equivalent of a first-grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages are as follows:

1. All About Helen Keller
2. Lions vs. Tigers
3. What is a Bumblebee Bat?
4. Giant Squid
5. How to Pick the Perfect Pet
6. Summer Olympics
7. The Platypus
8. The Job of a Bus Driver
9. Winter Olympics
10. Celebrating Presidents Day

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There is one page of reading comprehension questions per passage.

The comprehension questions include a mix of short answer, and multiple-choice questions, and drawing and labeling a response.

There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

Looking for a way to practice fluency for your beginning readers? There is a recording sheet with the word count listed, and a chart to mark the words correct/incorrect for the first, second, and third reading.

This resource includes 10 original, non-fiction reading passages at the guided reading level F. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your first grade beginning readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level F is the equivalent of a first-grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages are as follows:

1. All About Mercury
2. How Does Rain Form?
3. The Job of a Dentist
4. Sharks
5. Dolphins
6. All About Saturn
7. How to Make Applesauce
8. The Job of a Construction Worker
9. Who Was Johnny Appleseed?
10. Who Was Thomas Edison?

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There is one page of reading comprehension questions per passage.

The comprehension questions include a mix of short answer, and multiple-choice questions, and drawing and labeling a response.

There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

Looking for a way to practice fluency for your beginning readers? There is a recording sheet with the word count listed, and a chart to mark the words correct/incorrect for the first, second, and third reading.

This resource includes 10 original, non-fiction reading passages at the guided reading level E. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your first grade beginning readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level E is the equivalent of a first-grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages are as follows:

1. All About Mars
2. All About Police Officers
3. All About Vets
4. How to Make S’mores
5. How to Play Mini Golf
6. How to Take Care of a Pet
7. Who Was Amelia Earhart?
8. Wayne Gretzky
9. Why Should I Eat Fruits and Vegetables?
10. The First Airplane

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There is one page of reading comprehension questions per passage.

The comprehension questions include a mix of short answer, and multiple-choice questions, and drawing and labeling a response.

There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

Looking for a way to practice fluency for your beginning readers? There is a recording sheet with the word count listed, and a chart to mark the words correct/incorrect for the first, second, and third reading.

This resource includes 10 non-fiction reading passages at the guided reading level D. The reading passages will create a high level of engagement for your first grade beginning readers and are perfect for their reading level. A level D is the equivalent of a first grade reading level.

The titles of the fiction reading passages include:

1. All About Firefighters
2. How to Take Care of a Pet Dog
3. Why Should I Exercise?
4. All About Farmers
5. Pet Mice and Wild Mice
6. All About Dogs
7. Things to Do in the Summer
8. Things to Do in the Winter
9. All About Bakers
10. How to Build a Snowman

Each reading passage includes a cover page in color and black/white.

There is one page of reading comprehension questions per passage. The comprehension questions include a mix of short answer, and multiple-choice questions, and drawing and labeling a response. There is an answer key included for every page.

Need to do running records for your students? There is a running record recording sheet for each guided reading passage.

Looking for a way to practice fluency for your beginning readers? There is a recording sheet with the word count listed, and a chart to mark the words correct/incorrect for the first, second, and third reading.