Caring for Our Earth


Earth is our beautiful home. It gives us sweet air to breathe and cool water to drink.
Plants, animals, and people all share this special planet. We need to keep it clean and safe.
Sometimes our Earth gets hurt. This problem is called pollution.
When people throw trash on the ground, it hurts the land. Plastic bags and cups can blow away and end up in rivers.
Cars, trucks, and big factories also cause problems. They blow dark smoke into the blue sky.
This smoke makes the air dirty. Dirty air makes it hard for plants and people to breathe well.
Dirty water is another big issue. Soap, oil, and trash can wash into lakes and oceans.
Fish and sea turtles can get sick when their water is not clean.
The good news is that we can help our Earth! Everyone can do small things each day to protect the world.
First, you can pick up litter and put it in a trash can. You can also recycle paper, plastic bottles, and metal cans.
Next, you can save energy and water. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Turn off the water tap while you brush your teeth.
- planet:
- A large, round world in space that travels around a star, such as Earth.
- pollution:
- Trash or dirty things that harm the land, water, or air.
- litter:
- Pieces of trash left lying on the ground in an open or public place.
- recycle:
- To collect and treat used things so they can be made into new items.
- energy:
- Power that is used to give light and heat to work machines.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main topic of the passage?
- 2What word from the text means the problem when our Earth gets hurt and dirty?
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About this informational passage for Lower Elementary
“Caring for Our Earth” is a informational reading passage about Earth Care, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (261 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.


