Introduce students to the fascinating history of calendars with this clear and engaging Year 5/6 reading comprehension text, The Year the Calendar Changed. This nonfiction passage explains how people measured time in the past and why calendars needed to be changed to match the seasons.
Students will learn about early Roman calendars, Julius Caesar’s improvements, leap years, and why the calendar we use today was created. Complex ideas are broken down into simple explanations, helping younger readers understand how small mistakes can cause big problems over time.
This resource works well for whole-group instruction, small-group reading, literacy centers, or integrated social studies and ELA lessons. It builds essential reading skills such as identifying key facts, sequencing events, understanding vocabulary, and making simple inferences.
What’s Included:
- 2 Pages of Explanation / How-To Text (Dyslexia-friendly font)
- 2 Pages of Reading Comprehension Questions
- “Just Tick It” Adaptive Reading Task – perfect for emerging or reluctant readers
- Extension Activities for winter science, instruction writing, and creative design
- 5-Lesson Teaching Presentation (40+ slides, structured and easy-to-teach)
- An additional 3 Worksheets to support teaching and learning
- Now includes “Mixed Up!” – gives teachers extra flexibility (e.g. assessment, variety, reusability)
- 5-Day Lesson Plan with pedagogy notes and teaching strategies
- Audio Support of the text (ideal for EAL/SEND/ESL learners)
- Answer Keys for all questions and tasks
- Assessment Tracker to monitor reading objectives and progress
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Get Your Bundle Deals:
-The History of New Year | Reading Comprehension | Bundle (10% OFF)
-How New Year Traditions Began | Reading Comprehension | Bundle (20% OFF)
-From Failure to Fresh Starts | Reading Comprehension | Bundle (10% OFF)
Free Supporting Video
A short, child-friendly video is available to support this lesson and reinforce key ideas. >Bitesize Education on YouTube
If you have questions do not hesitate in emailing me at: BitesizeEducation01@gmail.com
Thank you for visiting The Bitesize Education Shop, I would love for you to become a follower. The Bitesize Education followers receive new product information and discounts on any new items!
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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.
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How New Year Traditions Began | Bundle | Reading Comprehension | Year 5/6
Help pupils explore how calendars changed, why New Year traditions began, and how ideas about new beginnings have evolved with this engaging New Year Reading Comprehension Bundle. This New Year Reading Comprehension Bundle helps pupils explore how the New Year began, how it has changed over time, and why people across the world see it as a moment for reflection, renewal, and fresh starts. Through a carefully sequenced collection of engaging non-fiction texts, pupils develop vocabulary, retrieval, and inference skills while learning about calendars, traditions, cultural celebrations, and personal growth. The bundle is ideal for January literacy lessons, whole-class reading, guided comprehension, interventions, or cross-curricular learning linked to history, PSHE, and cultural studies. Each pack follows the same consistent, research-informed structure, helping to reduce cognitive load and build reading confidence across multiple texts. **Texts Included: New Year’s Resolutions** Explores where New Year’s resolutions originated, why people set goals at the start of the year, and how this tradition has evolved over time. **The Roman God of Beginning**s Introduces Janus, the Roman god of doorways and time, explaining why January is named after him and how his two faces symbolise looking to the past and future. **The Year the Calendar Changed** Examines how calendars have changed throughout history and why the way we measure time has shifted across different societies. **Fresh Starts Around the World** Compares how different cultures celebrate the New Year, highlighting shared traditions and unique customs across the globe. **A Famous Failure That Led to Success** A powerful motivational text showing how setbacks and mistakes can lead to growth, resilience, and new beginnings. **What’s Included:** * 2 pages of text (dyslexia-friendly font) * 2 pages of reading comprehension questions * 2 pages of “Just Tick It” adaptive questions (ideal for emerging or reluctant writers) * 2 pages of “Mixed Up!” questions for flexibility and reuse * 5-session teaching presentation (40+ slides, structured and easy to teach) * 3 presentation-linked worksheets * Audio support for the text (ideal for EAL/SEND/ESL learners) * Full answer keys * 5-day lesson plan with pedagogy notes * Assessment tracker to monitor reading objectives and progress **Get Your Bundle Deals:** [-The History of New Year | Reading Comprehension | Bundle](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-history-of-new-year-bundle-reading-comprehension-year-5-6-13385933) (10% OFF) [-How New Year Traditions Began | Reading Comprehension | Bundle](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/how-new-year-traditions-began-bundle-reading-comprehension-year-5-6-13385935) (20% OFF) **Free Supporting Videos** A short, child-friendly video is available to support this lesson and reinforce key ideas. >Bitesize Education on YouTube If you have questions, do not hesitate to email me at: bitesizeeducation01@gmail.com Thank you for visiting The Bitesize Education Shop – I would love for you to become a follower. Followers receive new product alerts and discounts on new releases!
£17.68
Bundle
How New Year Traditions Began | Bundle | Reading Comprehension | Year 5/6
Help pupils explore how calendars changed, why New Year traditions began, and how ideas about new beginnings have evolved with this engaging New Year Reading Comprehension Bundle. This carefully structured bundle supports pupils in developing vocabulary, retrieval, and inference skills while building meaningful historical and cultural understanding. Designed using a consistent, research-informed format, it is ideal for January literacy lessons, whole-class reading, guided comprehension, intervention, or cross-curricular learning linked to history, time, and reflection. **Texts Included: The Year the Calendar Changed** An informative explanation text exploring how early calendars caused confusion, why reforms were needed, and how systems for measuring time became more accurate. Pupils learn how historical problems led to lasting solutions still used today. **The Roman God of Beginnings** A fascinating historical text introducing Janus, the Roman god of doorways, time, and beginnings. Pupils discover why January is named after Janus and how his two faces symbolised looking to the past and future. **Why Do We Make New Year’s Resolutions?** An engaging explanation exploring where New Year’s resolutions originated, how they have changed over time, and why people continue to set goals at the start of each year. **What’s Included:** * 2 pages of text (dyslexia-friendly font) * 2 pages of reading comprehension questions * 2 pages of “Just Tick It” adaptive questions (ideal for emerging or reluctant writers) * 2 pages of “Mixed Up!” questions for flexibility and reuse * 5-session teaching presentation (40+ slides, structured and easy to teach) * 3 presentation-linked worksheets * Audio support for the text (ideal for EAL/SEND/ESL learners) * Full answer keys * 5-day lesson plan with pedagogy notes * Assessment tracker to monitor reading objectives and progress **Get Your Bundle Deals:** [-The History of New Year | Reading Comprehension | Bundle](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-history-of-new-year-bundle-reading-comprehension-year-5-6-13385933) (10% OFF) [-How New Year Traditions Began | Reading Comprehension | Bundle](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/how-new-year-traditions-began-bundle-reading-comprehension-year-5-6-13385935) (20% OFF) **Free Supporting Video** A short, child-friendly video is available to support this lesson and reinforce key ideas. >Bitesize Education on YouTube If you have questions, do not hesitate to email me at: bitesizeeducation01@gmail.com Thank you for visiting The Bitesize Education Shop – I would love for you to become a follower. Followers receive new product alerts and discounts on new releases!
£12.12
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