What is the Atmosphere Earth Science Reading Comprehension 2 Passage & Questions

Studying what the atmosphere is helps middle and high school students connect everyday weather, climate patterns, and human health to clear Earth science ideas like air pressure, greenhouse gases, and the ozone layer. A two level resource with reading passages and questions lets every learner master core facts such as the atmosphere’s makeup, about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and explore the roles of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere with the right amount of detail. The higher level passage can support research and analysis into temperature profiles, jet streams, and satellite data, while the more accessible passage explains levels, temperatures, and key facts in plain language. Each passage includes a clear vocabulary, an engaging image and questions that progress from recall to analysis and evidence use, reinforcing NGSS MS-ESS2 and HS-ESS2 targets and cross curricular literacy. This differentiated approach streamlines planning, supports inclusive instruction, and builds real world understanding that students can apply to weather forecasts, aviation, and climate discussions.

This tiered approach - offering two sets of guiding reading and questions tailored to each text - builds foundational skills in reading, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry, so you can use the right one for you. Through such structured resources, students develop a deeper appreciation for the processes that create and preserve this incredible natural phenomenon, and gain the scientific literacy necessary to make informed decisions.

This 2 article set of what is the atmosphere? reading passages with questions provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can help your students learn all about what is the atmosphere? For digital, you can provide a Google doc copy for ease of submission or a Microsoft word version as well. In this what is the atmosphere? article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking.

THIS WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE? ARTICLE CAN BE USED SO MANY WAYS:

Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
To extend students
To increase scientific literacy in your class
A weekly reading task
Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
To inspire students on a particular topic
Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE? READING PASSAGE WITH QUESTIONS:

2 - 3 page Word doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page Word doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
2 - 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
2 - 3 page Google doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
2 - 2 page Google doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill answers (text boxes)