Y5 Reading Comprehension: Lava Lamp

Year 5 reading comprehension: an original science experiment with 15 multiple-choice questions, KS2 reading domains and a full answer key. No prep needed.

How to Make a Lava Lamp in a Jar – Instructions for a safe, adult-supervised science experiment: a homemade lava lamp using water, vegetable oil, food colouring and a fizzy tablet. Clear steps are followed by an explanation of the science (density, dissolving and a gas-making reaction) and ideas for further investigation.

What’s included (12-page PDF):

• Original science experiment (715 words) with numbered paragraphs, written for Year 5 readers
• Word bank of useful vocabulary
• Pupil question sheet: 15 multiple-choice questions (A–E), with no answers showing
• Quick-mark answer grid with every question tagged to its KS2 reading content domain (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h)
• Full teacher answer key explaining why each answer is right and why every other option is wrong

Skills covered:

• Retrieval
• Vocabulary in context
• Inference about safety and reasons
• Simile
• Comparing the homemade lamp with a real one
• Prediction
• Purpose of the explanation section
• Summarising a section

Ideal for: guided reading, whole-class reading lessons, reading assessment, homework, intervention groups, tutoring and cover lessons.

Questions build from straightforward retrieval to inference and language, so the pack works for a range of readers. British English throughout.

Written by Word Harbour Reading. Original text, created for educational use.