Use Informational Text to Build Scientific Literacy — Even on Your Busiest Days

Let’s face it: planning meaningful lessons every single day is a challenge, and sometimes you need high-quality material that doesn’t require hours to prep — especially for sub plans, early finishers, or enrichment. That’s why I want to highlight a fantastic resource for middle school science teachers: Informational Text for MS Scientific Literacy Featuring 8 Famous Scientists.

Why Informational Text Matters in a NGSS Classroom

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) intentionally shift science instruction beyond rote memorization toward scientific literacy and real sense-making. That means students must not only know science content, but also engage with it like real scientists — asking questions, analyzing evidence, and interpreting explanations.

This is where informational text plays a powerful role:

• Builds background knowledge and context — reading about real scientists helps students understand how scientific ideas develop over time.
• Supports disciplinary literacy — NGSS encourages students to read, interpret, and use informational text as part of science learning, not separate from it.
• Reinforces key science practices, like obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, which are part of the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices.

What’s In the Resource?

This robust pack includes 8 informational reading passages + analysis worksheets — one for each of these influential figures in science and exploration:

• Charles Darwin
• Gregor Mendel
• Amelia Earhart
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Mae Jemison
• Louis Pasteur
• Jane Goodall
• Marie Curie

Each lesson is designed to take about one class period and comes in both print-and-go PDF format and editable Google Docs — perfect for differentiation or classroom management

3 Ways to Use This Resource in Your Classroom

Here’s how this resource can save you time and deepen student learning:

🎯 1. Easy Sub Plans

Whether you’re out unexpectedly or need a no-stress plan for a substitute, these ready-made informational readings give students meaningful work that’s standards-aligned, independent, and intellectually engaging.
Just leave the packet and worksheets — and they’ll be reading and analyzing like scientists.

🧠 2. Early Finishers Activity

Students who finish hands-on investigations quickly often need productive extension work. Assign a scientist reading and corresponding analysis questions — it keeps them thinking critically without pulling them away from grade-level science.

✨ 3. Enrichment & Small-Group Work

These texts are perfect for small-group differentiation or enrichment rotations. Students can dive deeper into how scientists think and work, practicing evidence-based reading and writing — skills that transfer directly to NGSS performance expectations.

Final Thoughts and a Promo

Integrating informational text into science doesn’t have to be hard — and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Resources like Informational Text for MS Scientific Literacy Featuring 8 Famous Scientists let you blend literacy and science learning in ways that are manageable, research-based, and designed for real classrooms.

Whether you’re planning ahead or need something quick tomorrow, this resource can help you nurture scientific literacy with purpose and ease. And, for a limited time, you can score this set of 8 activities for half price. Click here for more info!