Curated Free Reading & Research Resources
Teachers, parents, and tutors often ask me, as a reading specialist, for high-quality nonfiction reading passages and safe search engines suitable for students. This page was created to meet that need.
About This Curated Collection
This page brings together high-quality, freely available resources that are shared online by their original publishers, educational organizations, and content creators. Resources are:
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Organized by grade level and instructional purpose
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Suitable for classroom, homeschool, and intervention use
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Focused on reading comprehension, content knowledge, and research skills
This is a curated list, not a paid or sponsored recommendation.
How to Use These Resources
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Use nonfiction passages for close reading, fluency, and comprehension
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Pair passages with discussion, graphic organizers, or writing prompts
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Teach students how to use safe search engines for guided research projects
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Assign passages for independent reading or homework
Help Keep This Page Accurate
Links can change or be removed over time.
If you notice a broken link or an outdated resource, please let me know so I can update the page.
📧 Please report broken links to:
judithearaujo@gmail.com
Suggestions for additional free resources are also welcome.
Thank you for helping keep this collection useful and up-to-date!
Table of Contents
- Adjusting Reading Levels
- 13 Nonfiction Reading Resources for Kids
- Search Engines for Kids
- 6 Recommended Kid-Safe Search Engines
- 5 Recommended Research and Reference Sites for Kids
- Related Resources
Adjusting Reading Levels: Brisk + Rewordify
Did you know?
You can automatically change the Lexile level of almost ANY passage.
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Brisk – Instantly adjusts the readability level and language. Free!
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Rewordify – Simplifies complex text into easier language. Paste text or enter a URL. Hundreds of classic literature chapters are already rewritten.
These tools make differentiation effortless.
13 Nonfiction Reading Resources for Kids
- One-Page Nonfiction Readings (Center for Urban Education) 📄 —
Visit One-Page Nonfiction Readings
Short, high-interest passages listed by Fry Readability Formula. Available by grade.
Scroll down for worksheets organized by grade level. Perfect for printing and quick comprehension checks.
- E Reading Worksheets 📝 —
Visit E Reading Worksheets
Free printable reading comprehension worksheets organized by grade. Ideal for independent practice or small-group lessons.
- Mr. Nussbaum 🎓 —
Visit Mr. Nussbaum
Offers print-friendly reading comprehension passages by grade level, plus interactive learning games.
- Text Project 📰 —
Text Project
Magazine article for grades 2-5.
- Talking Points for Kids 💬 —
Visit Talking Points for Kids
Provides short articles with discussion questions and activities for comprehension and critical thinking.
- ReadWorks 📚 —
Visit ReadWorks
Free nonfiction articles with paired texts, Lexile levels, digital assignments, and printable PDFs. Choose elementary, middle school, or high school content.
- Nonfiction Text Features Videos 🎥 —
Watch Nonfiction Text Features Videos
Engaging videos teaching headings, captions, diagrams, bold print, labels, and maps. Great for mini-lessons and review.
- Room Recess 🏫 —
Visit Room Recess
Offers printable reading passages with Lexile levels and fun activities. Perfect for classroom centers or independent practice.
- CommonLit ✏️ —
Visit CommonLit
Free site with nonfiction passages, paired texts, comprehension questions, and teacher resources. Great for classroom or remote learning.
- Newsela 📰 —
Visit Newsela
Free nonfiction articles at multiple Lexile levels. Includes quizzes and writing prompts. Sign up for free.
- Beginning Reads Printable Nonfiction Books 📖 —
Visit Beginning Reads
Double-sided PDFs with informational books for K–2. Ideal for guided reading, centers, and independent practice.
- Topic Reads (Decodable Informational Texts) 🔤 —
Visit Topic Reads
For primary grades, it provides decodable informational texts as online flipbooks or printable PDFs. Perfect for structured early readers.
- teacher.depaul.edu has grade-level passages with graphic organizers.
Search Engines for Kids
The internet is a powerful learning tool—but safety matters.
Kid-safe search engines protect children from inappropriate content, scams, and distractions while teaching responsible browsing skills.
Why kid-safe search engines matter:
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Filter inappropriate content
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Provide a controlled, educational environment
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Reduce distractions
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Build healthy browsing habits
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Offer peace of mind to parents and teachers
6 Recommended Kid-Safe Search Engines
- Kiddle 🔍 — Visit Kiddle
A visual search engine designed for children with strict filtering and age-appropriate results.
- DibDabDoo 📰 — Visit DibDabDoo
– Search bar located at the bottom right
– Enter a topic → get news articles at three English proficiency levels
– Stories can be read aloud
– Includes vocabulary support and online quizzes
– Encourages daily reading practice and builds background knowledge
- KidRex 🌈 — Visit KidRex
Child-friendly Google SafeSearch engine with a simple, colorful interface for young learners.
- KidzSearch 🔎 — Visit KidzSearch
Safe search engine for kids and teens with homework help, videos, games, and news.
- Kidtopia 🌐 — Visit Kidtopia
Curated search engine by teachers and librarians supporting research in multiple subjects.
- SweetSearch 🍬 — Visit SweetSearch
Search engine that only displays credible, vetted websites—ideal for research projects.
5 Recommended Research & Reference Sites for Kids
- Fact Monster 📚 — Visit Fact Monster
Encyclopedia, dictionary, thesaurus, almanac, and homework help tools for quick research.
- DK Find Out 🔬 — Visit DK Find Out
Visual research site with diagrams, quizzes, and kid-friendly explanations on science and history.
- KidSites 🌟 — Visit KidSites
Directory of safe educational websites organized by topic: animals, science, reading, math, and games.
- News in Levels 📰 — Visit News in Levels
Real-world news articles rewritten in three English proficiency levels with audio support.
- Ducksters 🦆 — Visit Ducksters
Easy-to-read educational articles on history, geography, biographies, and science for younger readers.
Related Resources
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This page was last updated on January 2, 2026.