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Comprehension Exercise3rd GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 3rd Grade Monarch Butterflies on the Move — Reading Comprehension

An information text about the monarch butterfly, the state insect of Texas, and its long fall journey through Texas to the mountain forests of central Mexico. Students find facts, explain why milkweed matters, work out the meaning of science words from context, and write a short paragraph about how families can help monarchs.

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Grade
3rd Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
25 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
13
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • finding facts in an information text
  • explaining cause and effect
  • working out word meanings from context
  • writing an informative paragraph

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Monarch Butterflies on the Move — Reading Comprehension

  1. 1Every Child Should Learn to Swim — Reading Comprehension
  2. 2The Sandcastle at Galveston — Reading Comprehension
  3. 3How to Grow a Bean Plant in a Jar — Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Finding Nouns in Sentences
← Easier: Level 1 · Easier

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

3rd Grade students (typically ages 8–9) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 2 · standard; an easier version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 25 minutes for 13 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Every Child Should Learn to Swim — Reading Comprehension.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets3rd Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

Monarch Butterflies on the Move — Reading Comprehension

Name

Date

Score /

Read the text first. Then answer the questions in order.

Part A: Find the facts

1.Describe what a monarch butterfly looks like.[1 mark] (answer space)
2.Where do monarchs spend the winter?[1 mark]
  1. Ain Canada
  2. Bin mountain forests in central Mexico
  3. Calong the Texas coast
  4. Din deserts
3.In which month do Texans most often see monarchs flying south?[1 mark] (answer space)
4.What is the only food monarch caterpillars eat?[1 mark] (answer space)

Part B: Think about it

5.The monarch is the state insect of Texas. ☐ True   ☐ False
6.One monarch flies to Mexico and back again every year. ☐ True   ☐ False
7.The monarchs that fly south in the fall live longer than most monarchs. ☐ True   ☐ False
8.Why do so many people in Texas see monarchs in the fall?[1 mark] (answer space)
9.Explain how eating milkweed helps keep monarchs safe.[2 marks] (answer space)
10.What might happen to monarchs if there were much less milkweed? Use the text to explain.[2 marks] (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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Reading Comprehension in other year levels

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.