Train Robbery/Vanishing Compass Worksheets

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Train Robbery/Vanishing Compass For Google Apps

These are two dynamic reading passages for grade five students. One is a non fiction about a famous train robbery. It was a heist planned to precision. Students will be engaged as they read the details. The vanishing compass is the paired reading and is a fictional story about Ellie and the mystery of an item stolen from the museum. Besides comp questions there are contrast/compare and writing prompts available.

Paired Text Questions (Compare & Contrast)
1. How do both passages show how clever planning plays a role in solving crimes or committing them?
2. What clues were used in both stories to track down suspects or solve mysteries?
3. How is the robbery in the nonfiction text similar to the fictional case Ellie solves?
4. Which passage presents real historical information, and which one tells a fictional story? How can you tell?

Writing Prompts (Constructed Response)
1. Expository: Describe how investigators use clues to solve mysteries. Use examples from both texts.
2. Narrative: Write a story about a student who uncovers a school mystery using logic and observation.
3. Opinion: Do you think a robbery that involves careful planning should be considered *smart,* even though it’s wrong? Why or why not?