Critical Fill-ins

This worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they move beyond basic recall to practice inferencing, analysis, and critical thinking using an informational passage about a school garden debate. By completing open-ended fill-ins, learners evaluate ideas, draw conclusions, and interpret implications based on textual evidence, strengthening deep comprehension and thoughtful engagement with arguments.

Learning Goals

• Higher-Order Thinking (Grades 5-7)
  Make inferences and draw conclusions that are supported by the text.
• Text-Based Reasoning
  Use evidence and logical thinking to justify responses.
• Argument & Idea Analysis
  Examine differing viewpoints and weigh pros and cons.
• Metacognitive Reflection
  Explain reasoning behind choices to build awareness of thinking processes.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with ELA standards for analysis and reasoning.
• Open-Ended Structure
  Encourages thoughtful interpretation rather than copying from the text.
• Reasoning Explanation Component
  Reinforces justification and evidence use.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for independent work, discussion, homework, or formative assessment.
• Low-Prep Format
  Print-and-go worksheet suitable for classroom or homeschool instruction.

This printable worksheet strengthens inferencing, argument analysis, and text-based reasoning by challenging students to think critically about informational content. By evaluating viewpoints and explaining their thinking, learners develop deeper comprehension, confidence, and analytical skills. It’s an effective, engaging resource for both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our fill-in-the-blank reading passages worksheets collection.