Printable 5th Grade Poem: This Morning is Our History Test

This Grade 5 poetry worksheet improves reading comprehension through Kenn Nesbitt's humorous poem. Students read the text to analyze rhyme schemes and interpret humorous elements. This resource builds essential literacy skills, helping fifth graders engage with poetry structures and prepare for advanced literary analysis.

At a Glance

• Grade: 5 · Subject: English Language Arts
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.10 — Read and comprehend grade-level poetry independently and proficiently
• Skill Focus: Poetry comprehension and structure
• Format: 1 page · 1 reading task · No answer key · PDF
• Best For: Independent reading and poetry analysis
• Time: 15–20 minutes

This single-page PDF features the complete text of the poem "This Morning is Our History Test" by Kenn Nesbitt. The layout presents the poem clearly with readable text and engaging illustrations. It serves as a clean reading passage that teachers can pair with custom comprehension questions or vocabulary exercises.

This resource is designed for immediate classroom integration with under 2 minutes of teacher prep. First, print the single-page PDF (1 minute). Second, distribute copies to students (30 seconds). Third, review the poem as a class (10 minutes). This simple workflow makes the sheet highly suitable for emergency sub plans.

This worksheet aligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.10, which requires students to read and comprehend poetry at the grades 4-5 complexity band. It also supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4 by encouraging students to determine the meaning of words in context. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

Use this poem during direct instruction to model rhyme structure. Alternatively, assign it as a warm-up before a reading assessment. For formative assessment, observe how students track the rhythm during oral reading. Expect students to complete the reading and initial discussion within 15 to 20 minutes.

This sheet is ideal for fifth-grade students developing reading stamina. It works well for general education classrooms and English language learners. Pair this worksheet with an anchor chart on poetic devices or a follow-up writing prompt where students write their own humorous stanza about school.

This poetry reading resource aligns with evidence-based literacy practices that support student comprehension of complex texts. By focusing on CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.10, the worksheet helps students build the necessary stamina to read poetry independently. Research from Fisher & Frey (2014) highlights that regular exposure to diverse text genres, including humorous poetry, enhances student engagement and improves close reading skills. Engaging with structured rhyme schemes helps fifth-grade students recognize structural patterns in literature, which correlates with higher reading achievement. Using this single-page text layout allows educators to target specific decoding skills without overwhelming struggling readers. This resource provides a reliable tool for daily reading practice, ensuring students meet grade-level expectations while developing a positive attitude toward literary analysis and poetry recitation in the classroom.