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Panama and the Environment: Reading Comprehension Short Quality Passages with Global Connections

This printable and student-friendly resource includes engaging comprehension passages that build reading skills while exploring real-world topics such as renewable energy, environmental change, endangered animals, and global trade—all through the lens of Panama.

Perfect for Years 4 / 5 / 6 , this pack encourages students to read, think critically, and make cross-curricular connections as they learn how one small country plays a big role in protecting the planet.

Whether you’re doing a country study, launching an environmental project, or supporting science and geography units, these passages support meaningful learning while reinforcing key literacy skills.

What’s Included:

7 nonfiction reading comprehension passages
Multiple choice and open-ended questions for each
Critical thinking extension prompts
Writing opportunities
Vocabulary practice (optional use)
Topics that support science, geography, and global citizenship
Topics Covered:

• The Panama Canal – Trade, engineering, and geography
• Panama’s Climate and Landscape – Tropical environment, seasons, and natural resources
• Hydropower in Panama – Renewable energy, how dams work, and real-world application
• Climate Change and El Niño – Drought, global warming, and impacts on the canal
• The Harpy Eagle – Panama’s national bird, rainforest habitat, and endangered species
• The Drake Passage vs. The Panama Canal – Comparing natural vs. man-made routes
• Panamas Forests and its Indigenous People - Looking into the Indigenous people of Panama and the threat of deforestation.

This resource is ideal for:

Environmental awareness units
Nonfiction reading practice
Earth Day and sustainability themes
Country research projects
Substitute lesson plans
Homeschool and enrichment activities