9 7 2023FREEBIEDaylightSavingTimeReadingPassageandActivities 1

Grades 4-8
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Created by
«  Reading passage
«  Recall comprehension questions
«  Think Deeper questions with
persuasive writing prompt
«  Graphic organizer
«  Answer keys
© 2016-2018 Kristen Stull/www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/aspire-to-inspire-classroom-resources www. aspiretoinspireblog.com
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Daylight Saving Time Reading Passage and Activities.
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Included in the file are the following items:

•  Terms of Use
•  Suggested Uses
•  Printing Instructions
•  Daylight Saving Time Reading Passage
•  Daylight Saving Time Comprehension Recall Questions
•  Daylight Saving Time Think Deeper Questions
•  Graphic Organizer: Arguments For and Against Daylight Saving Time
•  Suggested Resources: Arguments For and Against Daylight Saving Time
•  Answer Keys for Recall & Think Deeper Questions; Graphic Organizer
Daylight Saving Time Reading Passage & Activities © 2016-2018 Kristen Stull/www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/aspire-to-inspire-classroom-resources www. aspiretoinspireblog.com
Suggested Uses
Most of the passage is at a 6th grade reading level. However, the passage as a whole is at a
7th grade level. The reading level is brought up because of the several multi-syllabic names
found in paragraph three. I would recommend this passage be used in grades 4-8.
There are a variety of options for how this passage and activities could be used:
1)  Students could perform a close reading of the passage. Using colored pencils and/or
highlighters, students could identify key aspects of the passage. Ideas for text-marking
are below:
•  Highlight the main idea of each paragraph.
•  Underline supporting phrases once for each main idea.
•  Draw circles around unfamiliar words.
•  Draw rectangles around words that signify sequence.
•  Identify the nonfiction text structures found in each paragraph (cause/effect; problem/
solution; description/list; sequence; compare/contrast). Underline examples of each text
structure, using a different color for each type.
2)  After reading the passage, ask students to refer back to the text to answer the recall
questions. Encourage students to underline where they find the answers.
3)  In addition to completing the recall comprehension questions, ask students to think more
deeply about the passage by completing the Think Deeply questions. These questions
require higher level thinking and provide research opportunities.
4)  Use the Arguments For and Against Daylight Saving Time as a speaking/discussion
exercise. Ask students to research arguments and represent an opinion about the use
of Daylight Saving Time during a small-group or class discussion or as part of a debate.
Printing
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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS:

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Acknowledgements
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/ink-n-little-things
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sticky-Foot-Studio
Name
Daylight Saving Time

Once a year, many people around the world set their clocks forward one hour. We
say they “spring ahead” from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time (DST) or
Summer Time, as some countries call it. The purpose of DST is to get the most use
of daylight hours. Countries closer to the North and South Poles have more
daylight during the summer. As a result, DST begins in late winter or early spring
and lasts through late autumn. Not all countries observe DST. For example,
countries near the equator have a similar number of daylight hours year-round so
DST is not needed. Other countries, such as China, Japan, and India, choose not to
observe it.
Benjamin Franklin, a United States statesman and inventor, introduced the idea of
maximizing daylight hours in 1784 in an amusing letter to the editors of a Paris
newspaper. Mr. Franklin wrote that he awoke one summer morning at 6:00 AM by
accident to find his room full of sunlight. He was shocked to discover how early the
sun rose in the summer. He reasoned that if he woke up earlier on summer
mornings, he could use sunlight to work during the extra daylight hours. This
would save him the cost of the candles that he would use working the same number
of hours at night.
Others were more serious about the idea. In the early 1900s, Englishman William
Willett tried to convince Parliament to support his idea of moving clocks forward
during the summer so that people could enjoy daylight to the fullest. Countries
such as the United States, Great Britain, and Germany adopted DST during World
War I to save on fuel and electricity costs. President Franklin Roosevelt ordered
that DST be observed year-round in the United States during World War II to
conserve energy. President Richard Nixon also lengthened DST from six to eight
months during an energy crisis in the mid-1970s.
From 1945 to the mid-1960s, the use of Daylight Saving Time in the United States,
was not consistent. No national law required states to observe DST. If state and
local governments did observe it, they decided when DST would start and end. In
1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act. Although this law
did not require states to observe DST, it did provide official start and end dates—
the last Sunday of April through the last Sunday of October—for those states that
did. These dates were in place until 1986. From 1986 to 2007, DST began on the
first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday of October. In 2007, President
George W. Bush signed a new energy bill into law that extended DST by four
weeks. As a result, DST now begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on
the first Sunday of November. DST begins at 2:00AM in the United States. All but
two states—Hawaii and Arizona—observe Daylight Saving Time.
Name

Directions: Use the text to answer the following questions.
1.  What is the purpose of Daylight Saving Time?
2.  Why is Daylight Saving Time observed during the summer?
3.  Why is Daylight Saving Time not observed by some countries?
4.  What idea did Benjamin Franklin propose in his 1784 letter to the editors?
5.  Why was Daylight Saving Time used during wartime?
6.  Order these events according to when they took place. Use 1 for the oldest event
and 7 for the most recent. Then, put the events on the timeline below. Include a
start and end date as well as even intervals of time on the timeline. Use the
numbers 1-7 to represent the events rather than writing the event description.
Uniform Time Act signed into law by President Johnson
U.S., Great Britain, and Germany adopt Daylight Saving Time during World
War I.
William Willet attempts to persuade Parliament to adopt the idea of moving

clocks ahead during summer months.
Benjamin Franklin writes a letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper

proposing that we maximize daylight hours in the summer.
President Roosevelt orders Daylight Saving Time be adopted year-round

during World War II.
President George W. Bush signs an energy bill that provides the current
start and end days for Daylight Saving Time.
President Richard Nixon extends Daylight Saving Time from 6 months to 8

months during an energy crisis.
Name

Think Deeper
Directions: Answer the following questions using the support for your
ideas. Research the questions further, if possible.
1. How might the inconsistent use of Daylight Saving Time have caused problems?
2. What are some possible reasons that the beginning and end dates of Daylight
Saving Time have been changed over the years in the United States?
3. There are arguments for and against Daylight Saving Time. Research some of
these, and complete the chart on the next page. Suggested resources are provided.
Then, choose a position—for or against Daylight Saving Time—and explain why

you think that way in the space below.
Arguments For and Against
For Against
Suggested Resources
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-daylight-saving-times-save-energy/
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brookings-now/posts/2015/10/29-fighting-crime-
daylight-saving-time-doleac
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a18011/in-defense-of-
daylight-saving-time/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131101-when-does-daylight-
savings-time-end-november-3-science/
http://gizmodo.com/5891801/springing-forward-with-daylight-savings-could-kill-you
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/08/study-first-week-of-daylight-saving-time-
means-more-car-crashes/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457503000150
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national/why-farmers-and-criminals-hate-daylight-
saving-tim/nkQfx/
Daylight Saving Time Key
Directions: Use the text to answer the following questions.
1.  What is the purpose of Daylight Saving Time? maximize daylight hours
2.  Why is Daylight Saving Time observed during the summer? more hours of
sunlight
3.  Why is Daylight Saving Time not observed by some countries? don’t need it
closer to the equator; choose not to
4.  What idea did Benjamin Franklin propose in his 1784 letter to the editors? use
extra hours of sunlight more effectively; save money on candles at
night
5.  Why was Daylight Saving Time used during wartime? conserve fuel &
electricity
6.  Order of events
5 Uniform Time Act signed into law by President Johnson
3 U.S., Great Britain, and Germany adopt Daylight Saving Time during World
War I.
2 William Willet attempts to persuade Parliament to adopt the idea of moving

clocks ahead during summer months.
1 Benjamin Franklin writes a letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper

proposing that we maximize daylight hours in the summer.
4 President Roosevelt orders Daylight Saving Time be adopted year-round

during World War II.
7 President George W. Bush signs an energy bill that provides the current
start and end days for Daylight Saving Time.
6 President Richard Nixon extends Daylight Saving Time from 6 months to 8

months during an energy crisis.
1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050
1 23 4 56 7
Think Deeper Key
Directions: Answer the following questions using the support for your
ideas. Research the questions further, if possible.
1. How might the inconsistent use of Daylight Saving Time have caused problems?
travel schedules
business hours
meeting times
performance times
2. What are some possible reasons that the beginning and end dates of Daylight
Saving Time have been changed over the years in the United States?
make dates uniform to avoid confusion

save energy
3. There are arguments for and against Daylight Saving Time. Research some of
these, and complete the chart on the next page. Suggested resources are provided.
Then, choose a position—for or against Daylight Saving Time—and explain why

you think that way in the space below.
Answers may vary.
For Against
More access to sunlight and Vitamin D People’s internal clocks are thrown off
(bone health, lowers some cancer risks,
better sleep, improves immune system)
Decrease in crime during hour gained Farming schedules and productivity

during DST affected by worker availability
More accomplished during the day Evidence does not prove it saves energy
Some businesses can stay open longer More health problems within the first
few days of time change
Fewer automobile accidents Some studies show more accidents
during first few days of time change
Suggested Resources
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-daylight-saving-times-save-energy/
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brookings-now/posts/2015/10/29-fighting-crime-
daylight-saving-time-doleac
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a18011/in-defense-of-daylight-
saving-time/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131101-when-does-daylight-savings-
time-end-november-3-science/
http://gizmodo.com/5891801/springing-forward-with-daylight-savings-could-kill-you
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/08/study-first-week-of-daylight-saving-time-
means-more-car-crashes/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457503000150
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national/why-farmers-and-criminals-hate-daylight-
saving-tim/nkQfx/

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9 7 2023FREEBIEDaylightSavingTimeReadingPassageandActivities 1

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Grades 4-8

© 2016-2018 Kristen Stull

Included in the file are the following items:

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS:

2. In the Print window that appears:

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time

1. What is the purpose of Daylight Saving Time?

2. Why is Daylight Saving Time observed during the summer?

3. Why is Daylight Saving Time not observed by some countries?

5. Why was Daylight Saving Time used during wartime?

Uniform Time Act signed into law by President Johnson

William Willet attempts to persuade Parliament to adopt the idea of moving

Benjamin Franklin writes a letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper

President Roosevelt orders Daylight Saving Time be adopted year-round

President Richard Nixon extends Daylight Saving Time from 6 months to 8

Daylight Saving Time

Then, choose a position—for or against Daylight Saving Time—and explain why

6. Order of events

5 Uniform Time Act signed into law by President Johnson

2 William Willet attempts to persuade Parliament to adopt the idea of moving

1 Benjamin Franklin writes a letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper

4 President Roosevelt orders Daylight Saving Time be adopted year-round

6 President Richard Nixon extends Daylight Saving Time from 6 months to 8

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

make dates uniform to avoid confusion

Then, choose a position—for or against Daylight Saving Time—and explain why

Answers may vary.

Decrease in crime during hour gained Farming schedules and productivity

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1.  What is the purpose of Daylight Saving Time?

2.  Why is Daylight Saving Time observed during the summer?

3.  Why is Daylight Saving Time not observed by some countries?

5.  Why was Daylight Saving Time used during wartime?

6.  Order of events