Here is a sample 5th grade level reading assessment for the beginning of the school year:

Reading Comprehension:

Read the following passage and answer the questions below.

Passage:

The sun is a star that is located at the center of our solar system. It is a huge ball of hot, glowing gases. The sun is so big that about one million Earths could fit inside it! It provides light and heat to all the planets in our solar system, including Earth.

The sun is made up of different layers. The outermost layer is called the corona, which is the part we see during a solar eclipse. The next layer is the chromosphere, which is a thin layer of gas that gives off a reddish glow. The innermost layer is the photosphere, which is the part we see as the bright yellow surface of the sun.

The sun is very important for life on Earth. It provides light for plants to make food through a process called photosynthesis. It also gives us warmth and helps to regulate the Earth’s climate. Without the sun, life on Earth would not be possible.

Questions:

1. What is the sun? a) A planet b) A star c) A moon d) A comet

2. How many Earths could fit inside the sun? a) One thousand b) One million c) One billion d) One trillion

3. What is the outermost layer of the sun called? a) Corona b) Chromosphere c) Photosphere d) Atmosphere

4. What process do plants use to make food with the help of the sun? a) Respiration b) Photosynthesis c) Digestion d) Transpiration

5. Why is the sun important for life on Earth? a) It provides light and heat b) It helps to regulate the Earth’s climate c) It allows plants to make food d) All of the above

Vocabulary:

Match the vocabulary words on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. Solar system a) The outermost layer of the sun
2. Photosynthesis b) The process by which plants use sunlight to make food
3. Chromosphere c) The part of the sun we see as the bright yellow surface
4. Corona d) A system of planets and other objects that orbit around a star
5. Atmosphere e) A thin layer of gas that gives off a reddish glow

Please note that this is just a sample assessment and can be modified or expanded based on the specific needs and curriculum of your 5th grade class.