Basal Alignment Project
College- and career-ready lessons for use with texts included in basal readers, grades 3–5
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Results (123)
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Ramona and Beezus, tw…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Tops and Bottoms
In this trickster tale, Bear and Hare are involved in a gardening partnership. Industrious, clever Hare makes a deal with Bear— H…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
The Country Mouse and the City Mouse
Country Mouse invites her friend, City Mouse to visit her in the country. City Mouse does not enjoy the country and convinces Country M…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Two Bad Ants
Two ants, along with others from their nest, set out to gather crystals for their queen. Initially staying and keeping crystals for the…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday - Includes Sa…
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. The story is about a …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Prudy's Problem - Includes Sample Writing Task
Most kids collect something. Prudy collects everything! Rocks, stamps, foil, worn-out toothbrushes, pretty paper napkins, tufts of hair…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Across the Wide Dark Sea - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. A boy and his family …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Aero and Officer Mike - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. This nonfiction story…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Yonder Mountain - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Chief Sky, the belove…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Dogzilla - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Dogzilla is a fantasy…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
My Rows and Piles of Coins
This is a story about Saruni, a young boy, and his family, who are both consumers and sellers in a market in Tanzania. There are many e…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Extra Good Sunday
Beverly Cleary tells the story of a family on a rainy Sunday in a household full of bad moods. Ramona’s father suggests they all …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Ruby The Copycat - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Ruby wants to fit in …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Coyote Places the Stars - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. In this story, Coyote…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
The Perfect Pet - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Elizabeth was very de…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. This is a biography o…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
First Day Jitters
Sarah is nervous about starting a new school and shows it by trying to stay in bed and saying she’s too sick to go to school. The…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Wings - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. In the story Wings, I…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Albertosaurus Mystery
This informational text describes how paleontologists continue to investigate unanswered questions about dinosaurs. (Houghton Mifflin H…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Half Chicken
The folktale “Half-Chicken” is about a chicken hatched with only half a body, one leg, one wing, one eye, and only half as …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Keeping Quilt
Patricia’s Great-Grandmother comes to America as a child from Russia. She creates a quilt that is passed on from generation to ge…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Stone Soup
This folktale is about three monks who visit a village filled with unhappy people. The villagers do not welcome the monks, so the three…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Stories That Julian Tells
Julian meets Gloria, a new girl in his neighborhood. Together they make a wish kite, with wishes fastened to its tail; both wish for la…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
One Riddle, One Answer - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. This story is a folkt…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Journey
This Informational text focuses on the migration habits of the grasshopper/locust and the gray whale. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journe…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Wolf!
This fantasy tells the story of a wolf who learns to read to gain the respect and friendship of farm animals. (McGraw-Hill Treasures, 2…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest
“Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest” takes the reader on a journey around the world to various continents found on Earth th…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
A little boy loses his neighbor’s dog inside the mysterious garden of Abdul Gasazi, who tells the boy that he has turned the dog …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Yunmi's first trip to…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Aunt Flossie's Hats
Sarah and Susan are sisters who enjoy spending Sunday afternoons with their great-great Aunt Flossie. Aunt Flossie entertains her great…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
A Mr. Rubbish Mood
Judy Moody is on a mission to save the rain forest. Not only has she chosen to make this her mission, she is also determined to make it…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
A Symphony of Whales
Glashka uses her innate connection and intuition with nature to help bring together the community in hopes of trying to save the lives …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Uncle Jed's Barbershop
Despite obstacles in his life such as a family illness and the Great Depression, Uncle Jed achieved his dream of opening a barbershop a…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Penguin Chick
In this nonfiction selection, an Emperor penguin lays an egg in the bitter cold of Antarctica. The penguin parents battle the harsh env…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Boom Town
A family moves into an unpopulated area. With the ingenuity of one young girl, a town is established and grows. The idea of supply and …
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Turtle Bay - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. A boy named Taro help…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Gertrude Ederle
In this story Gertrude Ederle overcomes obstacles, both physical and social, in order to prevail at her lifelong dream of being the fir…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Lost and Found
Two students hide in the bathroom in order to avoid taking the math test, eventually telling their teacher they were trapped yb a giant…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
What Do Illustrators Do?
This narrative nonfiction story sequences the steps an illustrator follows when creating pictures for a story. The author tells the sto…
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- 09/06/13
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The Strongest One
This is a Zuni play about an ant in the search to find out who is strongest of all. The ant talks with numerous characters to find out …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Beauty and The Beast
A Prince must find a girl who will love him, in spite of his frightening curse. (McGraw-Hill Imagine It!, 2008) This lesson was create…
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- 09/06/13
- 2 FILES
Picasso - Includes Sample Writing Task
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. This excerpt from a b…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Author, A True Story
The author, Helen Lester, traces her writing career from the age of three to adulthood. She shares her struggles with writing in elemen…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Cook-A-Doodle-Doo
In this work of fiction, Rooster and his eager friends set out to make strawberry shortcake, a recipe from Little Red Hen’s cookb…
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- 09/11/13
- 1 FILE
A Story, A Story
This African folk tale explains how many African tales came to be known as “Spider stories.” In this tale, Ananse, the Spid…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Ballad of Mulan
When war breaks out in Mulan’s land and her father is drafted into the army, Mulan makes a great sacrifice when she disguises her…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Police Officer Buckle gives safety speeches that no one listens to until a police dog, Gloria, joins him. Because Gloria acts out the s…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Life On the Ice
In this nonfiction story, readers learn how and why scientists brave the extreme conditions of both poles in order to do research that …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Balto
Diphtheria has broken out in Nome, Alaska. Teams of sled dogs carry medicine 800 miles over snow and ice to prevent an epidemic. Everyo…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Raising Dragons
A young girl raises a dragon on her family’s farm. The young girl takes the dragon to Dragon Island, but returns to the farm with…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Allie's Basketball Dream
Allie has a new basketball. She has a hard time finding someone to play with her because they believe basketball is a boys’ game.…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Dear Juno
Juno receives a letter from his grandmother who lives in Seoul, Korea. Even though he cannot read the Korean-language text, she is able…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Babe and I
This historical fiction story takes place in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression in New York City. Baseball was king and Babe Rut…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Mysterious Giant
In this folktale, the town of Barletta faces destruction until Zia Concetta asks the town’s giant statue for help. With a clever …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Pepita Talks Twice
Pepita stops speaking Spanish because she is tired of being the neighborhood translator. However, when a disaster nearly occurs, Pepita…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
One Small Place in a Tree
This expository nonfiction text is about how an oak tree may become vulnerable to disease from its bark being damaged by a bear clawing…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Leah's Pony
This story takes place in the 1930s in the Great Plains region of the United States devastated by a great drought. Leah had been given …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Since Hanna Moved Away
This poem describes the feelings of a girl whose best friend, Hanna, has moved away. The little girl feels that nothing will be the sam…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Jones Family Express
This realistic fictional story is about Steven and his Aunt Carolyn. The two have always shared a special bond; each time Aunt Carolyn …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Here's My Dollar
Angel Arrellano, a nine-year-old girl from Fresno, CA. spearheaded a campaign to raise money to be donated to the local zoo. Her enthus…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Anthony Reynoso
Nine-year old Anthony is proud of his history, culture, and family tradition of Mexican rodeo-style roping and riding. He also enjoys v…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Rocks In His Head
As a child, the author’s father was fascinated by rocks.This interest consumed the young boy as he collected them in all of his s…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Seal Surfer
Ben goes to the beach and watches a seal being born. Over the next few seasons, Ben develops a special bond with this seal, a bond that…
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- 09/19/13
- 1 FILE
Home Grown Butterflies
This nonfiction piece tells about Barbara del Colorado, a village in Costa Rica. People needed a way to make money; a scientist suggest…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
A Pen Pal for Max
This realistic fiction story is about a young boy, Max, who is growing up on a large fruit farm in Chile and how he wants to find a fri…
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- 09/14/14
- 2 FILES
The Legend of Damon and Pythias - Includes Sample Writin…
This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing. Damon and Pythias are…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Nate The Great
Detective Nate the Great searches San Francisco for a lost joke book. He discovers that the wrong place can be the best place to look f…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Little Grunt and the Big Egg
Life in the Grunt tribe changes when a baby dinosaur hatches from the huge egg that Little Grunt drags home for brunch. (Houghton Miffl…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
What About Me?
This fable is about a boy’s search for knowledge. To achieve his goal, the boy barters with characters ranging from a carpet make…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Dancing Rainbows
Curt, a young Tewa Indian, and his grandfather, Andy, prepare for Feast Day. They enjoy the good food, beautiful dances, colorful costu…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Day Eddie Met the Author
The students at Riverside Elementary School are excited about a visit from a real author. The class has been reading books by the autho…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Schools Around The World
This informational, nonfiction selection describes how schools are different in various parts of the world and includes “amazing …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Rosie, A Visiting Dog's Story
Rosie is a Tibetan terrier whose friendly nature makes her a perfect visiting dog. After a lot of training, she brings comfort to peopl…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Just Plain Fancy
“Just Plain Fancy” is the story of a young Amish girl, Naomi, who longs to have something fancy in her life. But when an sh…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
How Animals Talk
“How Animals Talk” is an informational, nonfiction selection describing how various animals communicate or send messages. A…
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- 09/11/13
- 1 FILE
The Talent Show
Benny is nervous about the upcoming talent show. After a talk with her parents, Beany realizes that the most important thing is doing w…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Waterfall
A boy on a family backpacking adventure discovers an amazing waterfall and decides he wants to climb to the top. The boy becomes a lead…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
When Charlie McButton Lost Power
In this poem, Charlie loses access to his favorite activities, panics, and makes an impulsive decision that hurts his sister’s fe…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Go Around Dollar
“The Go-Around Dollar” is a selection that combines two genres: realistic fiction and expository text. It provides an enter…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
The Planets in Our Solar System
This informational, nonfiction text introduces the solar system and its many parts – the sun, the eight planets, the satellites o…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Centerfield Ballhawk
Young Jose’ Mendez is a terrific centerfielder but a weak hitter. Jose’ wants his father to be proud of him. When his fathe…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
If You Made a Million
This text explains the nuts and bolts of how different types of coins, bills, and checks; how they are connected; and how your dollars …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Poppa's New Pants
Poppa buys himself some new pants that need hemming. The women of his family are too tired to hem the pants before church the following…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Cocoa Ice
"Cocoa Ice" is set in the early 1800s and describes the exchange that occurs when a trading ship from Maine travels to the Caribbean vi…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Roxaboxen
In this realistic fiction story, young children’s powers of imagination create the town of Roxaboxen filled with houses, building…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Lon Po Po
This is the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. In the story, the mother leaves 3 children home alone as she goes to visit…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Wild Shots, They're My Life
A wildlife photographer describes her love for animals and how she took some of her favorite up-close photos of them. (Houghton Mifflin…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Saving The Sand Dunes
This nonfiction text discusses how a fourth grade class at Union Avenue School worked hard to protect the New Jersey shoreline by plant…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Rugby and Rosie
In this story, a boy has a dog named Rugby with whom he is great friends. One day a puppy named Rosie joins the family. Rugby does not …
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Four Dollars and Fifty Cents
In this tall tale story, deadbeat Shorty Long has to avoid the people to whom he owes money. He tries to trick Widow Macrae out of $4.5…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Cows in the Parlor
"Cows in the Parlor: A Visit to a Dairy Farm" is an expository article about the daily running of a dairy farm. Students learn about a …
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
A Tree is Growing
This informational text describes the ways in which trees are made up of many important parts that grow and change. (Houghton Mifflin H…
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- 09/10/14
- 1 FILE
The Science Fair
A third grade girl named Beany creates a science fair project with her partner, Kevin. Beany is not confident that their project is the…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Two Days in May
Sonia, her father, and a group of their neighbors launch a peaceful protest to help 5 deer that have wandered into their city neighborh…
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- 11/18/14
- 1 FILE
Jalapeño Bagels
"Jalapeño Bagels" is a story about a young bi-cultural boy named Pablo on a search to find a dish to bring to school for Interna…
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- 10/23/14
- 1 FILE
Suki's Kimono
Suki's favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan (grandmother), it holds special memories of her grandmoth…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Angel Child, Dragon Child
During her first days at school in America, Ut experiences alienation and separation. Later, she finds understanding and acceptance. Wi…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Antarctic Ice
The story explains the life of animals that live in Antarctica. The author describes life for the animals as they wait for summer…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Talking Walls: Art for the People
This informational selection introduces the reader to artists that express their feelings and experiences through painting murals in th…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
A Guide to Basketball
The article gives factual information about the when, where and how the game of basketball began and how it is played. (Houghton Miffli…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Spiders and Their Webs
The informational text includes text features, such as photographs and captions, to give an overview of information about spiders and t…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
The Olympic Games: Where Heroes Are Made
The Olympic Games have grown and changed since the first contests were held in Ancient Greece. However, one aspect of the games remains…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Time for Kids: Coasting to California
This non-fiction article gives information about the Chinese immigrants who came to California in the 1800’s seeking prosperity. …
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
The Case of the Three Bears Breakfast
Sam and Cam own a detective agency. They are contacted by the Bear family, who is upset because their banana pancakes have been eaten a…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Journey to the Moon
“Journey to the Moon” reflects a huge achievement of landing men on the moon. In 1969, three astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Bu…
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- 09/27/14
- 1 FILE
Jump
In this story, Michael Jordan is a very active child. His family helps him to channel his energy into positive activities and eventuall…
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- 02/17/16
- 1 FILE
Fly Eagle Fly
After a stormy night, a farmer searching for his lost calf finds a baby eagle that has been blown out of its nest. He takes it home and…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Cliffhanger
In this story, Dag and his son Axel are at their climbing school in the Teton Mountains when the family dog, Grits, is stranded on Cath…
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- 09/06/13
- 1 FILE
Whose Habitat Is It?
In this nonfiction article, the author addresses the problems associated with urban sprawl. Urban sprawl destroys animal and plant habi…
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- 10/23/14
- 1 FILE
I Love Saturdays y Domingos
Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the young girl in this story. On Saturdays, she visits Grandma and Grandpa, who come fr…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Voyage Across the Solar System
This selection is written as a Readers’ Theater where the students read the script aloud. The script is written as a fictional tr…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
The Talking Cloth
Amber, her brother, and her parents visit Aunt Phoebe, a traveler, collector and storyteller. Aunt Phoebe shares a cloth with th…
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- 09/10/14
- 1 FILE
Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong
In this story, Jangmi moves from her home in Korea to a new home in the United States. At first she is sad about leaving behind her fri…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Lemons and Lemonade
This selection is a narrative nonfiction story about supply and demand. It gives readers information about the basics of starting…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Storm in the Night
“Storm in the Night” is a realistic fiction story that looks at the relationship between a grandfather and grandson. …
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Oral History
Before language was written, people from all over the world have recorded their family histories orally. They have used storytell…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
Water Woman
In this biography, Amy VanDyken overcomes many challenges throughout her life to become an Olympic gold medalist. (Houghton Mifflin Har…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
The School News
This text is a reader’s theater with seven parts set in the television studio of a school’s morning news network. The story…
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- 09/14/14
- 1 FILE
What’s in Store for the Future?
Modern inventions used to make lives easier harm the planet. There are several predictions about how towns of the future will be …
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- 09/10/14
- 1 FILE
Volcanoes: Natures Incredible Firework Show
Volcanoes show us how the earth changes. Volcanoes can be made of lava, gases, hot steam, ground-up rocks and melted rock called lava. …
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- 08/22/13
- 1 FILE
Trapped by the Ice! Grade 3 Version
This is the grade 3 version of this lesson for this title. A grade 5 version is also available. A crew of sailors captained by S…
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- 02/17/16
- 1 FILE
Did a Dino Drink This Water?
The author explains the complete water cycle and also discusses ocean currents, ocean and lake habitats, and hydroelectricity. He also …
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- 02/17/16
- 1 FILE
Elena's Serenade
Who ever heard of a girl glassblower? In Mexico, where the sun is called el sol and the moon is called la luna, a little girl called El…