ancient egypt - springfield public schools · ancient egypt also had its own writing. the writing...

May be photocopied for classroom use. © 2015 by Lucy Calkins and Colleagues from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project from Units of Study for Teaching Reading (Heinemann: Portsmouth, NH). (rev. 2-18-16)

Lexile 530L: Ancient Egypt ◆ page 1

Lexile 530L: Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was an important civilization in history. Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted nearly three

thousand years. It was a powerful civilization and it is interesting to study.

Egyptian Government & EconomyA monarch ruled ancient Egypt. This means that one person from a ruling family was in

charge of the government. In ancient Egypt, the monarch was called the pharaoh. The pharaoh ruled Egypt’s land, resources, and military.

Many ancient Egyptians depended on farming. People used grain like money. Workers were paid with grain. Grain was used to trade for other goods and services. Some people used coins to pay for items.

Ancient Egypt’s economy depended on the Nile River. The Nile flooded often. People predicted its floods. Egyptians were good at predicting the Nile’s floods. When they could predict floods, they could control floods. Egyptians used floods to help water crops.

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Ancient Egypt used the Nile River to water crops.

Egyptian Art & CultureAncient Egyptians loved hygiene. They took baths. They shaved their bodies. They washed with soap. They wore makeup and perfumes. They wore beautiful clothes.

They also made incredible buildings. Ancient Egyptians made pyramids. Pharaohs ordered slaves to build pyramids. The pyramids held tombs where Pharaohs and their families

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The pharoah was an ancient Egyptian monarch—like a king.



would be buried when they died. Egyptians thought that tombs would be their homes in the afterlife.

Pharaohs buried in tombs were made into mummies. You may have seen a mummy in a museum or on television. Ancient Egyptians took several steps to mummify a dead body. First, all internal organs were taken out, except the heart. Egyptians believed the heart was the center of thought and feeling. They believed bodies needed the heart in the afterlife. Then they washed the body. Next, bodies were wrapped in cloth. After that, the wrapped bodies were coated with resin, a sticky substance that keeps out water. Then the mummy was put in a coffin. Finally, the coffin was sealed in a stone tomb. The climate in Egypt is dry, so mummies were preserved for thousands of years.

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Stone sculptures

Art was another big part of ancient Egyptian culture. Ancient Egyptians made sculptures

out of stone, wood, or clay. Much of ancient Egyptian art was funeral art. Funeral art is buried with someone who dies. Ancient Egyptians believed they could take things they were buried with and use those things in the afterlife.

Ancient Egypt also had its own writing. The writing was not made of letters. It was made of pictures and symbols. Ancient Egyptian writing is called hieroglyphs. It is one of the oldest languages. Ancient Egyptians wrote on cloth paper. This paper is papyrus. They painted hieroglyphs on stone. They carved hieroglyphs into stone. Writing was an important part of ancient Egypt.

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Hieroglyphs show pictures as writing.

Many people are interested in ancient Egypt. People are interested in Egyptian art and in its tombs and mummies. People are interested in the pyramids. You can still see much of Ancient Egyptian artifacts today. You can see its art in museums. Tourists from around the world



visit Egypt. They come to see the Pyramids of Giza.

Although ancient Egypt occurred thousands of years ago, parts of it are still with us today.

Glossary

civilization—a society that is well organized and developedhieroglyphs—writing made with pictures, not lettershygiene—things you do to keep people and things clean to look beautiful or prevent sicknesssculptures—art made by shaping stone, wood, metal, or other material


Lexile 550L: Ancient Greece ◆ page 1

Ancient Greece

For more than 2500 years, Ancient Greece has been an important civilization. Its ideas, art, and thinking have changed the

way people live today.

Greek Ideas and ThinkersAncient Greece was run by democracy in many places, including Athens. A democracy is a government ruled by the people. If you were a male citizen older than 20 years old, you could take part in the government and vote on laws.

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Buildings made by ancient Greeks.

Ancient Greece is known for its philosophers—wise people who love learning. Greek thinkers thought it was important to think clearly and use reason.

Greek thinkers knew it was important to ask questions and to find answers. Some famous Greek thinkers include Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle.

Trading for FoodAncient Greece did not have good soil for growing crops. Its economy was based on trade. Ancient Greeks made crafts and traded for other items. People made pottery, tools, and weapons.

Ancient Greece did grow some crops. People grew olives which were used to make olive oil. People grew grapes which were made into wine.

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Olive oil was valuable in ancient Greece.

Greeks traded oil and wine to other countries in the Middle East and Africa. In return, Greeks got other food like meat, cheese, and wheat.



Greek Writing and StorytellingWriting was important to ancient Greece. People loved to write poems. They loved to write plays and to tell stories.

Some stories help to say why things in the world happen. These stories are called myths. Below are some famous myths.

Heracles

Heracles was a famous Greek hero. You might know him by his Roman name, Hercules. Heracles was very strong. He went on many adventures called the Labors of Heracles.

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Hercules fighting the hydra.

In his adventures, Heracles captured a boar and a bull. He fought a lion and a nine-headed reptile called a hydra. Heracles’ adventures made him one of the most famous mythical heroes.

Achilles

Achilles was another Greek hero. He was a great warrior. He led Greeks into battle against the people known as Trojans. Trojans lived in Troy. Troy was a city in the country we now call Turkey.

Achilles was a hero who got angry easily. He was very dangerous when he got mad. He beat Hector, Troy’s best fighter. Near the end of the Trojan War, Achilles died. An enemy fighter shot an arrow in his heel.

We call that part of our heels the Achilles heel. The term Achilles heel is also a saying to describe someone’s weakness.

Odysseus

A third hero of Greek myth is Odysseus. Odysseus was a great fighter, but he was not as powerful as Achilles. He traveled to Troy with Achilles to fight the Trojans.

After Achilles died, Odysseus had an idea. He asked soldiers to build a giant wooden horse.

Then, the horse was brought to the gates of Troy. The Trojans thought that all the Greeks went home. The Trojans thought that the horse was a gift.

The Trojans opened the gates. They let the wooden horse into their city.

The horse was not a gift. It was a trap. As the Trojans slept, Greek warriors snuck out the giant horse. They snuck out a secret door. Greek warriors took the Trojans by surprise.



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An artistic drawing of the Trojan Horse.

Odysseus’ plan worked. The Greeks won the war.

Odysseus sailed a ship home after the war. He had been away from home for 20 years.

Odysseus had many adventures at sea. He met a Cyclops, a monster with one eye. He also met the Sirens—monsters with beautiful voices that would hurt people if they got too close.

Finally, Odysseus came home. Have you heard the saying “going on an odyssey”? An odyssey is a journey that starts at home and ends at home, just like Odysseus’ trip.

Glossary

economy—the business of buying, selling, and making things in a societygovernment—the group of people who run a country, state, or citymyth—an old story about gods, brave heroes, magic creatures, or the beginning of the worldodyssey—a long series of wonderings and adventures that start and end at home


Lexile 400L: Cell Phones ◆ page 1

Cell Phones

A Phone That Does It AllCell phones are telephones. They let you call people. You can call people from almost anywhere in the world. Cell phones are more than telephones. They are also digital media players. You can listen to music on a cell phone. You can also play games on it. You can watch video a cell phone. Some cell phones let you go on the internet.

Early Cell PhonesMost people did not have cell phones 25 years ago. They cost too much. They were too big.

The first cell phone was made in 1956. It weighed nearly 90 pounds. That’s the weight of a large dog. This first cell phone could make calls without wires. But the phone was too heavy to move.

Cell phones became smaller in the 1980s. They became mobile. They became lighter. You could easily carry them with you. You could hold these phones in your hand. They were still quite big—about the size of a shoe.

In the 1990s, cell phones changed again. They became digital. They could hold more information. They could work faster. You could type notes to people. People call these notes text messages.

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Cell Phones Today and in the FutureToday, more than half of American families own cell phones. Many of today’s cell phones can do more than older cell phones could.


Lexile 400L: Cell Phones ◆ page 2

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Today’s cell phones are much lighter, smaller, and can do more things.

One popular part of today’s cell phones is the application, or app. People put apps on their phones. An app is software that lets you

play games. Some apps give you directions. Others give shopping tips.

What will cell phones be like in the future? Will they work even faster? Will we wear them on our wrists? On our eyeglasses? Will we be able to use them everywhere in the world? One thing is sure: cell phones are here to stay.

Glossary

application—software installed by a cell phone user. Applications can include games or other helpful programs.digital—technology that helps devices work faster, store more information, and copy easily.mobile—easily movable from place to place.


Lexile 460L: Civilizations & Culture ◆ page 1

Civilizations & Culture

Humans have been around a long time. Scientists think humans have been around for 200,000 years. Humans

that are like us have been around for about 50,000 years.

For thousands of years, humans hunted for food. They gathered other food they could find. This way of living is called hunting and gathering. Hunters and gatherers lived in small groups and they moved from place to place.

About 12,000 years ago, humans made big changes in the way they lived. They grew crops for food. Crops stay in the ground in one place. As a result, people did not have to travel as much.

People then created towns and cities. They created civilizations. Civilizations are groups of people who live together over a period of time. What else makes a civilization?

GovernmentA government is the way a civilization is run. Some governments are ruled by a monarch—a king or queen. Some are run by a small group of people. In some places, people vote for others to run the government.

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A monarchy is a government ruled by one person.

EconomyThe economy of a civilization is important. An economy is how things are made, bought, sold, and traded. In some places people trade for things they want. For example, people might


Lexile 460L: Civilizations & Culture ◆ page 2

trade cattle for grain. Other economies use money. People use coins and paper as money. People use money to pay for goods and services.

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LiteracyCivilizations also have writing. Some civilizations have carved writing into stone. Sometimes people wrote on cloth. Other people

wrote on paper. Reading and writing help a civilization’s government and economy run well.

CultureCivilizations have their own culture. Culture is the way people live and what they believe. In some cultures, the mother is the head of a family. In other cultures, the father is the head of the family. Some cultures make many songs. Others make theater. In some cultures, religion is important. A religion is what a group of people believes about life.

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Crops made a big difference on the way people live. Crops let people stay in one place and let people to worry less about food. Crops freed people to do other things. In some ways, growing crops helped create civilizations in the world.


Lexile 560L: Disgusting Body Matter ◆ page 1

Disgusting Body Matter

Matter makes up all things. Matter can be solid, liquid, or gas. Our bodies are made of matter. Some matter

in our body is interesting. Other matter is just gross.

Disgusting SolidsHave you ever had your ear cleaned by a Q-tip? Did you get a chance to see the yellow, crusty goo at the end of the Q-tip? That’s cerumen, or earwax, a disgusting solid.

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Earwax builds near the ear’s entrance.

Earwax is mostly made of your skin. Earwax is good for your ear. It keeps your inner ear safe. Earwax guards your inner ear from bacteria, fungi, bugs, and water. Too much earwax is not good. Too much earwax can build up inside your ear. This would prevent you from hearing. Talk to a grownup about how to gently clean

extra earwax out of your ear. You do want to leave some of that stuff in your ear.

Loathsome LiquidsThe last time you were sick, did your stomach feel upset? Did you throw up? Vomiting is throwing up. Vomiting is what happens when your stomach gets rid of whatever was inside. It usually comes out of your mouth. Vomit can also come out of your nose. Some parts of vomit can be solids. Much of what makes up vomit is liquid. Some of the liquid is what you drank before you threw up. Some of it is bile. Bile helps you digest food. If you ate food before vomiting, you will probably have food in your vomit.

Vomiting is good if you are sick. It means that your body is trying to take care of itself. But too much vomiting is not healthy. Vomit can be bad for your teeth. Give your teeth a good brush after throwing up!

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A street painter’s artistic showing of vomit.


Lexile 560L: Disgusting Body Matter ◆ page 2

Gross GasesWe all know farts are smelly. But do you know why we have flatulence? When we fart it means our stomach or intestines have too much gas inside. Sometimes we swallow air. Sometimes the foods we eat make gas. Either way, the gas has to release itself. So the gas comes out through the closest body part. Farts always pass through the butt. That’s why they’re called farts and not burps.

Farts are normal. Sometimes they can be embarrassing. They sometimes make noise or smell bad. Some foods make some farts smell more than others. Have you ever heard the

rhyme, “Beans, beans the magical fruit / the more you eat, the more you toot”? Well, it’s true. Eating beans cause you to fart more. They also cause your farts to smell stronger.

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Beans can make farts smellier.


Lexile 655L (average of 2 parts): Dolphins ◆ page 1

Dolphins

What are Marine Mammals?Look in the ocean. You might see a fin pop in and out of the water. You might even see two, three, four, five fins. Are they sharks? No, they are dolphins! Dolphins are one of the world’s smartest marine mammals.

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Dolphins love to play.

Dolphins, like many marine mammals, live underwater. They need water to live. Dolphins are mammals. This means they are warm-blooded and they have backbones. Their babies grow inside their mothers. Marine mammals have lungs, too. Marine mammals breathe air.

What are Dolphins?Dolphins are one kind of marine mammal. Dolphins are part of a group of marine mammals that includes seals, whales, and walruses. Dolphins live in saltwater and freshwater. Dolphins swim and spin in water.

They jump above the water’s surface. Dolphins love to play.

Dolphins are also smart. They “talk” to each other. Dolphins learn, and they teach each other. Some dolphins have helped people.

How are Dolphins Classified?Scientists classify, or organize, dolphins into different species. All marine mammals belong to the order cetacea. There are more than 30 saltwater dolphin species. There are about five freshwater dolphin species. The common dolphin belongs to the genus delphinus, the family delphinidae, and the order cetacea.

Where do Dolphins Live?Most dolphins live in saltwater. Saltwater dolphins can be found in all the world’s oceans. Freshwater dolphins are called river dolphins. River dolphins can be found in Asia and South America. River dolphins have lived in the Yangtze River in China. River dolphins have also lived in the Amazon River in Brazil.

What Adaptations Help Dolphins Survive?Millions of years ago, dolphin ancestors lived on land. About 55 million years ago, those ancestors moved from land to water. Since then, dolphins have evolved to adapt to life in the water. To evolve means to change to fit an environment.



Brazil

ColombiaVenezuela

Bolivia

PeruAmazonRiver

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Some river dolphins live in the Amazon River in South America.

Fins

Dolphins have many fins all over their body. Fins help dolphins move in water. The fin at the end of a dolphin is its tail fin. Another name for the tail fin is its fluke. The fluke moves up and down. The fluke pushes the dolphin forward.

Dolphins also have two small fins on each side of its body. These side fins look almost like tiny arms. These fins are called flippers. Together with the fluke, flippers help a dolphin steer.

The fin on the top of a dolphin is called a dorsal fin. This is the fin you see above water. It looks like a shark’s fin. The dorsal fin balances a dolphin under water. Without a dorsal fin, a dolphin would roll around.

Blowhole

Dolphins need air to breathe. But dolphins can’t breathe through their mouths like we do.

Dolphins breathe through blowholes at the top of a dolphin’s head. Dolphins open their blowholes when they reach the water’s surface. They take in a deep breath of air. Underwater, dolphins close their blowholes. Dolphins swim underwater for a few minutes before needing another breath of air.

Echolocation

Dolphins make lots of sounds. They can grunt, squeak, buzz, and click. We whistle by blowing air past our lips. How do dolphins whistle? They push air past a nasal passage through a fold that works just like our lips near the tops of their heads.

Dolphins have small ear holes on the sides of their heads. Scientists believe that dolphins do most of their “hearing” by sensing vibrations in their lower jaw.

Sound travels well underwater. When a dolphin makes a sound, the sound bounces off objects. The sound bounces back by vibration. A dolphin can sense these vibrations. Sound vibrations also travel to the ears located inside a dolphin’s head. The process of sending out sounds that bounce back is called echolocation. Dolphins use echolocation to catch food.

What is a Dolphin’s Diet?Dolphins are carnivores. They eat meat. Dolphins eat mostly fish. Some dolphins also eat squid or crabs. Dolphins catch their food in many ways.

Whacking

Dolphins catch fish in many ways. Sometimes they use their flukes to catch fish. Dolphins use



flukes to stir underwater mud. This confuses fish or sends fish in another direction to be eaten. Sometimes dolphins use flukes to hit fish. They knock fish out. This is called whacking.

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Dolphins often herd a school of fish.

Herding

Sometimes dolphins work together to catch fish. A group of dolphins is called a pod. A dolphin pod will swim around a school of fish. They pack the fish very close together into a ball-like shape. Then dolphins will take turns swimming through the ball of fish, eating the fish. This is called herding.

Scavenging

Dolphins also catch left over by people. Many fishing boats catch fish. These boats dump unwanted fish and fish parts. Dolphins follow fishing boats. Dolphins eat unwanted fish. This way of eating is called scavenging.

What is a Dolphin’s Life Cycle?Dolphins have different stages of life, just like people do. First, dolphin babies are born. Then the babies grow into adults. Adult dolphins

make their own dolphin babies. Every living thing has a stage from birth to death. These stages together are called a life cycle.

Dolphin Babies

Baby dolphins grow inside of their mother’s body for up to 11 months. Some dolphin babies grow inside their mother for up more than a year. Baby dolphins are called calves. Calves are often born tail first. Most dolphin mothers give birth to one calf at a time. Mothers give birth to a calf once every two to three years. Calves nurse with their mothers for six months to two years.

After six months, most dolphin calves are ready to eat on their own. These calves stay with their mothers for another three to eight years until they are old enough. Mothers and other dolphins in the pod protect their calves during this time.

Adult Dolphins

Dolphins live for about 30 years. Some can live for up to 50 years. During this time, adult dolphins mate every two years or so. In the spring, male dolphins court females. Males will swim next to females. They will pet each other with their fins. After mating, male dolphins swim in patterns. They make underwater sounds. Scientists think they do this to show females they are good dads. Scientists also think male dolphins do this to keep other males away.

Can Dolphins Talk?Dolphins can swim in pods of up to 40 dolphins. In these pods, dolphins love to talk to each other.



Lots of animals talk to each other. Monkeys talk to other monkeys. Crows talk to other crows. But only a few species call each other by name. Humans do. You know this, because you have a name! But did you know that dolphins name their babies, too?

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Dolphins swim in groups called pods.

Imagine a dolphin swimming up to another and saying, “Yo, Mike, what’s up?” That sounds pretty silly, but this is like what dolphins do. Dolphins have a special “whistle” they use to let others know that they are around. This special whistle is like a name for a dolphin. Dolphins that are friends copy the whistle and call the name to their friend. Dolphins also copy their mother’s whistle, calling her by name, too. A mother dolphin might repeat the same whistle over and over until her baby learns its mother’s name.

Are Dolphins Smart?Scientists think dolphins are one of the smartest animals. Dolphins have big, complex brains. Dolphins show their smarts in the way they

solve problems and the way they interact with others.

Dolphins have big brains. It’s brain can work faster than most human brains. These brains help dolphins solve problems. When a dolphin uses echolocation, its brain can quickly process the sound so the dolphin knows what to do and where to go.

Dolphins use tools. One tool dolphins use are sponges. We’re not talking about the sponges people use to wash dishes. Dolphins use the sponge, which is an animal that lives under the sea. Some dolphins wrap sponges around their mouth. The sponge protects the dolphin’s mouth from getting too many scratches.

Dolphins play. They love to make bubble rings in the water. They love to ride waves like a body surfer. Scientists think dolphins are smart in the way they play.

Dolphins also work together with other animals. They have been known to help beached whales get back into the ocean. Dolphins have been known to help human swimmers in need. One famous story about dolphins is that a pod of dolphins helped people stranded in a boat by pushing the boat back to the shore.

What Threats do Dolphins Face?Many dolphins are at the top of the food chain, which means they don’t have any natural predators. Sharks, however, can threaten smaller and younger dolphins. Some adult dolphins can fight off shark attacks. A pod of dolphins can ram a shark with their strong noses to fight a shark.



Dolphins can get sick, just like humans. Sometimes dolphins can get sick from viruses or bacteria. Other times dolphins can be attacked by parasites which are small organisms that live inside another animal. Parasites take the nutrients of the host animal, which can cause illness.

A big danger to dolphins, however, is people. Humans fish the ocean where dolphins swim. Humans cast nets into the water. Sometimes dolphins can get caught in these nets. A caught dolphin can get trapped underwater. A dolphin trapped underwater cannot breathe air. If a dolphin can’t get a breath of air, it will drown.

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Another human threat to dolphins is human waste. Garbage gets into the ocean and pollutes dolphin habitats.

What Can We Do to Help Dolphins?Dolphins are beautiful, intelligent, and friendly animals. They have a right to live peacefully without threats from humans. There are many things people can do to prevent dolphins from being endangered or dying out.

At your local grocery store, you can buy tuna that is “dolphin safe.” You can write letters to government leaders to ask them to write laws to protect dolphins. You can use fewer plastics or recycle the plastics you do use. It might be the little things people can do that can make a big difference for dolphins.

What Will the Future Be Like for Dolphins?No one can say what the future will be for dolphins. These beautiful and intelligent creatures could go extinct if they are harmed by human actions.

There is still hope for dolphins. Many groups have formed to help protect dolphins and their habitat. People know more about the kinds of things that hurt dolphins. People around the world are working together to keep dolphins safe, healthy, and alive.


Lexile 550L: Eat Up: Weird Foods Around the World ◆ page 1

Eat Up: Weird Foods Around the World

Like to try new things to eat? Think you’ve got a strong stomach? Check out some of these delectable foods you can find on

plates around the world.

Live OctopusMost people prefer fresh food. Some people like their food really fresh. Some people like their food so fresh, it’s still alive in their bowls! In Japan and Korea, people eat a dish called odori don: live octopus. If you order it, you’ll see a tiny octopus that swims and thrashes in your bowl. They say it tastes very plain. People like odori don because of the feel of tentacles writhing in their mouths. Grab some chopsticks and dig in, but be careful. You could choke on a tentacle. No joke.

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Many people love to eat octopus.

Fruit Bat SoupIn Guam, people put fruit bats in their soup and eat it. There is no fruit in this fruit bat soup, however. All you have to do is rinse the dirt and bugs off the bat. Then boil it in a broth with some chopped vegetables. Finally, you’ll have a soup that warms your belly. Slurp!

Giant WormsIn the desert outback of Australia, some might think food can be hard to find. All you have to do is get on the ground and dig. Pull out a grub and eat it. The witchetty grub is as long as the width of your hand and thicker than your thumb. Aboriginal Australians have survived on them for thousands of years. The grubs don’t even need to be cooked. All you have to do is pull them out of the ground and munch away. Some people say they taste like scrambled eggs. Yum.

Cobra HeartAfraid of snakes? Then you might want to stay away from this dish. In Vietnam, you can eat cobra. First, you drink a glass of its blood. Then you drink a glass of venom. Then you eat the rest of the body. You can even eat the heart: meat, skin, bones, and even the heart, which is sometimes still beating when it’s served to you.



KiviaqSome people like meals that take a long time to make. In Greenland, you can eat a meal that takes months to prepare. It is called kiviaq. What is it? Kiviaq is a sack of sealskin. Inside the sack are dead birds. Nom nom nom!

Casu MarzuYou like cheese? Then try this stuff. In Sardinia, Italy, they make casu marzu. It’s made of sheep’s milk cheese, but that’s not all. The cheese is left outside. Then flies lay their eggs in the cheese. The larvae ferment and help the cheese taste better. Some people pick the worms out of the cheese before eating it. Some people don’t. Buon appetito!

Fried TarantulasMany people like to eat French fries with ketchup. In Cambodia, some people like fried tarantulas. They cook the spiders in hot oil. People say the spiders taste like chicken. Some

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Who needs fried chicken when you can have fried tarantula?

people only eat the legs. Some people like to eat the bodies, which are gooey inside. Mm mm good!

Smalahove (or skjelte)In America, many families eat turkey for Thanksgiving, chicken or brisket for Hanukkah, or ham for Christmas. In Norway, before Christmas, many families eat sheep. They don’t just eat any part of the sheep. They eat the head. The sheep’s head is boiled. How do you eat sheep’s head? First you eat the ears and eyes. Then you work from front to back, eating the meat around the head. Some people even eat the brain. Food for thought, right?

EscamolIf you don’t like spiders, then maybe you’ll love ants. In Mexico, people dig up the roots of plants to find ant larvae. Then they put the ant larvae in a stew. They say the ant larvae tastes buttery and nutty. Dig in!

Tuna EyeballIf food looks good, people eat it. But what do you do if your food is looking back at you? In Japan, people eat tuna eyeball. You can get it at a grocery store. You can boil it and season it to taste. There is also meat and fat around the eyeball. People say it tastes like squid. If you’ve never tasted squid, you’ll have to eat tuna eyeball to find out. Looks good!

KhashIf you like messy finger food, you might also like khash. In the Middle East, some people eat



khash. It is made from cow’s feet, head, and stomach. Khash is usually eaten in the winter, early in the morning. Some people like to eat it only using their hands. Who needs cereal for breakfast? Slurp!

Blood PancakesSpeaking of breakfast food, pancakes can make a delicious breakfast. Do you like your pancakes with syrup and sausage? In Sweden, people like pancakes with blood. Blood is whipped into the batter. The blood pancakes are also served with reindeer meat. Don’t tell Santa Claus. Yum.

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Lexile 550L: Extinct: Famous Animals that Are No More ◆ page 1

Extinct: Famous Animals that Are No More

Animals adapt to survive in the world. Some animals camouflage. Others migrate. A group of similar animals is

called a species. Sometimes a species dies out. It becomes extinct. Sometimes this happens because of Earth changes. Other times, species die because of human activity. Read on to learn more about some of the most famous extinctions ever.

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Say It Ain’t So, DodoDutch travelers explored the island of Mauritius in 1598. They found a big, strange bird there. The Dutch also found the bird to be quite tasty. They called the bird the dodo.

The Dutch also brought other animals to the island. They brought pigs and monkeys. Pigs

and monkeys also thought dodos and their eggs were tasty.

Not only did the dodos get eaten, but also their homes were destroyed. The Dutch cut down forests to make buildings. Less than 65 years after the Dutch first explored Mauritius, all dodos were gone.

Ride Along with the Passenger PigeonIn the 19th century, the passenger pigeon was the most common bird in North America. They flew in huge numbers. Flocks of passenger pigeons could get very large. Flocks could get so big they could block the sun’s rays.

Early American colonists and pioneers thought passenger pigeons were delicious. They hunted the birds. There were so many birds, you could catch them by throwing a stone or a stick at them. Too many people hunted passenger pigeons. Pioneers who moved West also cut down the forests where the birds lived. A boy hunted the last passenger pigeon in 1900.

Saber-toothed Tigers Bite the DustTen thousand years ago, you could find the saber-toothed tiger hiding in the brush, waiting. The saber-toothed tiger would wait for a mastodon. It would wait for a bison or a camel. When an animal appeared, the saber-toothed tiger would attack. It had strong legs. It was as



big as a lion. It had long, sharp canine teeth. Its two longest teeth were eight inches long. Scientists think the saber-toothed tiger used its long teeth to kill its prey.

In a short time, all saber-toothed tigers disappeared. They all died out. Why? Scientists think it was because their prey disappeared. Large animals like mastodons may have died out due to climate change. Large prey may have died out because of human hunting.

Don’t Nag the QuaggaThe quagga was an animal that was related to the zebra. It looked like it had a zebra’s head. Its head had stripes. It looked like a horse in the back. But the quagga was all zebra. It lived in South Africa. When Europeans came to South Africa, they hunted the quagga. Hunters took quaggas back to Europe and put them in zoos. They also hunted quagga for its skin. They hunted quaggas for its yummy meat. By the 1870s, all quaggas were gone.

Tasmanian TigerThe Tasmanian tiger didn’t look like a tiger. It looked like a dog. The Tasmanian tiger was not a tiger at all. It was related to kangaroos. Kangaroos and Tasmanian tigers are marsupials. Marsupials have babies that grow in a mother’s pouch.

Tasmanian tigers used to live in Australia and New Guinea. The last place they lived was Tasmania, an island near Australia. Soon humans moved into Tasmanian tiger habitats. People herded sheep near their habitats. Tasmanian tigers preyed on the sheep. Humans hunted the Tasmanian tigers to protect their

flocks. The last Tasmanian tiger died in a zoo in 1936.

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The Tasmanian tiger is more closely related to a kangeroo than a dog.

Great Scott, It’s the Great AukThe great auk was a bird that lived in the North Atlantic. For thousands of years, humans and human ancestors thought the great auk was tasty. Neanderthals ate the great auk. Native Americans made pudding out of their eggs. People also saw the great auk as important. They used their feathers for clothes and pillows. People wore their bones for jewelry.

People were not the only ones to eat great auk. Polar bears did, too. Some fish ate great auk as well. People used great auks for fishing bait.

Then people got greedy. Great auks were kind and peaceful birds. People herded them into ships. Then they would prepare the bird for food.

After a while, people hunted too many great auks. There is a story about the last great auk. In 1844, they say a few people in Scotland found the bird. They thought the bird was a witch. They killed it. It may have been the last great auk ever.



Baiji River DolphinThe baiji was a river dolphin that swam in the Yangtze River in China. For 20 million years, this dolphin swam the river. The baiji was a symbol of peace and prosperity for ancient Chinese people.

In the late 1950s, the government of China wanted to change the way people lived. They wanted more factories. Factory pollution went into the river. The government built a big dam on the Yangtze River. This dam led to more boats on the river and less space for dolphins.

The Chinese government also wanted to change old Chinese culture. The government didn’t want people to see the baiji as special.

They made it legal to hunt the baiji. Baiji also got caught in fishing nets. After a while, the baiji began to die out. The last known baiji river dolphin died in 2002. Some people think a photo was taken of a baiji in 2007. No other baiji have been seen since. Scientists think the baiji are extinct.

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extinct—not existing anymorehabitat—the place where an animal or plant lives and growsprey—animals that another animal eats to stay alivespecies—a related group of plants or animals


Lexile 510L: Fire! Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Disaster ◆ page 1

Fire! Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Disaster

The FireThe year was 1911. Many people were busy working in New York City. On the 8th floor of one building, many women were busy working. They made blouses for the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. They used many materials to make blouses. Some materials included cotton and paper. The 8th floor was full of cotton and paper.

Suddenly, the 8th floor burst into flames. Workers ran to escape. The doors were locked. The fire spread to the floors above and below. Workers tried to open windows. They cried for help. Some tried to climb down the fire escape. Too many people climbed onto the fire escape and it broke.

Fire trucks came and put ladders against the building. The ladders were not high enough. They could only reach the 6th floor. The workers were trapped.

What Happened?The fire lasted less than 20 minutes. 146 people died. Some workers could not be identified. Afterward, people asked questions. Why were the doors locked? Why were working women being treated so poorly?

Many women who worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory were immigrants. They had moved to the United States from another country. Many were of Jewish or Italian

heritage. Some workers were only 14-years-old. Many were poor. They needed to work. They need to help raise and feed their families.

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Why were the doors locked? Some store owners thought poor workers would steal blouses from the factory. These owners locked the doors to prevent theft. No one unlocked the doors when the fire started.

New Yorkers were upset. A few weeks after the fire, people marched to protest. They marched the streets of New York City. They marched in a funeral procession. More than 100,000 people marched. Even more people attended a memorial gathering for the victims.


Lexile 510L: Fire! Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Disaster ◆ page 2

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The owners of the factory were charged with the crime of killing the workers. But they were

found not guilty. The owners of the factory made insurance money off the fire.

The AftermathAfter the fire, the state of New York passed many laws to help workers. The laws changed the ways bosses could treat workers. New York passed more than 30 labor laws. Some of these laws helped to make factory fire codes. Other laws stopped factories from hiring children. These laws helped workers in New York. These laws also helped workers across the country.

People still remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. People still march for the women who died. People still give speeches to remember the workers. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory will always be a reminder to Americans that workers should be treated fairly and safely.


Lexile 660L: Frogs & Toads ◆ page 1

Frogs & Toads

Special AmphibiansAmphibians are special animals. They grow in water and on land. As babies, amphibians have gills to breathe water. Then they grow lungs to breathe air.

Two kinds of amphibians are frogs and toads. You may have seen a toad, huddled in the grass, or skipping along the forest floor. You may also have seen a frog, leaping from a pond to a leaf. Frogs and toads are related, but they are not the same species.

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Frogs and toads eat insects.

Slippery LeapersFrogs have smooth, mucus-covered skin. They have long legs and no tail. Frogs live in water and on land. Some frogs live in trees. Frogs leap from place to place with their long legs. Frogs lay eggs in bunches in the water. When the eggs

hatch, they become tadpoles. Frog tadpoles have no legs or arms. Frog tadpoles have gills to breath underwater. Soon, frog tadpoles grow legs, arms and lungs.

Bumpy HoppersA toad is like a frog, but also different. Toads have dry, bumpy skin. They have short legs and no tail. Toads also lay eggs in water. On land is where toads spend most of their time. Toads are nocturnal, which means they come out at night. Toads move slowly. They hop or walk to get around.

Toads protect themselves from predators. They can release venom from a gland behind their eyes if they feel threatened. Toads lay eggs in two long tubes. It takes a few days for toad tadpoles to hatch. It takes a couple months for toad tadpoles to grow into adult toads.

Frogs vs. ToadsFrogs and toads share many traits. Both are vertebrates. This means they have backbones. Both are amphibians. This means both live in water and on land. They are also both cold blooded. This means their body temperatures go up and down based on how hot or cold the air is around them.

Frogs and toads hatch from eggs in water. From eggs they both grow into tadpoles. Tadpoles have gills. Both frog and toad tadpoles grow legs. They both lose their tails and grow



lungs. Finally, both frogs and toads move from water to land.

Frogs and toads are also different. One difference is the way they look. Frog skin looks smooth and sometimes slimy. Toad skin, on the other hand, looks bumpy and dry. Toads don’t have teeth, but frogs do. Frogs don’t use their teeth for chewing or biting. Frogs use them for holding prey.

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Amphibians grow on water and land.

If you were to watch frogs and toads lay eggs, you would also notice a difference. Frogs lay eggs in clumps. Toads lay their eggs in chains. Frogs and toads move differently. Frogs leap and jump. The back legs of a frog are especially powerful so it can jump from tree to tree. Toads, on the other hand, walk or make small hops.

Both frogs and toads use camouflage to hide. However, they do hide differently. Frogs are often green so they can hide in ponds. Toads, in contrast, are usually brown so they can hide in old leaves and stumps.

The Adaptations of Frogs & ToadsEyes

Frogs and toads have many adaptations that have helped them survive. One body part that helps them live is their eyes. Frog and toad eyes are big. They bulge at the top of their heads. If frogs and toads didn’t have such big, bulging eyes, they wouldn’t be able to look for food. They wouldn’t be able to watch out for predators. A predator is an animal that hunts another animal.

Camouflage

Frogs and toads need to hide from predators. One way they do this is with their skin. Frogs and toads are often green or brown. They colors help them hide in ponds. They help them hide in leaves or grass. Frogs have slimy skin that helps them hide in water. Toads have bumpy skin that helps them hide on land.

Croaking

Frogs and toads use their voices to talk. Males croak to tell other males to stay away. Males croak to call females. Croaking helps frogs and toads lay eggs to keep the life cycle going.

Endangered Frogs & ToadsThere are more than 6,000 species of frogs and toads. More than one third of those species are endangered. In the past 20 years, more than 200 species have died out. Many scientists are trying to save the rest. Some frogs and toads are endangered because humans have changed their habitats.



Arroyo Toad

The arroyo toad lives in Southern California. It is known for its snub nose and olive-colored skin. At night, they make mating noises that some people say sound like an electric motor. The arroyo toad needs water to lay eggs. It lays eggs in the spring when rivers have more water.

But the arroyo toad is endangered. People have brought plants and animals into their habitat. These plants and animals are not natural to Southern California. They take over many of the resources that arroyo toads use. They are called invasive plants and animals. People also move and build onto arroyo toad habitat. This gives the toad fewer places to live. Climate change has also hurt arroyo toad habitat.

Gopher Frog

The gopher frog is another endangered amphibian. This frog used to live in watery areas from Louisiana to Alabama. Now it can only be found in a few ponds in Mississippi. Gopher frogs spend most of the year in burrows made by gopher tortoises. Gopher frogs are very picky about their ponds. They like ponds that dry out during the winter so that there are no fish living in the ponds. Some fish eat frog eggs and tadpoles.

People take away the gopher frog’s favorite ponds. People drain ponds so they can build more homes and buildings. Some people also make sure that some ponds don’t dry up so they can farm fish in the ponds.

However, many people take action to protect endangered frogs and toads. You can write to politicians. You can ask them to make

laws to save frog and toad habitats. You can also donate to organizations that recreate natural habitats for frogs and toads. An organization that does this is www.savethefrogs.com. We can also educate ourselves about global warming and climate change so that frog and toad habitats are not destroyed by the changing climate. For more information, contact www.nrdc.org.

How to Take Care of Your Pet Frog or ToadFrogs and toads make great pets. They live for many years if you take care of them. Here are a few steps to take care of them. First, get your frog or toad at a pet store. A frog or toad caught in the wild might have parasites. Parasites are organisms that feed off the resources of other animals. Parasites can cause sickness in your pet.

Be careful how you hold a frog or toad. First, wash your hands before you hold them. The salt on our skin can sometimes dry out a frog’s slimy skin. Then, pick up your pet gently. Never squeeze a frog or toad. Hold your pet close to the ground because it might jump out of your hands. Beware, frogs and toads are known to pee on their owners hands! Avoid holding frogs and toads for very long. After putting them back down, wash your hands again.

You will also want to find a place for your pet to live. A fish tank makes a nice home. You’ll need to decide what to put in the tank. First, put a shallow bowl in your tank. Then fill it with water. Frogs and toads use this water to drink. They also use it to pee. Change the water every day.

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Next, decide what other materials you need depending on what kind of pet you have. Toads will need lots of substrate in their tank. Substrate is earth materials like soil and moss. Toads make burrows and hide in it. Spray your substrate with a water bottle every morning. Replace your substrate every other month. Toads also like to hide behind logs and driftwood. You might place these items in the tank as well.

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Feed your pet frog or toad insects.

Frogs like to leap. Make sure you place a screen at the top of the tank. Frogs also need a lot of light. You might also get a UV light for your frog. Or take your frog outside for 20 minutes every day. Toads, on the other hand, don’t need a lot of light. They come out at night to feed. Finally, clean your tank out every month.

Frogs and toads are both insectivores. This means they eat bugs. They love crickets and worms. You can get these at a pet store. Frogs and toads eat baby mice. These are called pinkie mice. You can buy these at a pet store, too. If you get food that isn’t alive, wave the food in front of your pet’s face. Frogs and toads like food that moves around.

Some frogs and toads hibernate in the winter. This means it doesn’t move or eat as much. You won’t need to feed your pet as much during these times.

Frogs and toads aren’t like other pets. You can’t always hold them or pet them. But they are fascinating creatures. They can survive for many years with good care and lots of love.


Lexile 610L: Get In the Ring: All About Wrestling ◆ page 1

Get In the Ring: All About Wrestling

In the RingTwo wrestlers face each other in an open ring. Each tries to grip arms around the other. Each tries to throw the other to the ground.

One wrestler lifts his opponent up. OOF. Then he hurls the other onto a padded mat. SMACK! The man tries to get up, but it is too late. The first wrestler falls on top of him and pins his opponent’s back on the mat. A referee hits the mat to signal a fall. SLAP. The match is over. The wrestlers shake hands.

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Wrestlers grapple each other to gain an advantage.

Wrestling in HistoryWrestling is one of the oldest sports in history. People wrestled thousands of years ago. People wrestled in Egypt, India, and China. Wrestling was also popular in ancient Greece. It was played as one of the first Olympic Games. Artists created images of wrestling matches on Greek vases.

The rules of wrestling are simple. Wrestlers have to pin their opponent’s back to the ground

to win. However, wrestlers can only use their hands, arms, and body. Wrestlers cannot trip their opponent.

Wrestling in the United StatesIn the United States, wrestling has also been popular. President Abraham Lincoln liked to wrestle when he was young. People thought he was good.

Today, kids across the country wrestle. Some wrestle on school teams. Others wrestle in clubs. Many colleges have wrestling teams.

Kinds of WrestlingThere are two main kinds of wrestling. One is called Greco-Roman wrestling. Its rules say that wrestlers can’t hold each other below the waist. Another kind of wrestling is called freestyle wrestling. Freestyle wrestlers can hold their opponents below the waist. Both kinds of wrestling are played in today’s Olympic Games.

Pro wrestling is another kind of wrestling in the United States. It is like freestyle wrestling, but is simulated. This means that the wrestlers already know who will win the match before it begins. Some people think that pro wrestling is just for show. They do not think it is a normal sports contest.

Forever WrestlingMany people like to wrestle and like to watch wrestling. It is an old human sport. It will probably be popular for a long time to come.


Lexile 540L: What Are Globes And Maps? ◆ page 1

What Are Globes And Maps?

What Is A Globe?Earth is a planet. The earth orbits around the sun and spins on its axis. The axis is the line in the middle of the earth that runs from the North to the South Pole. A globe is a map of earth. Globes are shaped like a sphere, like a ball. Globes show land and oceans. Some globes show country borders, too.

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A globe shows what Earth looks like.

What Are Maps?Some maps of the earth are flat. A map of the world is like a flat globe. Maps can show the entire earth. Maps can also show a tiny part of

the earth. Maps can show continents, countries, and cities. Maps can also show bodies of water and land.

What Are The Lines On Maps And Globes Of The World?Maps of the world often show lines. These lines are called coordinate lines. These lines help people find different parts of a map quickly. One map line running left and right in middle of the world is the equator. The equator line separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. There are lines that run parallel above and below the equator. These lines are called lines of latitude. The equator is zero degrees latitude.

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There are also lines that run up and down from the North Pole’s to the South Pole. These lines are called lines of longitude. Many maps also show the prime meridian. The prime meridian is a line of longitude set at zero degrees. All lines that run east of the prime meridian are in the Eastern Hemisphere. Lines


Lexile 540L: What Are Globes And Maps? ◆ page 2

that run west of the prime meridian are in the Western Hemisphere.

What Do Maps Of The World Show?Maps of the world can show many things. Maps of the world show continents. Continents are the largest bodies of land on earth. Maps of the world show water. Oceans and seas are big bodies of water. Maps of the world might also show countries. Countries are areas of land run by a government.

People use maps to learn about the world. People use maps to move around the world. People use maps to look at for fun.

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Lexile 600L: Harry Houdini: Chained to Magic ◆ page 1

Harry Houdini: Chained to Magic

Man OverboardA tugboat floated in New York’s East River. It was summer and it was hot outside. The sun beat down on reporters who stood on the tugboat. All the people on the boat walked around freely. All except for one man. One man was handcuffed. His legs were chained together. The reporters jotted notes. Their cameras flashed. The man was put into a crate. Then the crate

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was nailed shut. It was covered with heavy metal. The crate was tied shut. Finally, it was lowered into the water.

The reporters watched with surprise. Would the handcuffed man survive? Would he drown? The reporters didn’t have much time to think. Less than a minute later, the man swam to the surface. Everyone cheered. They pulled the man back onto the tugboat. His chains were gone.

The crate was lifted above the water. It looked untouched. When they opened it, they found the chains inside. People could not believe it. Who could go underwater locked inside a box and escape so quickly?

Harry Houdini, that’s who.Houdini was one of the most famous

magicians ever. He had just shown reporters his Overboard Box Escape. It was one of many tricks he tricks did in his lifetime.

From Hungary to the CircusHarry Houdini was born named Erik Weisz. He was born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. Harry was the son of a rabbi. He had six siblings. When he was four years old, Harry’s family immigrated to Wisconsin. When Harry’s family got to the United States, they changed their last name to “Weiss.” Erik’s name was changed to “Ehrich.” His nicknames became “Ehrie” or “Harry.”

Later, Harry’s family moved to New York City. Harry began working at circuses. At nine years old, Harry was a trapeze artist. Soon after that Harry began his magic career. He then changed his stage name to Harry Houdini.



Life of MagicAt first, Houdini struggled as a magician. He started with card tricks, but a lot of magicians did card tricks. Houdini needed to invent other acts so he tried other tricks. He performed escape acts. He locked himself in handcuffs and escaped.

In 1899, Houdini got his big break. A traveling show hired him to do his acts. Houdini became known for escaping from handcuffs, chains, ropes, straightjackets, and jails. Many times he escaped while being strung upside down. Other magicians copied the famous magician. Houdini tried to stop the copycats. He began doing more dangerous and amazing escape acts. He began locking himself inside milk cans, coffins, and boxes.

Houdini’s Most Famous ActsDaily Mirror Newspaper Challenge

In 1904, a newspaper in England called the Daily Mirror challenged Houdini. The newspaper said it had handcuffs from which no one could escape. The newspaper also said it took a man five years to make the handcuffs. Houdini accepted the challenge. 4,000 people watched him being locked into the special handcuffs. Houdini struggled to take off the handcuffs. He had to cut his jacket off with a knife he held in his mouth. After more than an hour, Houdini escaped. The crowd cheered.

Milk Can Escape

One of Houdini’s most famous escapes was the Milk Can Escape. Before the act began, Houdini challenged the audience hold their breath as long as it took him to escape. First, he was

handcuffed. Then, Houdini was put inside a giant milk can. Next, the milk can was filled with water and shut. Sometimes the milk can would be placed inside a crate and tied shut. Houdini always escaped the milk can.

Water Torture Cell

Other magicians copied Houdini’s Milk Can Escape. So Houdini invented another escape. In this new escape, he locked his feet together. Then Houdini was lowered, upside down, into a tank full of water. The tank was made of glass so people could see him. Houdini performed this escape for the rest of his life.

The Water Torture Cell was one of Houdini’s most famous acts.



Suspended Straitjacket Escape

Another of Houdini’s most famous escapes was the Suspended Straitjacket Escape. In this trick, Houdini was tied into a straitjacket. Then, he was hung upside down from a building. People on the street stopped to watch. Traffic would stop, too. Sometimes winds would knock Houdini against the building. Houdini escaped the suspended straitjacket in less than three minutes.

Buried Alive Stunt

One of Houdini’s most dangerous acts was his Buried Alive Stunt. He did this act only three times in his life. The first time he did it, Houdini almost died. He was buried six feet under the earth. Then he started digging himself out. He panicked. He tried to call for help. No one could hear him. Finally, his hand broke free from the ground. Then Houdini passed out. The magician later said that the stunt was very dangerous.


Lexile 380L: Heist: The Greatest Art Thefts of All Time ◆ page 1

Heist: The Greatest Art Thefts of All Time

Stolen ArtA heist is a robbery. Heist is a word sometimes used for art thefts. Heists are illegal. Many times thieves get caught. Sometimes they get away. Thieves have made many heists in history. Here are some of the most famous.

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The Mona Lisa is a famous and valuable painting.

The Mona LisaIn 1911, a man worked in the Louvre, a famous museum in France. The museum showed one of the world’s most famous paintings. This painting was the Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter, made it.

One day this man stole the Mona Lisa. He hid it under his coat. The thief was Italian. He thought the Mona Lisa belonged in Italy. Police found the Mona Lisa two years later.

The ScreamNorway hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. The world watched the Olympics on TV, but two thieves were not watching. Instead, they broke into a gallery. No one paid attention to the alarm. No one screamed. They might have been too busy watching the Olympics.

The thieves took Norway’s most famous painting, The Scream, by artist Edvard Munch. The thieves left a note to the museum guards. The note said, “Thanks for the poor security.” Police captured the thieves three months later and found the painting as well.

The Gardner Museum HeistOne day in Boston, two men dressed as police officers walked to the Gardner Museum. They knocked on the door. Museum guards opened the door. They said hello. They let in the


Lexile 380L: Heist: The Greatest Art Thefts of All Time ◆ page 2

“police.” The fake police handcuffed the guards. They put the guards in the museum basement.

The two men weren’t officers at all. They were thieves. They stole thirteen pieces of art. Experts think the art was worth a half billion dollars. It was the biggest art heist in history. The art is still missing. The thieves are still “at large.” This means real police have not yet caught them yet.

Lost and FoundSometimes stolen art is found. Sometimes it is lost. The art that is stolen is worth a lot of money. In many ways the art is priceless.


Lexile 520L: If We Didn’t Have Magnets . . . ◆ page 1

If We Didn’t Have Magnets . . .

Who Needs Magnets Anyway?A magnet is an object that has a magnetic field. A magnetic field is a force that pushes or pulls some kinds of metals.

Some objects can be magnetized. This means the object can be made into a magnet. When a magnet touches some metal objects, some of those objects also become magnets for a short time.

Sounds pretty boring, right? Who needs magnets anyway? Why do we need magnets? What would happen in a world without magnets?

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If We Didn’t Have Magnets...Parents Could Not Buy Toys for Kids

Not really. If we had no magnets, then grownups could not use credit or debit cards. Grownups use these cards to buy things like toys. Credit cards have a strip on the back. The strip is magnetized. The strip has information. The strip sends messages to a bank. Then the bank allows the card to spend money. If you set a magnet next to a credit card, you’ll erase the information on the strip. Then your family won’t be able to use the card. So don’t do that. You want toys, right? Magnets help us buy things.

There Would Be No More Performances

Okay, there would still be performances. But they’d be harder to hear. Do you like concerts? Theater? Do you like television shows? Well, you had better sit close to the show. Without magnets, you would not be able to hear your favorite performers well. Performers use microphones and speakers. Microphones and speakers have magnets. These magnets make the sound louder. Magnets help us hear well.

You Would Get Lost Forever

Just kidding. Not if you had a compass. A compass would help you find which way you


Lexile 520L: If We Didn’t Have Magnets . . . ◆ page 2

are going. A compass has a magnetized pointer. The pointer is pulled by Earth’s magnetism. If you’re walking in the forest and know where you are going, a compass can help you. Magnets help you find the right way.

Your Laptop Would Run Out of Battery Power

Well, not exactly. Some laptops have magnetized chargers. These magnets help connect the power cord to be connected to the laptop. The magnet helps keep the charger in place. If someone trips over the charger, the

cord would not be damaged. The cord would be pulled out easily. Magnets keep your things connected.

Doctors Would Not Be Able to Heal Anyone

That’s not exactly true. What is true is that doctors use a special machine that has magnets. Doctors call this machine an MRI. An MRI can look deep into your body. An MRI can see if anything is wrong. Magnets can save your life.

You Would Have to Eat Rotten Food

No you wouldn’t. If your family has a fridge, thank your lucky magnets. A refrigerator uses magnets to keep the fridge door closed. A closed door helps keep food fresh. Magnets help us eat well.

Who Needs Magnets Anyway? We do!We all need magnets. They help us in our daily lives. They help us stay healthy. They help us find fun. Magnets give us direction. A world without magnets would be a difficult one to live in. Learning more about magnets might help you discover other ways they can be used.

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The magnets in this MRI machine can detect illness.


Lexile 670L: It’s a Map, Map, Map, Map World ◆ page 1

It’s a Map, Map, Map, Map World

Maps Show PlacesMaps show something about a place. Different maps can show different things. Read on to discover maps you might see.

Political MapLook at a map of the United States of America. Do you see the states? See the capitals? If you do, the map you are looking at is a political map. These maps can show borders of countries. They can show cities and towns. Sometimes political maps show states or counties.

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Close up of map showing Jackson, the capital of Mississippi.

Physical MapAnother kind of map is a physical map. These maps show what the earth looks like. These maps show water. Physical maps show mountains. They also show elevation. Elevation is how high or low land is.

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Different colors represent water, land, snow, and ice.

Topographic MapA topographic map is similar to a physical map. This map shows more land features than a physical map. A topographic map shows more elevation facts. These maps show contour lines. Contour lines show elevation. Contour lines drawn close together means steep elevation. Contour lines drawn far apart show flatter land.

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Contour lines and numbers show elevation.



Climate MapSome maps show climate—a place’s weather over a period of time. Different colors on climate maps show different climates. For instance, a dark green color might stand for the tropics. A yellow color might stand for the desert. The map key tells you what the color means.

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Green shows the tropical areas and yellow the desert areas in this map of Africa.

Economic or Resources MapSome maps show the economy or resources of a place. An economy is the way people make, buy, sell, or trade things. Economic/resource maps have icons that show what kinds of resources the place has. Reading the map key of an economic or resource map is important. These map keys tell you what the icons mean.

For instance, a cow’s head icon might mean that a place herds cattle. A plant stalk icon might mean that a place has lots of farming.

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Top Ten Cattle-Raising and Oil-Producing States

Road MapRoad maps are common maps. Have you ever seen a GPS? Have you ever needed directions to get from one place to another? If so, you might use a road map. Road maps show streets and highways. Many smart phone apps show road maps. These apps can also show traffic patterns. They show the best ways to get to another place.

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GPS can show road maps.



Thematic MapSome maps are thematic maps. These maps show special topics. Sometimes they show political or physical features, but that is just so map-readers know what they are looking at. Sometimes a thematic map might show how many people get sick in a place. Another might show what kinds of plants grow in North America. Magazines and newspapers often show thematic maps. These maps sometimes go next to news articles.

Rome (mark with capital symbol-STAR), Florence, Naples, Venice, Milan, Pompeii.

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Major volcanoes of Italy

Maps EverywhereThere are many kinds of maps. Some maps show several kinds of information. What kinds of maps do you use the most?


Lexile 660L: Kid Migrants: Seeking a New Home ◆ page 1

Kid Migrants: Seeking a New Home

Imagine you have to find a new home. You want a safe place to live. To get to a safe place, you have to escape dangers. Imagine

running across the desert. Imagine climbing over fences. Imagine swimming across rivers. Imagine hiding behind cactuses and waving away insects. Imagine that if you get caught, you might be sent away.

You probably have not had to do these things to find your way home. But some kids do. Some kids try to get away from dangerous places. Some kids try to find a safe home. Many of these kids travel from other countries to live in the United States. These kids are child migrants.

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Thousands of kids migrate, or move, to the U.S. each year. Many kids stay with parents or relatives who already live in the U.S. Other kids have no relatives. The Border Patrol stops some kids. The Border Patrol stops child migrants who come to the U.S. without permission. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection keeps our country’s borders safe. They have a job to follow our country’s laws. The Border Patrol puts many kids in shelters until they can find them a safe home.

Many kid migrants have come from Central America. Some enter the U.S. through California. Others enter through Arizona. Many kid migrants enter the country across the Rio Grande Valley on the Texas and Mexico border. Many recent kid migrants have been teenage boys.

Kids born in the U.S. are citizens. A citizen of the U.S. is free to live in our country. 18-year-old citizens can vote. People from other countries sometimes apply to be citizens of the U.S. Other people try to cross the border without permission. To cross the border without permission is illegal immigration.

Many kids migrate to the U.S. without permission. Some kids leave places that are poor. Others leave places that are violent. Some want to meet family that already live in the U.S. Some believe they will not be able to migrate legally to the U.S. Some kids are willing to risk getting caught by the Border Patrol.


Lexile 660L: Kid Migrants: Seeking a New Home ◆ page 2

People across the country have strong opinions about kid migrants. Some people think the kids should be helped to find a safe place to live in the U.S. These people want kid migrants to be given amnesty for crossing

illegally. Other people think that the safest place for kid migrants is in their home country. These people want kid migrants to be deported, or sent back to the country they came from.


Lexile 540L: Lacrosse: It’s a Big Game ◆ page 1

Lacrosse: It’s a Big Game

A Big GameImagine you play on a sports team. Your team has to put a ball in the goal. What would you do if the goals were miles apart? What would you do if each team had a thousand players? What would you do if you didn’t play for hours, but you played for days? Think this game is make-believe? It isn’t. It’s how people used to play lacrosse.

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A Short History of LacrosseLacrosse is not played so big anymore but it has important history. American Indians started the game. They didn’t call it lacrosse. They called it tewaraathon. The game was violent. The game was tiring. Each player’s first aim was to disable as many players on the other team with a stick. Their second aim was to shoot a ball into a goal. American Indians thought the game was good for war preparation. Sometimes men and women played at the same time.

Lacrosse TodayLacrosse is still played today. The field is only about the size of a football field. Teams today each have only ten players on the field. Players still use lacrosse sticks. A lacrosse stick is long and has a pocket at its end. Players catch the ball in the pocket. Players carry and throw the ball with the pocket. In today’s game, teams aren’t trying to hurt one another. Teams are only trying to score the most goals.

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A modern lacrosse stick.


Lexile 540L: Lacrosse: It’s a Big Game ◆ page 2

Relatives of LacrosseHockey and basketball are both very similar to lacrosse. The rules of hockey were based on lacrosse rules. The inventor of basketball, James Naismith, loved lacrosse. Lacrosse is also related to soccer.

Lacrosse is also different from other sports. Instead of skating, lacrosse players run. Instead of bouncing a basketball, lacrosse players carry the ball in the pocket of their sticks. Instead of

using their feet to kick a ball, lacrosse players use their hands and arms to move the ball.

Lacrosse for EveryoneLacrosse has been popular in North America for a long time. American Indians first played it. They still do. Many kids on the East Coast of the United States play lacrosse. Many students in college play lacrosse. For more information, check out www.uslacrosse.org

www.uslacrosse.org


Lexile 490L: Map Fail: Worst Map Mess-Ups in History ◆ page 1

Map Fail: Worst Map Mess-Ups in History

Humans have been getting lost ever since they left the house. Some people have tried to solve the problem. They

made maps. We have used maps for thousands of years. Maps help us know where we are in the world. Some maps, however, have made things worse. Read on to learn about history’s biggest map mess-ups.

Awful Apple AppIn 2012, Apple made a new app. The app would help people find their way on roads. They called it Apple Maps. The company tried to make the best map app. But the app had lots of problems. For example, the app told people to drive across an airport runway. It told people to drive across water. It told people the capital of Berlin, Germany, was located in Antarctica. Uh oh.

Ptolemy Ptakes His Best GuessClaudius Ptolemy [TOL-uh-mee] was a famous scientist. He lived in Egypt and he wrote in Greek. He lived under the Roman Empire in the 2nd century. He was a smart guy.

Ptolemy made a map of the world. He put a grid on the map and he drew cities on the map. But Ptolemy messed up. He made guesses when he didn’t know the exact information to put on a map. For instance, he estimated the circumference of the Earth. The circumference is the length all the way around Earth. Ptolemy

guessed wrong. The real length is much longer. Whoops.

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Ptolemy thought the Earth was much smaller.

Floating CaliforniaIn the 15th and 16th century, Spanish explorers visited California. They made maps of California. Spanish mapmakers thought California was an island. They thought it wasn’t connected to the North American continent. For hundreds of years, California maps were wrong. Huh?


Lexile 490L: Map Fail: Worst Map Mess-Ups in History ◆ page 2

Made Up MountainsJames Rennell was a mapmaker. In 1798, he mapped Africa. He drew mountains on his map. He drew mountains in West Africa. He called

them the Mountains of Kong. The Mountains of Kong were on maps for a hundred years. The Mountains of Kong didn’t exist. Head-smack!


Lexile 590L: Pit Bulls: Loving Dogs, Not Fighters ◆ page 1

Pit Bulls: Loving Dogs, Not Fighters

People have bred dogs to fit their needs for hundreds of years. People bred dogs to hunt and to catch birds. They bred dogs

to herd sheep and to be pets. At first, people bred the pit bull to fight. Today, people keep pit bulls as loving pets.

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Pitbulls are loving dogs full of energy.

The pit bull has two ancestors. One is the terrier. In Great Britain, people used terriers to catch rats. Terriers were considered fearless. Some people trained terriers to hunt.

The pit bull’s other ancestor is the bulldog. People in Britain bred bulldogs to bait bears. Baiting was a mean and violent sport. People chained a bear to the ground. Then people released bulldogs to fight the bear. The first dog to hurt the bear won the fight.

People bet money on which bulldog would win. Sometimes people used bulls instead of bears. Britain banned bear and bull-baiting in 1835.

After the ban, dog owners bred terriers and bulldogs together. The bulldog is large and the terrier is quick. It was a good match. This breeding made the pit bull.

British dog owners knew it was illegal to fight dogs against other animals. Some of them made a plan. Some dog owners fought pit bulls against each other. Soon, Britain had to ban dogfighting as well.

Some people think pit bulls are dangerous and unpredictable. It is true that some people have bred some pit bulls for fighting. Unfortunately, some people still do. In 2007, NFL quarterback Michael Vick pled guilty to running a dogfighting ring. Many of the dogs he used were pit bulls.

However, people have also bred pit bulls to love their owners. Many people raise pit bulls to be good workers. People love pit bulls, and pit bulls love their owners.


Lexile 630L: Say What? Super Long Words ◆ page 1

Say What? Super Long Words

Believe it or not, but some say that the English language has more than one million words. Do you like tongue twisters? Well, try some of these words below. They are some of the longest words in the English language.

Floccinaucinihilipilification (FLOCK-sin-AW-sin-ILL-uh-PILL-if-ick-AY-shun)

You might use this word to describe the penny on the sidewalk. You might have to practice saying it first. At a whopping 29 letters, this word means to describe something of little or no value.

Squirrelled (skwerr-uhld)

Do you have a hiding place for your favorite toys? Do you keep snacks hidden away so you can eat them later? Just like a squirrel hoards nuts, you too might have squirrelled those items away. This word is only 11 letters. That’s not long, right? Well, it’s pretty long for how many syllables the word has. This word is one of the longest one-syllable words in English.

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Parastratiosphecomyia Stratiosphecomyioides (PAIR-uh-STRAT-ee-oh-sveh-COH-MEE-uh STRAT-ee-oh-sveh-COH-MEE-oh-IDES)

Ever seen fly larvae growing on trash? Some fly larvae grow to be soldier flies. Soldier flies make for good pet frog food. Their larvae are also edible to humans. If you’re hungry, you better act quickly. These flies only live for about a week before they die. It might take you a week to learn how to say these two words, so hurry up. These words make up one of the longest compound words.

Abstentious (ab-STEN-shus)

If someone you know is on a diet, you might describe that person as abstentious. This word is usually used to describe someone who doesn’t eat or drink a lot. Again, you might be thinking, “What gives? This word only has 11 letters?” Abstentious is the longest word to use all five vowels in order.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (HIP-oh-POT-oh-MONS-TROH-sis-KWIP-eh-DAY-lee-oh-FOH-bee-uh)

Take a moment to break down this word into parts. You might be able to figure out what it means. What do you know about the first five letters, hippo? That’s right, a hippo is a large mammal that lives in Africa. Do you see the word part monstro-? Sounds a lot like monstrous, which is something scary and huge.


Lexile 630L: Say What? Super Long Words ◆ page 2

Now look at the suffix—phobia. A phobia is a fear. And the word above means the fear of long words. Hopefully you won’t scared of long words after reading this article.

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Honorificabilitudinitatibus (ON-or-IF-ick-uh-bil-it-OOD-in-it-at-uh-BUS)

Congratulations! You know some of the longest words in the English language. You are certainly worthy of this word. It means you are able to achieve honors and rewards. This word is also known as the longest word Shakespeare ever wrote.


Lexile 530L: Stay Calm: The Truth About Quicksand ◆ page 1

Stay Calm: The Truth About Quicksand

You may have seen this scene in a movie: a man walks in the wild when suddenly he is sucked below ground. He tries to

grab a nearby tree branch and pull himself out to safety. What sucked the man below ground? Quicksand.

Quicksand isn’t as dangerous as in the movies. Quicksand is real, however, and it can be dangerous. What people do if they get stuck in quicksand makes all the difference.

What causes quicksand?Quicksand looks like sand. It is more like a thick, sandy soup. Have you ever been to the beach? You can stand and walk on dry sand. You can even stand and walk on wet sand near water. But sand can get loaded with too much water. When that happens, the sand becomes soupy. Soupy sand becomes quicksand.

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Real quicksand is watery like soup.

Quicksand can be found near water. It can be found near rivers, lakes, oceans, and marshes. Quicksand is always wet. Some movies show dry quicksand. This is not true. Scientists don’t think dry quicksand occurs naturally.

What to do if you get caught in quicksandIf you get stuck in quicksand, don’t panic. If you thrash your arms and legs around, you might get tired. You might tip over. Stay still so your head stays above the quicksand. Most quicksand is not deep. You should be able to stand with your head above the quicksand. You won’t sink all the way below if you stay still.

Not only stay still, but also stay calm. Spread your arms and legs out. Try to float on your back. Yes, you can float on quicksand! On your back you can float to solid ground. You can also try to swim until you get to solid ground.

Quicksand is an interesting natural phenomenon. Most people will not see quicksand in their lives. But if you do, now you know what to do.


Lexile 580L: The Heat Is On: Ways Heat Moves ◆ page 1

The Heat Is On: Ways Heat Moves

Hot In HereEver roasted marshmallows over a fire? Or accidentally touched a hot pan on the stove? Or felt a room warmed by a fireplace? These are all ways heat moves, or transfers. Heat transfers by radiation, conduction, and convection.

RadiationRadiation is one way heat moves. It’s the kind of heat you feel from the sun. It is the heat you feel warming your hands over a fire. Radiation is the heat you feel when you puff breath into your hands on a cold day.

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The sun’s heat is an example of radiation.

All objects radiate, or spread, heat energy. Hotter objects radiate more heat energy. Radiation is why you feel the sun’s rays. That’s why you feel the heat of a fire.

ConductionHeat energy also moves by conduction. Conduction happens when an object is heated. When an object gets hot, its tiny molecules change. The molecules get bigger and move around quickly.

Conduction happens if you use a metal spoon to stir boiling water. Hot water heats the spoon. Molecules in the spoon expand and move rapidly. The spoon gets hot. Sometimes the spoon gets too hot to touch.

Objects that get hot when they are close to heat are called conductors of heat. Many metal objects are good conductors of heat.

ConvectionConvection is the third way heat moves. Imagine you’re in a room with a lit fireplace. Imagine the fireplace is at the other end of the room. You might be too far away to feel the radiation from the fire.

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Fires heat a whole room through convection.


Lexile 580L: The Heat Is On: Ways Heat Moves ◆ page 2

However, as time passes, the room heats up. This is convection. The fireplace heats the air molecules nearby. Heated air molecules rise to the ceiling. As the warm air rises, the cooler air falls down toward the fireplace. The fire heats the cool air. Warm air moves back up. Air that was warm cools down again and falls back to the fireplace. The cycle continues with warm air rising and cool air falling. This cycle is convection.

Heat and Its Many UsesHeat is very useful. It keeps us warm. It helps us cook food. Heat can also be very dangerous. Knowing how heat energy works can help us stay healthy and safe.


Lexile 610L: Work Hard and Don’t Give Up: Story of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ◆ page 1

Work Hard and Don’t Give Up: Story of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

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Setting GoalsSonia was ten years old, and life was hard. Her father had just died. Her mother was working long hours as a nurse. Maybe Sonia wanted to fill the empty place in her heart. Maybe she just wanted a fun way to pass the time. Either way, Sonia turned on the television at night. A courtroom show played on the TV. The show was called Perry Mason. Perry Mason was a lawyer who could clear people who were wrongly accused of a crime. The TV show character could also get a criminal to admit to a crime.

Sonia was hooked. She knew at a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. “I was going to college, and I was going to become an attorney,” she said.

Sonia Sotomayor did more than that. Not only did she go to college and become a lawyer, she also became a United States Supreme Court Justice. A Supreme Court Justice is a judge for the highest, most important court in the country. Justice Sotomayor is also the third woman and the first person of Hispanic heritage to serve on the Supreme Court.

Early LifeSonia Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, New York City. Both of Sonia’s parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her father worked on machines. He died of heart problems when Sonia was young. Her mother strongly believed in a good education. Sonia’s mother purchased many books for her children. Sonia worked hard in school. Her attendance was almost perfect and she got top grades. She was valedictorian of both her middle school and her high school. Sonia earned a full scholarship to Princeton University, one of the best schools in the country.

Strong StudentAt first Sonia struggled at college. She felt out of place. She did not have many friends who



shared her background. There were not many professors who shared her background.

Sonia’s professors told her that she was brilliant. They also told her that her writing was not good. She did not give up. Instead, Sonia spent her summers in the library. She taught herself grammar and vocabulary. At the end of college, Sonia Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude, which is among the highest honors a student can achieve.

Sonia did not give up her dream of being a lawyer. After Princeton, she went to Yale Law School. Sonia was known for working hard at Yale.

Lawyer and JudgeAfter law school, Sonia reached her goal. She became a lawyer. For 12 years she worked as a lawyer. She became good at explaining confusing cases to juries. Then, after reaching her goal, Sonia exceeded it. She became a judge.

One of the Sonia’s biggest rulings came in 1995. The previous year, Major League Baseball players went on strike. Players stopped playing baseball. They did not like the way they were being treated by team owners. Judge Sotomayor ruled in favor of the baseball players. The strike ended. The ruling reminded her of childhood memories. “You can’t grow up in the South

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Justice Sotomayor hears cases at the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.



Bronx and not know anything about baseball,” she said. After the ruling, pro baseball games resumed.

Sonia Becomes a JusticeIn 2009, Sonia received the phone call of a lifetime. President Barack Obama was on the phone. He asked her if she would be a Justice of the Supreme Court. He asked because another Justice was retiring. He asked because he thought Sonia would be great for the job. She was nervous, but she said yes. “I had my [hand] over my chest, trying to calm my beating heart, literally,” she said. She was soon confirmed as a Justice.

On the Supreme Court, Sonia is known for standing up. She is known for speaking out. She is known for telling people what she believes in. Sonia is also known for growing new ideas.

Follow Your DreamsEver since she was ten, Sonia Sotomayor knew what she wanted to do as a grownup. She worked hard. She persevered. She achieved her dreams. She surpassed her dreams. She is Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice of the United States of America.


Lexile 480L: You Don’t Stop: The Birth of Hip Hop ◆ page 1

You Don’t Stop: The Birth of Hip Hop

Dance PartyClive Campbell parked his van near a basketball court in the South Bronx. He took out his gear. He took out turntables, speakers, and music records. Then he plugged it all into a light pole. People crowded around. Campbell turned the music on. He turned the music up. The thumping music could be heard for blocks. People danced. They danced to some of the first hip hop music.

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DJ Kool Herc and the Roots of Hip HopHip hop is a kind of music that started in New York City. African Americans and Latino Americans in the South Bronx started it. Many of these people had moved from the Caribbean to the United States.

Clive Campbell grew up in Jamaica until he was thirteen. Then he and his family moved to the U.S. Later, he became a DJ, a disc jockey. This means he played music records for people. People danced to the music. Campbell named himself DJ Kool Herc.

DJ Kool Herc brought Jamaican traditions to the music he played. In Jamaica, people would talk in rhyme over music. This is called toasting. At DJ Kool Herc’s parties, people would also rhyme over the music. Today we call this rapping.

Other DJs wanted to make music like him. They began to make their own hip hop songs. They sold their music. Soon, many DJs were selling hip hop records. DJ Kool Herc never sold his music.

Hip Hop TodayHip hop has changed in the past thirty years. It began as a way for some people to dance, to rhyme, and to have fun. Today, hip hop is a popular kind of music. You can hear it on the


Lexile 480L: You Don’t Stop: The Birth of Hip Hop ◆ page 2

radio. You can see it on television. You can see it on the internet.

What is next for hip hop? Will it change? Will it stay the same for a while? Stay tuned.

Glossary

DJ—a disc jockey; someone who plays music to which people dance.

tradition—ways of living that people hand down to each other over years of time.

turntable—a record player that spins an album to play it.

ancient egypt - springfield public schools · ancient egypt also had its own writing. the writing...

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