Narrative Nonfiction:

Finding Hope In a Time of War

The is the powerful story of Ukrainian teen Igor Klymenko, his escape from a war zone, and the drone he invented to detect landmines–and save lives.

Drama: Rogue Enchantments

�Graciela has opened her own shop in a magical market, but someone is trying to sabotage her. Can she find out who’s responsible and stop them before it’s too late?

Debate/Essay Kit: Should You Be Polite to Alexa?

Voice assistants like Alexa and Siri aren’t human. Does that mean it’s OK to be rude?

Paired Text:�Bicycles vs. Jet Packs

The history of the bicycle and the history of the jet pack have more in common than you might think!

Short Read: Curse of the �Hope Diamond

​

For centuries, people have said a terrible misfortune befalls the owners of this dazzling gem.

Fiction: First-Day Fly�

This short story by Jason Reynolds is the perfect choice for the start of the school year.

Grammar: The Power of Stink

In nature, bad smells are a great defense. Skill focus: subject-verb agreement

Root Power: The Night Storm�Students learn the root fort in a short graphic-novel style story.

Poem: List of Things That Will Set You Free�

This list poem byJoyce Sidman serves as a model for students to write their own.

NEW! Write Like a Pro: �Meet Jimmy Chin�

The story of adventure photographer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin is a mentor text on using colons.

Narrative Nonfiction:�Lost in Death Valley

An incredible story of courage and survival in one of the most dangerous places on Earth

Drama: Sleepy Hollow

Grab your pumpkins and your jack-o-lanterns for this delightful adaptation of the famous short story by Washington Irving.

Paired Texts:�Courage in the Fields

The amazing true story of Dolores Huerta and the grape strike that changed America

Debate/Scavenger Hunt: �Is It OK to Clone Pets?

One teen and his aunt debate whether to clone a sweet dog named Bean. Your students evaluate the strength of each argument.

Short Read:�The Great Ticket Disaster��Getting concert tickets has never been tougher! This short article explores the economics behind fans’ ticket problems.

Fiction In a Flash:�The Storm

Two best friends are drifting apart. Can a ferocious storm bring them back together again? The story is perfect for exploring conflict.

Grammar: �Megalodon vs. Great White

How a mighty prehistoric sea beast lost to the great white shark Commonly confused words: then, than

​

Root Power: �The Magical Teen Talent Show�

Learn the Latin root ambi and amphi this short graphic-novel style story about a supernatural talent show.

Write Like a Pro: How 3-D Printing Is Changing the World

A fascinating technology story becomes a mentor text in transition words and phrases.

Narrative Nonfiction:�Code Talkers��The incredible story of the Navajo Code Talkers and the top-secret code they invented during World War 2

Drama: Olympians Rising

This delightful play from Greek mythology tells the story of how the Olympians overthrew the Titans and explores big ideas about what true strength means

Debate/Essay Kit: �Should Schools Have Recess?

In many schools, jam-packed schedules mean recess takes a back seat. Is it time to bring recess back?

Paired Texts: What Is the Deadliest Creature?��This powerful story tells the history of the mosquito and the centuries-long fight against malaria. It’s paired with an infographic on why mosquitoes matter.

Short Read: �The History of Memes

This bite-sized article is perfect for practicing constructed response

​

Science Fiction: �Follow the Water�

Georgie should be thrilled: She’s living with her geologist parents on Mars, as part of an important science mission. But all she wants is to get back home to Earth.

​

Grammar: The Day of the Dead

Meet a sugar skull maker in this visually sumptuous story.

​

Root Power: �Lost in the Corn Maze

Explore the root grat in a short graphic-novel style story.

​

​

Narrative Nonfiction:�The Great Alaska Earthquake

A pulsing narrative about the 1964 earthquake and how it shaped our understanding of plate tectonics

Drama: Apollo 13

A terrible accident has put the astronauts on Apollo 13 in grave danger. Can NASA bring them back to Earth before it’s too late?

Debate/Scavenger Hunt:�Should We Take Artifacts from the Titanic?

Students consider the pros and cons of removing artifacts from the wreck of the Titanic.

Flash Fiction: �The Owl��This sweet short story is perfect for practicing inference.

Paired Texts: �The Incredible Pangolin Rescue��Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal on the planet. This is the powerful story of the conservations in Cambodia working to save them.

Short Read: �Secrets of the Ancient Gum

How a nearly 6,000-year-old piece of gum is unlocking is helping researchers understand how humans lived long ago.

Root Power: The Mysterious Manuscript

Learn words with the roots scribe and script in this delightful comic about siblings who discover a portal to another world

Grammar: What Happens When You Sneeze?

​

Turns out, a lot! Spotlight on: plurals and possessives

Poem: �My Apologies by Jennifer Dignan

​

Write Like a Pro: �Saving the Night Sky

​

Students read an interesting short passage about light pollution, while analyzing the author’s use of capitalization.