CommonLit
Common Lit: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
A learning module that begins with the poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Confirming the Termination of Japanese Internment
A learning module that begins with the speech "Confirming the Termination of Japanese Internment" by President Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be...
CommonLit
Common Lit: I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
A learning module that begins with the poem "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Story of the Lazy Boy: A Kachari Folktale" Rev. Sidney Endle
In the early 1900s, Reverend Sidney Endle wrote about the Kachari people of India. He translated several of their spoken folktales, including this story about a boy who tries to plant seeds after everyone else has finished. A specific...
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Common Lit: "A Thief Dines Out, Hoping Later to Eat In" by Rick Bragg
In this "New York Times" article, Rick Bragg discusses why Gangaram Mahes prefers jail time to freedom. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and answers, an...
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Common Lit: "Memories of a Former Migrant Worker" by Felix Contreras
In this interview, Felix Contreras asks his father about his experiences as a former migrant worker. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and answers, an...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island" by Jessica Mc Birney
In 1835, a Native American woman was left on San Nicolas Island for 18 years by herself. Scott O'Dell's award-winning novel "Island of the Blue Dolphins" is based on her life. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are...
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Common Lit: Excerpt From "The Odyssey: The Sirens" by Homer
"The Odyssey" is an epic poem about a Greek hero named Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in Roman myths, and his 10-year journey home after the fall of Troy. In this excerpt, Ulysses encounters the Sirens while at sea. A specific purpose...
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Common Lit: "Manifest Destiny, I Do Believe" by Bird Brain History
In this letter, Cordelia writes to her friend about her plans to become a pioneer, a common ambition during the "Manifest Destiny" era of western settlement in the 19th century. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Anger as Inspiration" by Sami Awad
This is a transcript of an interview with Sami Awad as part of the Global Oneness Project, which aims to "inspire students to rethink their relationship to the world" A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "What Are Clouds?" by Nasa
This informational text explains the formation of different clouds and how they contribute to different types of weather on Earth. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts,...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Rush of Immigrants" by Us history.org
This informational text discusses the new immigration, from the beginning of the Gilded Age of economic growth in the 1870s to the anti-immigration policies put in place during the 1920s. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary...
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Common Lit: "The Many and the Few" by J. Patrick Lewis
In this poem, a speaker describes the effects of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus for a white passenger. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts,...
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Common Lit: "It's for You to Know That You Forgive", Says Holocaust Survivor
This is the story of Eva Mozes Kor, a Jewish American survivor of the Holocaust. Eva and her family were forcibly transported to Auschwitz, where she and her twin sister Miriam were subjected to the conditions of the concentration camps...
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Common Lit: "Columbus and the Egg" by Barbara Radner
This is a historical fiction story about Columbus, the explorer who came to the Americas from Spain in 1492. This is a story about what might have happened long ago when he was back in Spain. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary...
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Common Lit: "Soccer Speaks Many Languages" by Dianna Geers
This informational text, discusses Innocent Ndayizeye's love for playing soccer while living in a refugee camp and after he relocates to America. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Introduction to World War Ii" by Us history.org
This informational text gives a comprehensive summary of the causes, events, and conclusion of the World War II. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Home" by Gwendolyn Brooks
In this short story by Gwendolyn Brooks, a family contemplates losing their house. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and answers, an annotation tool, and...
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Common Lit: "Jabari Unmasked" by Nikki Grimes
This poem by Nikki Grimes uses the first stanza of Paul Laurence Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask," as a speaker describes why they conceal their identity. A specific purpose for reading and vocabulary notes are provided. This site offers...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Units: 7th Grade Thematic Unit: Heroes
Complete teaching unit for 7th Grade Thematic Unit: "Heroes." In this unit, 7th graders will read seven texts that explore why people act heroically. Throughout this unit, students will revisit the essential question: "Why do people act...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Thematic Unit: Growing Up
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Thematic Unit: "Growing Up." Students will read eight texts that speak to the theme of growing up. They will revisit the essential question: "What does it mean to grow up?," read thematically-paired...
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Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Thematic Unit: Outside Looking In
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Thematic Unit: "Outside Looking in." Students will read seven texts that speak to the theme of being an "outsider." They will revisit the essential question: "What makes someone an outsider?" Students...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Poetry Unit: Identity
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Poetry Unit: "Identity." Students will read 6 poems that speak to the theme of creating an identity. They will revisit the essential question: "How do we forge an identity?", read thematically-paired...
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Common Lit: Units: 5th Grade Author Study: Shel Silverstein
Complete teaching unit for 5th Grade Author Study: Shel Silverstein. Students will read 6 poems by Shel Silverstein that speak to the theme of how we should live our lives. Students will revisit the essential question "According to Shel...