Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Columbus and the Egg [Pdf]
"Columbus and the Egg" is a one page, historical fictional passage about Christopher Columbus's return to Spain after discovering America. Some people said anyone could sail the seas. Columbus used an egg to make a point. It is followed...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]
"George Washington Carver" is a one page, biographical passage about George Washington Carver, an African American professor who taught farmers and students better methods for farming, including planting peanuts to improve the soil. It...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]
"George Washington Carver" is a one page, biographical passage about George Washington Carver, a famous African American, who taught farmers better farming methods including planting peanuts to improve the soil. It is followed by an...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Community Progress [Pdf]
"Community Progress" is a one page, realistic fiction passage about how students created a mural for their school, which generated lots of attention from the press, parents, and other schools. It is followed by constructed-response...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Read to Learn About City Systems [Pdf]
"Read to Learn about City Systems" is a one page, nonfiction passage about government systems and workers that keep people safe including police officers, food inspectors, and water and sewer system workers. It is followed by an...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Read to Learn About Elections [Pdf]
"Read to Learn about Elections" is a one page, nonfiction passage about government systems and workers that keep people safe including police officers, food inspectors, and water and sewer workers. It is followed by an open-ended...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Prairie Farmers [Pdf]
"Prairie Farmers" is a one page, historical fiction, journal describing life for farmers in the prairie throughout the year. It shows the difficulties including bad weather and fires. It requires students to closely read the journal and...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: How the Firefly Got Its Light [Pdf]
"How the Firefly Got Its Light" is a one page, myth about the fly who wanted to be special; he made a deal with the moon to be his friend and, in return, the moon shared the secret of shining. It is followed by constructed-response...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Harold Washington's Speech [Pdf]
"Harold Washington's Acceptance Speech" is a one page, excerpt from a speech given by Harold Washington after being elected as mayor of Chicago on April 12, 1983. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: What Is Your Own Big Plan? [Pdf]
"What is Your Own Big Plan?" contains excerpts from a speech by President Barack Obama, Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2009, concerning the need for a good education regardless of vocational plans. It is followed by a writing...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gettysburg Address [Pdf]
"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln is one page, non-fiction speech given at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1963. It is followed by an assignment asking students to...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: A Proud Flight [Pdf]
"A Proud Flight" is a one page, Greek myth about Icarus and Daedelus. The father and son were imprisoned, and in order to escape, Daedelus made wings using bird feathers covered with wax. He warned Icarus not to get too near the sun or...
Read Works
Read Works: Meet the Ologist Chuck Spencer
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks reading from the American Museum of Natural Anthropology's website called OLogy provides an interview with the archaeologist named Chuck Spencer. A paired passage entitled "Up Close with...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Artifacts and Fiction: Workshop in American Literature
This workshop, which is divided into eight segments, teaches how to use primary source artifacts from a variety of genres to support the teaching and learning of specific pieces of literature. The genres include visual arts, political...
Read Works
Read Works: Take Me Out to the Ballgame
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a five-page PDF fiction passage entitled "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" followed by a 10 comprehension questions. It also provides a StepRead passage, a shorter version of the story. Click on the...
Read Works
Read Works: Einstein in Time
[Free Registration/Login Required] This four-page PDF nonfiction passage entitled "Einstein in Time" features a timeline of Einstein's life. It is part of Paired Texts: "Everyday Einstein - Lasers" and "It's All Relative" (See link above...
Read Works
Read Works: Searching for Survivors
[Free Registration/Login Required] This five-page PDF fiction passage "Searching for Survivors" followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link to the answer key is provided. This passage is part 3 of the "Run" series; part 2 is entitled...
Read Works
Read Works: Unlocking the Inner Engineer
[Free Registration/Login Required] This five-page PDF is a fiction passage entitled "Unlocking the Inner Engineer" followed by 10 reading comprehension questions. A link to an answer key is provided. Click the double arrows on the top...
Read Works
Read Works: Be Careful With Medicines
[Free Registration/Login Required] This reading comprehension passage focuses on children learning to be safe with medicine and vocabulary words. It is followed by questions about the passage that include picture cues.
Read Works
Read Works: Accidental Butterfly
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is six-page PDF fiction passage entitled "Accidental Butterfly" followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link to answers for the questions if also provided. Click on double arrows to download,...
Read Works
Read Works: The Family Business
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a five-page PDF fiction passage entitled "The Family Business" followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link to the answer sheet is provided. Click on the double arrows at top right to...
Read Works
Read Works: A Day at Angkor Wat
[Free Registration/Login Required] This five-page PDF fiction passage "A Day at Angkor Wat" followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link to the answer key is provided. Click on double arrows on top right to download, print, or view...
Read Works
Read Works: The Columbia
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a seven-page PDF fiction passage "The Columbia" followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link to the answer key is provided. Click on double arrows on top right to download, print, or view...
Read Works
Read Works: "America From Washington to Madison" by James Folta
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a seven-page PDF nonfiction passage entitled "America from Washington to Madison" by James Folta which focuses on Americas first four Presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. It is...