Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Community Progress [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 7th
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Columbus and the Egg [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Animal Studies [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
"Animal Studies" is a one page, non-fiction, reading passage about studying the behaviors of animals including the sawfly and the poppy-bee. They learn about animals by observing them. It is followed by constructed-response questions...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

For Students 4th
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Einstein in Time

For Students 5th
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Searching for Survivors

For Students 7th
[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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Prairie Farmers [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
"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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Accidental Butterfly

For Students 4th
[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,...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Unlocking the Inner Engineer

For Students 4th
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Family Business

For Students 5th Standards
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: A Day at Angkor Wat

For Students 6th
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Readworks: Refueling

For Students 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a six-page PDF fiction passage entitled "Refueling" 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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Columbia

For Students 8th
[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...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: "America From Washington to Madison" by James Folta

For Students 9th - 10th
[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...
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Read Works

Read Works: Be Careful With Medicines

For Students K - 1st Standards
[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.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Mighty Semiconductor and the Rise of Silicon Valley

For Students 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This five-page PDF nonfiction passage "The Mighty Semiconductor and the Rise of Silicon Valley" discusses how semiconductors made computers possible. It is followed by 10 comprehension questions. A link...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: How the Firefly Got Its Light [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 4th
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Harold Washington's Speech [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: What Is Your Own Big Plan? [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"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...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gettysburg Address [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
"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...
Activity
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: A Great Digger a Fable [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th
"A Great Digger: A North American Fable" is a one-page fable about Benny the Badger who dug holes for all the other animals in the plains. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from...
Activity
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: City Mouse a Fable [Pdf]

For Students 5th - 7th
"City Mouse: A Fable" is a one- page fable about a city mouse and a country mouse. The city mouse visits the country mouse where food is limited. The country mouse visits the city where the food is great, but there is constant danger. It...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: A Proud Flight [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th
"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...

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