Compare and Contrast

Comparing and contrasting activities practice analyzing how objects, ideas, or texts are alike and/or different. For example, comparing and contrasting an event in a biography of a person versus those in the person’s autobiography helps to understand how a person personally views the event as opposed to how that person is viewed by the outside world as an actor in the event.

Machines Like Us

Robots-machines capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically- have gone from a science fiction concept to a part of everyday life. These machines show up everywhere from children’s toys to exploration vehicles on Mars. Robots are important in many fields, including the manufacturing, automotive, and medical industries. …

The First of the Three Spirits

A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a successful but tight-fisted English businessman who hates Christmas. Scrooge has been told by the ghost of his dead business partner that three spirits will visit him. These spirits are the last chance Scrooge has to avoid the fate of his…

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Part Two

At the time I establish’d myself in Pennsylvania, there was not a good bookseller’s shop in any of the colonies to the southward of Boston. In New York and Philad’a the printers were indeed stationers; they sold only paper, etc., almanacs, ballads, and a few common school-books. Those 78 who…

Sophie the Little Hero

Sophie did not like being the baby of the family. All of her four brothers and sisters were big and she was little. When she wanted to wear her sister Ella’s red dress, Ella said, “No! You are too little!” When she wanted to ride Madison’s horse, Madison said, “No!…

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, written in 1789, is the core document of the French Revolution, establishing the values and principles of the French democracy. It was influenced by the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. In fact, key…

Farmer Hicks and His Two Horses

Farmer Hicks had two horses. One was named Surly and the other Softly. Every day the farmer would feed the horses. Every day he’d brush the horses. And every day the farmer would exercise the horses. Surly was strong. But, he didn’t like being brushed. He didn’t’ like getting exercise…

The Video Game

Bryan loved to play video games. Every day after school, he walked home quickly and did his chores right away. He ate his snack while he finished his homework to save time. As soon as he was finished with his school assignments, Bryan was free to play video games until supper time. …

How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow

J. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the story of a young Kansas girl Dorothy. A cyclone picked up the house she was living in and lifted it to the magical world of Oz. The house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East and killed the witch.…

The Lullaby

For six years, Sebastian slept in his own room at the top of the stairs. It was a big room with slanted ceilings. The whole room was painted a cheerful shade of yellow, and it was a wonderful place to play, read and snuggle into blankets on a winter night.…

Molly and Buster

Molly was a fluffy grey cat. She liked to lap up sweet cream for breakfast. When Molly was ready to rest, she would curl up on Mrs. Marks’ lap. Sometimes this made Mrs. Marks say “tsk tsk” when Molly got tangled in her knitting. Molly was very happy. While Mrs.…