Yahaaa · Reading
Poems for the classroom
Short poems for reading aloud, noticing rhythm, and talking about meaning. 2,055 on the shelf, each with a discussion question.
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Poem RAZ Vocabulary L: Two Thanksgivings
Harvest Celebration in the Land of Settlers
A curious explorer discovers a land of settlers and learns about their harvest celebration tradition, experiencing a cornucopia of abundance and leaving with a newfound appreciation for the joys of life.
Talk about it 1. What did the explorer discover when he came to the land of settlers? 2. How did the settlers celebrate their harvest? 3. What did the explorer learn from the settlers? 4. What did the explorer promise to do before he left the town? 5. What do you think the cornucopia represents in the story?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary L: Valentines Day
Adventure Awaits: A Valentine's Surprise
In "Adventure Awaits: A Valentine's Surprise," a group of children embark on a thrilling outdoor adventure, encountering surprises and making memories along the way.
Talk about it 1. What did the children pack in their suitcase for their adventure? 2. What animals did the children hope to see while on their outdoor adventure? 3. What was the Valentine's surprise that the children found in the morning? 4. How did the children react to the surprise? 5. What was the most exciting part of the adventure for you?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary L: Wonderful Winter
Star's Terrific Adventure with Neighbor's Suggestion
A little kid named Star goes on a wonderful adventure with the help of their wise neighbor's suggestion to fix their uncomfortable galoshes.
Talk about it Here are a few questions to ask kids to think about the story: 1. What was the problem that Star had with their galoshes, and how did they feel about it? 2. Who suggested a solution to Star's problem, and what was the solution? 3. How did Star feel after they put on the new boots, and what did they do next? 4. What did Star learn from their adventure, and how might they use this knowledge in the future? 5. Have you ever had a problem that you didn't know how to solve, and did someone suggest a solution that helped you?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary L: World Holidays
The Magic Garden Adventure
Two siblings discover a magical garden and embark on a wondrous adventure to find the key to unlock its secrets.
Talk about it 1. What did the siblings find in the garden that was magical? 2. What did they have to do to find the key to unlock the garden's secrets? 3. What kind of adventures did the siblings have while exploring the garden? 4. What did the siblings learn about themselves on their adventure? 5. What was your favorite part of the story and why?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: A Man of Vision
The Blind Mole's Touch and Talent
The Blind Mole's Touch and Talent" is a heartwarming tale about a determined mole who overcomes obstacles and learns to express her creativity using her touch and tools.
Talk about it 1. What challenges did the blind mole face in the story, and how did she overcome them? 2. What special tools did the mole use to help her see and create? 3. How did the mole's touch system help her navigate the world around her? 4. What did the mole learn to do with the awl, and how did this skill help her? 5. How did the mole's determination and creativity make her special, despite her blindness? 6. What lessons can we learn from the mole's story about overcoming obstacles and pursuing our passions? 7. What would you do if you faced a similar obstacle to the one the mole faced in the story? 8. How can we use our own unique talents and abilities to make a positive impact on the world, like the mole did in the story?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: A New Way of Speaking
The Magic of Idioms: Learning to Control Words
A group of young kids overcome their confusion and nervousness around idioms with the help of a friend's explanation, discovering the magic and power of language in the process.
Talk about it 1. What is an idiom and how can it help us express ourselves in unique ways? 2. Have you ever felt confused or nervous when you heard someone use an idiom you didn't understand? 3. How did the kids in the story overcome their confusion and nervousness around idioms? 4. Can you think of any idioms that you know and what they might mean? 5. Why do you think it's important to learn about idioms and other forms of figurative language?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Aesops Fables
Lost in the Forest: A Tale of Perseverance and Friendship
Two friends become lost in a forest and must work together to overcome their fears, find their way back, and strengthen their bond.
Talk about it 1. How do you think the two friends felt when they first realized they were lost? 2. What did the friends do to try to find their way back home? 3. How did the friends help each other overcome their fears and keep going when things got tough? 4. What did the friends learn about themselves and each other through their experience in the forest? 5. Do you think their friendship grew stronger or weaker because of their adventure? Why?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Art Around Us
Exploring the World of Art: A Journey of Creativity and Wonder
This paragraph is about the excitement and wonder of exploring different forms of art, such as pottery, soft sculptures, weaving, murals, and installations, and the endless possibilities for creativity and discovery.
Talk about it 1. What are some examples of ceramic objects that we might see at a pottery store? 2. How would you describe the texture of a soft sculpture? 3. What tools does a weaver use to make things on a loom? 4. What are some colors and shapes that might be included in a mural on a wall? 5. What is an installation, and how is it different from a sculpture or a painting?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Arthurs Bad News Day
Words Come Out to Play
The story is about a group of words that come together to create tales full of wonder and fun for young kids.
Talk about it 1. What were some of the words that came out to play in the story? 2. How did the words make you feel? 3. What do you think the word "yuck" means? 4. Can you think of some things that are "gigantic"? 5. Why do you think words are important?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Brad Needs a Budget
The Magic Paintbrush
The Magic Paintbrush" is a tale of a poor boy who is given a paintbrush that brings his paintings to life, but he must learn to use it wisely to help those in need.
Talk about it 1. How did the magic paintbrush work? 2. What did the boy paint with the magic paintbrush? 3. What did the boy learn about using the paintbrush? 4. How did the boy help the people in his village? 5. Do you think the boy used the paintbrush wisely? Why or why not? 6. If you had a magic paintbrush, what would you paint? 7. What would you do if you could bring your paintings to life? 8. What do you think the boy's life was like before he received the magic paintbrush? 9. How do you think the boy's life changed after he received the magic paintbrush? 10. What lesson did the boy learn from his experiences with the magic paintbrush?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Dogs at Work
The Adventures of the Helpful Hounds
The Adventures of the Helpful Hounds" is a heartwarming tale about a group of dogs who assist and protect their human friends in various situations.
Talk about it 1. What are some ways the dogs helped their human friends in the story? 2. Which dog in the story would you want as your pet, and why? 3. Have you ever had a scary experience where an assistance or guard dog could have helped you? 4. What does the story teach us about the importance of having helpers and protectors in our lives? 5. How would the story be different if the dogs weren't there to help the humans?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Endangered Birds
The Last Tree in the City
As the last tree in the city is scheduled to be cut down for development, a young girl rallies her community to save it and preserve the natural beauty of their urban environment.
Talk about it 1. How did the young girl feel about the last tree in the city being cut down? 2. Why do you think the developers wanted to cut down the tree? 3. How did the young girl rally her community to save the tree? 4. What are some of the benefits of having trees in an urban environment? 5. What can we do to protect the natural beauty of our cities and towns?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Firefighters
The Skyscraper and the Brave Firefighters
This story is about how a fire-retardant skyscraper is kept safe by vigilant firefighters who inspect and prevent fires from spreading using their fire extinguishers.
Talk about it 1. What are some of the dangers of living or working in a skyscraper? 2. What materials were used to make the building fire-retardant? 3. Why is it important to prevent fires from spreading in a building? 4. How do firefighters keep people safe in a high-rise building? 5. Have you ever seen a fire extinguisher before? Do you know how to use one?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Frogs and Toads
Predator Identification and Coexistence: Understanding the Hunting Habits and Habitats of Predators.
The paragraph describes how a trusty field guide can help identify and understand predators' hunting habits and habitats, allowing for coexistence and appreciation of their role in the ecosystem.
Talk about it 1. What is a predator and how do they hunt for their prey? 2. Why is it important to be able to identify different types of predators and their prey? 3. What are some examples of different types of predators and the habitats they prefer? 4. How can we coexist with predators and appreciate their role in the ecosystem?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Hermit Crabs
The Tidal Pool Adventure
A group of creatures with unique features, such as exoskeletons and antennae, embark on a daily adventure in a tidal pool, filled with scavengers, nocturnal creatures, and growing larvae.
Talk about it 1. What are some of the creatures you met in the tidal pool? 2. How do their exoskeletons help them survive in their environment? 3. Why do some creatures in the tidal pool come out at night? 4. What do the larvae in the tidal pool do as they grow bigger? 5. Why are scavengers important in the tidal pool ecosystem? 6. Would you like to visit a tidal pool and see all of these creatures in real life? Why or why not?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Hibernation
The Survival of the Forest
The Survival of the Forest" is a cautionary tale about the challenges and strategies of forest creatures as they contend with predators, migration, and scarcity in their struggle to survive.
Talk about it Here are some questions to ask kids to think about "The Survival of the Forest": 1. What are some of the challenges that forest creatures face in the story? 2. How do different animals adapt to the challenges of survival in the forest? 3. Why do some animals migrate, while others go into torpor or hibernate? 4. What are some things that humans can do to help protect and preserve the habitats of forest creatures? 5. What can we learn from the way that animals in the story face challenges and work together to survive?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: History of the Bicycle
Lost in the Woods
Lost in the Woods" is a tale of two friends who get separated during a hike and must rely on their individual skills and ingenuity to find their way back to each other and safety.
Talk about it 1. What would you do if you were lost in the woods like the characters in the story? 2. What are some important things to remember when hiking or camping to prevent getting lost? 3. How did the characters in the story use their individual skills to help each other? 4. Why is it important to remain calm in a scary or uncertain situation? 5. What did you think of the ending of the story, and how do you think the characters felt when they were reunited?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: How Much Is a Trillion
The Significance of Numbers: From the Vast Universe to Our Daily Lives".
The paragraph discusses the vastness of the universe and the significance of different numbers in our lives, from small numbers like counting to ten to larger numbers like a billion stars.
Talk about it 1. What are some examples of really big numbers mentioned in the paragraph? 2. How can counting to ten help us not be late? 3. Why is it important to be exact in certain situations, according to the paragraph?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: How to Make Lemonade
The Impatient Chef: A Recipe for Creativity
A young, impatient chef channels their restlessness into a creative baking project, using a measuring cup and container on the countertop to create a delicious masterpiece.
Talk about it 1. What did the impatient chef use to measure out their ingredients? 2. How did the chef's impatience change as they started to create their masterpiece? 3. What do you think the chef's creation tasted like? 4. Can you think of a time when you felt impatient, and what did you do to channel that energy in a positive way? 5. What other things could you create using a measuring cup and container on a countertop?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Ichiro Suzuki
The Rise of a Baseball Star
A young baseball rookie in Japan works tirelessly to improve his skills and becomes a record-breaking all-star leading his team to championship victory.
Talk about it 1. What did the baseball star do to become so successful? 2. How did the other players and fans in Japan feel about the star's accomplishments? 3. Have you ever had to work hard to become good at something? How did it feel when you finally achieved success? 4. Do you think it's important to have a single-minded focus when pursuing a goal? Why or why not? 5. What would you do if you were in the baseball star's shoes?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Inside Your Body
The Marvels of the Human Body
The paragraph describes the various organs and systems in our body, their functions and how they work together to keep our body healthy, and emphasizes the importance of taking care of our body.
Talk about it 1. What are some of the organs mentioned in the paragraph and what do they do to keep our bodies healthy? 2. What is digestion, and which organs in the body are responsible for it? 3. How does the nervous system help us feel and ensure our body is always real? 4. Why is it important to take care of our bodies and give them the best?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Inside Your Body2
Journey of the Lost Key
Journey of the Lost Key" is a heartwarming tale about a little girl's quest to find her lost key and the unexpected friendships she forms along the way.
Talk about it 1. Why was finding the key so important to the little girl? 2. How did the little girl's journey change her perception of the world around her? 3. Why do you think the lost key brought so many different people together? 4. What did the different characters in the story learn from each other? 5. What do you think the little girl learned about herself during her journey to find the key?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Jacks Tale
The Magic Beanstalk Adventure
A young lad climbs a beanstalk to explore a world of magic and might, and with his bravery, he makes it back to the market just in time before the beanstalk topples.
Talk about it 1. What did the young lad use to climb the beanstalk, and how did he reach the top? 2. What kind of enchanted creatures did the lad meet when he reached the top of the beanstalk? 3. How did the lad feel when he realized that the beanstalk was starting to topple and sway? 4. Why do you think the lad wanted to climb the beanstalk in the first place? 5. What lesson can we learn from the lad's adventure, and how can we apply it to our own lives?
Open reading -
Poem RAZ Vocabulary M: Keb Needs a Home
The Spectacular Advantage
A young boy learns the importance of appreciating and making the most of what he has, with the help of a friend's wisdom.
Talk about it Here are some questions to ask kids to think about the story: 1. What did the young boy see that was so spectacular, and how did it make him feel? 2. How did the young boy's friend explain the importance of using what you have to your advantage? 3. Why is it important to appreciate the beauty in things both big and small? 4. How did the young boy's perspective change after learning his friend's wisdom? 5. Can you think of a time when you made the most of what you had and it turned out to be an advantage?
Open reading