Yahaaa · Reading
Stories for the classroom
Short narratives that put vocabulary into a scene a learner can follow. 7,459 on the shelf, each with a discussion question.
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Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Migrating Geese
Gander's Brave Journey
A goose named Gander bravely embarks on a journey to reunite with his injured mate and newly-hatched gosling while migrating with the flock.
Talk about it 1. What did Gander do when he noticed one of his mates was injured? 2. What was the gosling's situation at the beginning of the story? 3. What challenges did Gander face while trying to find the flock? 4. How did the flock react to Gander's bravery in the end? 5. Why do you think Gander was so determined to reunite with his mate and gosling?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: New Planet New School
The Tentacle Species and the Friendly Freaks
The Tentacle Species, living on Tentacle World, protect their planet and form a friendship with unexpected visitors in the galaxy.
Talk about it 1. What did the tentacle species first think of the strange creatures that approached their planet? 2. How did the wise elder suggest the tentacle species handle the visitors? 3. What was the outcome of the tentacle species' interaction with the visitors? 4. Can you think of a different way the story could have ended? 5. What does this story teach us about approaching new situations or people?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Playing it Safe
The Safe Bike Riders of the Community
A small community learns the importance of safety while riding bikes, wearing helmets and checking their bikes before riding.
Talk about it 1. Why was it important for the kids in the community to wear helmets while riding bikes? 2. What did Max do to help others understand the importance of safety while riding bikes? 3. How did the community change after Max's accident? 4. Why is it important to check your bike before riding? 5. Can you think of other ways to stay safe while doing activities you enjoy?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Police Officers
The Brave Patrol Leader
A brave student named Sarah leads a successful search mission to find lost classmates during a patrol in the academy's forest.
Talk about it 1. Who was the main character in the story? 2. Why did the teachers and classmates need help? 3. What challenges did Sarah and her friends face on their search mission? 4. How did they find the lost classmates? 5. What did Sarah become known as at the academy?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Police Officers
Brave Cadet Max: A Waterway Patrol Story
Cadet Max overcomes injury to enforce the law and protect the community during a waterway patrol.
Talk about it 1. What did Cadet Max learn during his training at the police academy? 2. Why was Cadet Max praised for his actions during a crime situation? 3. How did Cadet Max's injury affect him during his patrol duties? 4. What does it mean to enforce the law and protect the community's property?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Ratty Rats
The Brave Captain and the Missing Lifeboat
A brave captain sets out to find and rescue a missing lifeboat from pirates, becoming a hero of the sea.
Talk about it 1. Why do you think the captain decided to hoist the anchor and search for the lifeboat? 2. How do you think the people of the town felt when the captain returned with the lifeboat? 3. What do you think would have happened if the captain hadn't been brave enough to fight off the pirates? 4. Why do you think the captain became known as a hero of the sea? 5. Can you think of any other actions the captain could have taken instead of fighting off the pirates?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Sams Fourth of July
A Patriotic Celebration
The mayor organizes an Independence Day celebration with a parade, barbecue, and fireworks, making everyone feel patriotic.
Talk about it 1. What kind of celebration did the mayor plan for Independence Day? 2. What did the parade include? 3. What happened after the parade ended? 4. How did the town celebrate Independence Day? 5. What made the children cheer with delight?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Ships and Boats
The Brave Explorer Jack and His Treasure Hunt
A brave explorer named Jack uses both his engine and oars to sail and discover treasure with the help of a golden frame and a map.
Talk about it 1. What did Jack use to move his boat in the water? 2. What was inside the golden frame that Jack found? 3. What did the villagers think of Jack's discovery? 4. How did Jack become known as the greatest explorer? 5. Why did Jack use both his engine and his oars in his treasure hunt?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Simple Machines
Lily and her Simple & Compound Machines
A girl named Lily builds a hinged lever and a compound machine using gears, pulleys, and levers, becoming known as the machine-building mastermind among her friends.
Talk about it - What is a simple machine? - What did Lily use to build her simple machine? - What is a compound machine? - How did Lily turn her simple machine into a compound machine? - What was the result of Lily's machine-building efforts?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Slithery and Slimy
The Jungle's Backbone: A Tale of Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians work together to clean up their polluted jungle and protect endangered species, learning the importance of standing up for what is right.
Talk about it 1. Why did the reptiles and amphibians' scales become dull? 2. How did they work together to clean up their home? 3. What did they learn about protecting endangered species? 4. Why was it important for the reptiles and amphibians to have a backbone? 5. What can you do to protect the environment and animals in your own community?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Soccer is a Kick
Ava, the Soccer Protector
A young soccer player named Ava uses her cleats to protect the field and ensure fair play, becoming known as the "Soccer Protector".
Talk about it - What was Ava's goal as a soccer player? - How did Ava use her cleats to protect the field? - Why was Ava known as the "Soccer Protector" by the end of the story? - What is the importance of playing fair in sports? - Why did Ava take action when she saw players committing fouls on the field?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Soggy Stepsisters
Stepdad's Suggestions: A Safe Adventure on the Sea
A little girl learns the importance of listening to her stepdad's suggestions and wearing a life jacket on a boat trip adventure.
Talk about it 1. What did Lily and her stepdad do on their boat trip? 2. Why was it important to wear a life jacket? 3. What happened when they were on the water? 4. How did Lily's stepdad help them get back safely? 5. Why is it important to listen to suggestions from someone you trust?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Strange Plants
The Critters' Adventure in the Moist Soil
A colony of critters learns to live in harmony and share resources by chasing away a parasite taking all their moisture and food.
Talk about it -What did the critters do when they discovered the parasite in their colony? -How did the critters learn to live in harmony and share resources? -Why was it important for the critters to imagine a better world? -What lesson did the critters learn in the end?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Summer Olympics Events
The Underwater Race: Dash vs the Diver
The Underwater Race: Dash vs the Diver is a story about a close race between Dash, the fastest fish in the ocean, and a new diver who becomes his friend after winning the race by a narrow margin.
Talk about it 1. Who won the underwater race in the story? 2. How did Dash feel about losing the race? 3. What happened between Dash and the diver after the race? 4. Why was the diver determined to win the race? 5. What did Dash learn from the race?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Summer Olympics Events
The Leap to Olympic Glory
A young gymnast named Jack competes in the Olympics and wins the marathon, becoming an Olympic champion and inspiring other young athletes.
Talk about it 1. What was Jack's dream? 2. What did Jack do to prepare for the Olympics? 3. What was the most challenging part of the marathon for Jack? 4. How did Jack feel when he won the gold medal? 5. Why is Jack an inspiration to other young athletes?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: The Mind Game
Max the Mouse and His Computer Adventure
A mouse named Max goes on an adventure to fix his computer, learning the importance of taking care of technology.
Talk about it 1. What did Max do when the computer wasn't working? 2. Who helped Max fix his computer? 3. How did Max feel when he was able to use the computer again? 4. What did Max learn from this experience? 5. Why is it important to take care of our technology?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: The Squires Bride
Bay the Brave: A Tale of Courage and Friendship.
A horse named Bay helps repay her owner's debt and brings happiness to the town.
Talk about it 1. Why did the squire have to sell Bay? 2. How did Bay feel about her owner's debt? 3. What did Bay do to help repay the debt? 4. Who fell in love and got married in the end? 5. Why was Bay known as the pride of the town?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: What Lives in This Hole
Max the Naked Mole Rat Digger
A young naked mole rat named Max discovers his talent for digging with his webbed feet and strong claws, becoming a legend in the colony and inspiring other mole rats to follow in his footsteps.
Talk about it - Who is the main character in the story? - What animal is Max? - What did Max discover while exploring the forest? - How did Max become known throughout the colony? - What is the purpose of Max's blog? - How did Max feel when he first dug his own tunnel? - What inspired other mole rats to dig their own tunnels?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Where We Get Energy
The Clean Energy Town
A small town switches from coal to clean energy sources such as natural gas and solar panels, improving the environment and saving money.
Talk about it 1. Why did the town change from using coal to clean energy sources? 2. What was the impact of the change on the town and its people? 3. How can you help your community reduce its carbon footprint? 4. Can you think of other ways to use renewable energy in your daily life?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary K: Where We Get Energy
The King and Queen's Clean Energy Adventure
The king and queen work to provide their kingdom with clean energy through the use of a dam, power plant, gasoline generator, and eventually solar cells.
Talk about it - Why did the king and queen want to find a cleaner way to produce energy? - What is a solar cell and how does it work? - Why was the kingdom's use of solar cells better for the environment than using gasoline to generate electricity? - What can you do in your own life to reduce pollution and use clean energy sources?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: A Heros Name
The Legend of Saint: A Famous and Heroic Tale
A young boy becomes inspired by a famous and heroic person known as "Saint" to do good deeds and help others, earning him the nickname "Mini-Saint".
Talk about it 1. Why did the young boy want to become a hero like Saint? 2. What did Saint tell the boy about how he became famous and heroic? 3. What was the secret sign that Saint used to show he was on a mission to do good? 4. How did the boy's actions inspire others in the town?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Anna and the Painted Eggs
The Lost Hatchling
In a Ukrainian village, the community joins together to find a lost baby bird during an annual fair filled with music boxes, pysanky eggs, and other festivities.
Talk about it 1. What was the fair in the village about? 2. What was special about the music boxes at the fair? 3. What is a pysanky egg? 4. How did the villagers help find the lost baby bird? 5. What made the fair even better after the baby bird was found?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: At Jacobs House
A Journey of Faith: The Friendship of Jacob and Michael
A young Jewish boy and a Roman Catholic boy form a friendship and learn about each other's faith, customs and beliefs.
Talk about it 1. Why was Jacob proud of his religion and culture? 2. What did Jacob's grandfather give him? 3. What is the purpose of lighting candles on Friday nights? 4. What is the Shema prayer about? 5. What is the Torah? 6. How did Jacob and Michael become friends? 7. Why did they both have strong faith and love for their God?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Big Machines
The Flatbed Truck and the Excavator's Adventure
A flatbed truck and an excavator work together to unload containers from a ship and become friends in the process.
Talk about it 1. Who are the two main characters in the story? 2. What did Freddie the flatbed truck see at the port that made him curious? 3. How did Freddie and the excavator help each other in the story? 4. Who praised Freddie and the excavator's hard work? 5. What happened as a result of Freddie and the excavator working together?
Open reading