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 L: Oil A Messy Resource
The Brave Clean-Up Crew: Saving the Ocean from an Oil Spill
A group of volunteers work together to clean up an oil spill caused by a leak in the ocean, saving the water and wildlife while promoting resourceful use.
Talk about it 1. What is an oil spill and why is it harmful to the ocean and wildlife? 2. Why was the well in the ocean holding a valuable resource like oil? 3. What did the brave volunteers do to clean up the oil spill? 4. How could we better protect our resources and the environment in the future?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Owls Overhead
The Little Girl Who Conquered the Dragon
A little girl convinces a dragon to stop attacking her village through peaceful dialogue instead of violence.
Talk about it 1. Why did the dragon attack the village in the story? 2. How did the little girl stop the dragon from attacking? 3. Do you think violence is always the best solution to conflicts? 4. What would you have done if you were in the little girl's place? 5. Can you think of a time when you solved a problem without fighting?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Owls Overhead
The Mysterious Newcomer in the Forest
A new mysterious species appears in the forest and becomes an important part of the ecosystem, relying on and being relied upon by the other animals, except for its true identity remaining a mystery.
Talk about it 1. What did the other animals in the forest think of the new species when it first arrived? 2. Why did the predators and herbivores eventually come to rely on the new species? 3. Why was the true identity of the new species still a mystery at the end of the story? 4. What does the story teach us about how different species can live together and support each other in their habitat?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Plant Defenses
Spike the Cactus: A Journey of Protection and Friendship
Spike the Cactus learns to control its poisonous fluid and use its prickles for protection, becoming a true friend to those in the magical forest.
Talk about it 1. Why did Spike feel scared about its poisonous fluid? 2. How did the porcupine help Spike be less lonely? 3. What did Spike learn about itself and its prickles? 4. How did Spike's relationships with others change after learning to control its fluid? 5. What can we learn from Spike's journey?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Roadside Oddities
The Replica Museum: A Story of Bringing the World's Beauty Closer
A museum owner creates replicas of famous monuments and attractions to bring the world's beauty closer to everyone, inspiring a group of kids to help in their mission.
Talk about it - What inspired the museum owner to create replicas of famous monuments and attractions? - What was the mission of the museum? - Why did the kids visit the museum? - How did the kids feel about the replicas? - Why did the kids decide to help the museum owner create more replicas?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Sending Messages
The Universal Language Machine
A clever fox invents a machine that helps animals communicate using a universal language, bringing peace and understanding to their community.
Talk about it 1. Why was it difficult for the animals to communicate before the invention? 2. Who invented the machine in the story? 3. How did the animals use the machine to send messages? 4. What happened as a result of the invention? 5. Can you think of any real-life inventions that help people communicate better?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Shoes Around the World
Jack's World Tour: Discovering Different Cultures
A curious traveler named Jack explores the world and discovers unique cultures, customs, and traditions in Australia, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Holland, and Morocco.
Talk about it 1. Who is Jack and what does he want to do? 2. What are some of the countries Jack visited on his journey? 3. What did Jack learn about each culture he visited? 4. What were some of the traditional foods Jack tried during his travels? 5. What was Jack's favorite part of his adventure?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: The 100th Day Project
The Surprising Celebration: A Creative Project Adventure
A group of friends use their brainstorming skills and a grid to create a secret, creative project and are surprised with a celebration upon completion.
Talk about it - What was the group of friends' favorite activity? - What did they use to organize their ideas? - What made the friends surprised? - What was the secret project they worked on? - How did they feel when they saw the finished project? - What did they do to celebrate the completion of the project?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: The Igloo
Max and the Living Chip: A Rainbow Adventure
Max, a grizzly bear living in an igloo, finds a rainbow leading to a pile of chips, where he discovers a missing chip that comes to life and joins him on adventures.
Talk about it 1. Why was Max surprised when he saw the rainbow? 2. Who did Max meet at the end of the rainbow? 3. What did Max promise to the chip? 4. What kind of adventures did Max and the chip have together? 5. Why did Max live in an igloo?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: The Power of Magnets
The Magic of Magnetism: A Story of Lily and her Generator
A young girl named Lily learns about the power of electricity and magnetism through experimenting with a special generator capable of making magnetic fields invisible.
Talk about it 1. What did Lily discover about the relationship between electricity and magnetism? 2. How did Lily use her generator to change the force of magnetism? 3. Why did Lily choose to share her discovery with others through a game? 4. Can you explain what the current flowing through the generator meant for the magnets in the story? 5. What did Lily learn about the science of magnetism and electricity?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: The Tinosaur
The Secret Land of Extinct Creatures
A Triceratops discovers a secret land where extinct creatures like Brontosaurus and Brachiosaur are alive and lives happily ever after playing with them.
Talk about it 1. What did Triceratops do when he heard all the Brontosaurus and Brachiosaur were extinct? 2. Who showed Triceratops the secret land of extinct creatures? 3. What did Triceratops do in the secret land? 4. How did Triceratops feel when he saw the Brontosaurus and Brachiosaur alive? 5. What happened to Triceratops and the extinct creatures at the end of the story?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: The Vampire Dentist
Count Fangula's Flossing Adventure
Count Fangula, the vampire, learns the importance of flossing from his dentist and butler, and makes it a nightly habit to maintain healthy teeth.
Talk about it - Why did the dentist tell Count Fangula to floss more often? - What did Count Fangula's butler do to help him remember to floss? - How did Count Fangula feel about going to the dentist? - Why is it important to floss every day?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Two Thanksgivings
Sally the Explorer and the Cornucopia Celebration
An explorer named Sally learns about the importance of respecting tradition when joining a group of settlers for their annual harvest feast, which they celebrate by filling a cornucopia with their bounty.
Talk about it 1. Why did Sally say she had to try the apples before the feast? 2. Why was the settlers' community upset with Sally's actions? 3. How did Sally make up for her mistake? 4. What did Sally learn about traditions during her experience at the harvest feast?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Valentines Day
Title: "Cupid's Lost Bow and Arrow: A Tale of Kindness and Love
A lost bow and arrow leads to a kind encounter between Cupid and children, resulting in extra love being spread.
Talk about it 1. Why was Cupid searching for his bow and arrow? 2. How did the children feel when they met Cupid? 3. What did Cupid do to thank the children for their kindness? 4. How did the children feel after their encounter with Cupid? 5. What is the message of the story?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Valentines Day
Lily and the Grizzly Bear's Valentine Surprise
A little girl named Lily receives a valentine from a grizzly bear every February 14th as a surprise.
Talk about it 1. Who is Lily? 2. Why did the grizzly bear give her a suitcase? 3. What was inside the suitcase? 4. Why do you think the bear gave her a valentine? 5. What does the valentine say and why is it special to Lily?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Wonderful Winter
The Snowshoeing Adventure of the Wrinkled Lady
An old lady goes snowshoeing, finds a bundle of sticks, and rediscovers her youthfulness.
Talk about it 1. What did the old lady find while snowshoeing? 2. How did she feel after her adventure? 3. Why did she go snowshoeing in the first place? 4. Why was the old lady's smile big when she returned home? 5. Why did the old lady continue to go snowshoeing every winter?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Wonderful Winter
The Grumpy Neighbor's Snowshoe Adventure
A grumpy old man goes on a snowshoeing adventure and learns to appreciate the beauty of life.
Talk about it 1. Why was the grumpy old man feeling grumpy at the beginning of the story? 2. What did his neighbor suggest he wear to go snowshoeing? 3. How did the grumpy old man feel after going on the adventure? 4. What did the grumpy old man learn about life by the end of the story?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: Woods of Wonder
The Protectors of the Magical Forest
The animals work together to protect endangered old-growth trees in a magical forest and make the forest thrive again.
Talk about it 1. What are coniferous and deciduous trees? 2. Why were the old-growth trees in danger? 3. What did the animals do to protect the old-growth trees? 4. What does the word "endangered" mean? 5. How did the forest change over time?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary L: World Holidays
Celebrating Traditions: A Family's Holiday Adventure
A family celebrates various holidays and traditions, including Kinara, Dreidel, Chinese New Year, and Christmas, and learns the importance of passing them down to future generations.
Talk about it 1. What are some of the holidays and traditions mentioned in the story? 2. How does the family feel about these celebrations? 3. Why is it important to keep traditions alive for future generations? 4. Can you think of any other holidays or traditions that families might celebrate? 5. What lessons can we learn from the different traditions mentioned in the story?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary M: A Man of Vision
The Blind Prince and the Night Writing System
A blind prince learns to use the night writing system, overcoming obstacles with his love for sewing and determination.
Talk about it 1. What was the prince's love for sewing? 2. What did the prince hear about the night writing system? 3. What was the prince's biggest obstacle in learning the night writing system? 4. How did the prince overcome this obstacle? 5. Why did people love the prince's stories?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary M: A New Way of Speaking
The Success of Giving: Mark's Story of Relief
A kind boy named Mark finds success and happiness by bringing relief to others through acts of kindness.
Talk about it 1. What did Mark want to achieve in his life? 2. What did Mark do to bring relief and joy to others? 3. How did people respond to Mark's acts of kindness? 4. Why was Mark happy with his success? 5. What lesson did you learn from Mark's story?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary M: A New Way of Speaking
Mittens and the Windy Kite Adventure
A nervous cat learns the meaning of a confusing idiom through a windy kite adventure with a wise old owl.
Talk about it 1. What made Mittens feel nervous and confuse? 2. What did the wise old owl do to explain the idiom to Mittens? 3. What did Mittens learn about the idiom "to take control of the situation"? 4. How did Mittens feel after learning about the idiom? 5. Can you think of another idiom that you don't understand?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary M: A Prairie Dogs Life
The Prairie Colony: A Safe Haven for Mammals
A pioneer family helps protect a colony of mammals by providing them with a safe burrow on a prairie inhabited by predators.
Talk about it 1. Why did the pioneer family decide to build a burrow for the mammals on the prairie? 2. What was the coterie of mammals in the story? 3. How did the colony of mammals feel about the pioneer family? 4. Why was the burrow important for the safety of the mammals on the prairie?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary M: Aesops Fables
The Jealous King and the Humble Farmer: A Lesson in Contentment
A greedy king learns the value of humility and contentment from a happy but humble farmer.
Talk about it 1. What did the king want from the farmer? 2. Why was the farmer content with his life? 3. How did the king feel about the farmer's happiness? 4. What did the king learn from the farmer? 5. Do you think money and luxury bring happiness? Why or why not?
Open reading