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 J: Garrett Morgan and the Traffic Signal
Kit the Bus-Riding Cat: A Traffic-Beating Adventure
A clever cat named Kit solves the problem of busy traffic in Ohio by riding on top of buses and becoming known as "The Bus-Riding Cat".
Talk about it 1. What was the problem Kit faced in Ohio? 2. How did Kit solve the problem of busy traffic? 3. How did the townspeople react to Kit’s solution? 4. Why did Kit become known as "The Bus-Riding Cat"?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Going to the Art Museum
The Artist Who Became a Computer Genius at the Museum Costume Party
An artist dressed as a computer helps fix all the computers at the museum during a costume party, becoming a computer genius.
Talk about it - What did the artist originally come to the museum for? - Why did no one understand what the artist's costume was about? - How did the artist become a computer genius? - Why was everyone amazed at the end of the story? - What can you learn from the story about being creative and resourceful?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Guess That President
From Mine to President
A boy, who dreamed of becoming the president of Russia, discovered a mine and with the help of the general in charge of the government mines, became a successful mining engineer and eventually rose to the presidency.
Talk about it -What did the boy want to be when he grew up? -What did the boy find while exploring the countryside? -What did the general do for the boy? -What did the boy become after college? -What did the boy become eventually?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Hannahs Townspeople
Bob the Builder: The Imagination Project
A worker named Bob builds an imaginative playground in one day for a small town, becoming their favorite.
Talk about it - What did Bob forget to bring to the town? - How did Bob build the playground? - What did the children of the town say about the playground? - What did the town council say about the playground? - How did Bob become the town's favorite worker?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: I Broke It
Benny the Bear Learns a Lesson
Benny the bear learns about the importance of accepting responsibility and being honest after playing a prank that leads to a messy outcome.
Talk about it 1. What did Benny do that got him in trouble? 2. Why did Benny try to blame someone else? 3. What was Benny's punishment for his actions? 4. How did Benny feel after accepting responsibility for his actions? 5. Why is it important to accept responsibility for your actions?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Ichiro Suzuki
Max's Magical Baseball Adventure
Max becomes the best baseball player in Japan with the help of a magical bat and never forgets the importance of practice.
Talk about it 1. What did Max wish for when he found the magical baseball bat? 2. How did Max become the best baseball player in Japan? 3. What did Max learn about the importance of practice? 4. What was the name of the legend Max became in the world of baseball? 5. What did people come from all over the world to watch Max do?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Im the Tall One
My's Tall Tale
My learns to stand proud and tall, despite being teased for slouching and pouting.
Talk about it 1. Why did My slouch and pout? 2. How did My's friends help him stand tall? 3. How did My feel about his height before and after the story? 4. What lesson did My learn from this experience?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Its Cinco de Mayo Carlos
The Brave Dancing Soldier: A Festival Battle Adventure
A brave soldier named Juan uses his love of dance and a special costume to defeat an enemy and become known as "The Brave Dancing Soldier" at festivals.
Talk about it 1. Why was Juan considered brave? 2. How did Juan's love of dance help him in the battle? 3. What did Juan's abuela do to help him before the festival? 4. How did the crowd react to Juan's bravery in the battle? 5. Why was Juan known as "The Brave Dancing Soldier"?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Lets Make Shapes1
Squary's Shapely Adventure
Squary, a square shape, goes on an adventure to find a place where all shapes can join together in peace and eventually finds acceptance among his new friends.
Talk about it 1. What was Squary looking for on his adventure? 2. How did Squary feel when he couldn't fit in with the other shapes? 3. How did the other shapes change to include Squary? 4. Why was Squary happy in the end? 5. What does this story teach us about friendship and acceptance?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Lets Make Shapes2
Tri's Shapely Adventure
Tri learns to appreciate being a triangle after trying to be another shape and realizing each shape has unique qualities.
Talk about it 1. What shape did Tri want to be at first? 2. What was the magical thing that changed Tri's shape? 3. How did Tri feel about being a square? 4. Why did Tri go back to being a triangle? 5. What did Tri learn from this experience?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Monkey and Crocodile
The Witty Picnic Adventure
Clever Fox Fuzzy uses his wits to escape danger, invite friends for a picnic, and help lost animals find their way home.
Talk about it 1. Why did Fuzzy invite his friends for a picnic? 2. How did Fuzzy help the lost animals? 3. What obstacles did Fuzzy and his friends face during their journey? 4. How did Fuzzy and his friends use their wits to escape danger? 5. What did Fuzzy and his friends learn about trust and friendship?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: My Uncle Is a Firefighter
Firefighters' Garage Adventure
A group of kids learn about the work of firefighters during a tour of their garage and gear, which leads to an exciting trip to put out a fire.
Talk about it 1. What did the kids get to see during the tour of the garage? 2. How did the firefighters react when the alarm rang? 3. What did the kids learn about the work of firefighters? 4. How did the kids feel about the firefighting experience? 5. Why was the tour of the garage important for the kids?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Number Twelve
Ruler's Shadow Measurement Adventure
Ruler uses his creativity and measuring skills to find a solution for measuring the width of the sundial's shadow during daylight.
Talk about it 1. What did Ruler love to measure? 2. How does the sundial tell time? 3. What happened when Ruler tried to measure the width of the sundial's shadow? 4. What did Ruler do to finally find a solution? 5. Why was Ruler known as the most creative ruler in the kingdom?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Ocean Animals
The Great Jungle Clean-Up: A Story of Unity and Protection
Reptiles and mammals in a jungle join forces to protect their endangered community and clean up the pollution.
Talk about it 1. Why did the reptiles escape from the zoo? 2. What challenges did the reptiles face in the jungle? 3. How did the reptiles and mammals help each other in the story? 4. What was the impact of the community's efforts to protect the endangered species? 5. What message does the story convey about unity and protection of the environment?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Safe Biking with Dad
The Nervous Bird's Adventure: A Lesson in Safety
A little bird learns the importance of wearing a helmet and signaling for help when feeling nervous.
Talk about it 1. What made the little bird nervous in the story? 2. How did the little bird protect himself from the storm? 3. What did the truck driver do to help the bird? 4. What did the little bird learn from his mother about how to signal for help? 5. Why is it important to wear a helmet when you're feeling nervous?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: Sharks
The Shark and the Balancing Skeleton Dinosaur
A shark learns about balance from a dinosaur skeleton and they become friends while swimming in the ocean.
Talk about it 1. What did the shark learn from the skeleton dinosaur? 2. Why was the skeleton still standing? 3. How did the shark feel about his attempts to balance? 4. How did the shark and skeleton become friends? 5. Can you think of other creatures that have bones and cartilage?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Cinnamon Bun Mystery
The Baker's Polka Dot Adventure
A baker who loves art and polka dots goes on an adventure and always includes polka dots in his artwork.
Talk about it 1. What did the baker like to paint on his baked goods? 2. Why did the baker follow a group of polka dotted scooters? 3. What did the baker see when he arrived at the destination? 4. How did the baker feel about the art exhibit with polka dots? 5. Why did the baker always include polka dots in his artwork from that day forward?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Creature Constitution
The Owl Mediator and the Tired Friends' Constitution
A group of tired friends agree on a set of rules for their kingdom with the help of a wise owl mediator.
Talk about it 1. What was the problem the friends were facing at the start of the story? 2. How did the owl help the friends solve their problem? 3. What do you think is the most important rule in the friends' constitution? 4. Why do you think it's important for people to follow rules? 5. Can you think of a time when you had to work through a disagreement with someone else? How did you solve the problem?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Disappearing Moon
The Moon's Adventure: A Story of Friendship and Growth
The Moon goes on an adventure to become bigger and shine brighter for its best friend, the Earth.
Talk about it -What did the Earth learn about the moon? -Why did the moon go on an adventure? -How did the Earth feel when the moon disappeared? -What happened when the moon came back?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Ship of Shapes
The Island That Became a Boat
Friends on an erupting island build a boat around themselves, accidentally creating their own living space.
Talk about it 1. What did the friends plan to do when they heard their island was going to erupt? 2. How did the friends feel when they realized the eruption had started? 3. What happened when the friends looked around after the eruption? 4. What did the friends do when they realized they were still on the island? 5. How did the story end?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Story of the Statue
The Adventure to Freedom Island
A group of kids go on an adventure to find a secret island where freedom reigns and learn about the balance between liberty and structure.
Talk about it - What did the kids learn about freedom from their adventure? - Why was the statue on Liberty Island significant? - What was the purpose of the tablet found on top of the statue? - How did the kids feel when they first arrived on the secret island? - Why did the kids decide to leave the secret island and go back home?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Thanksgiving the Jacks Built
Frank the Farmer Saves Thanksgiving
A farmer saves a family's Thanksgiving by providing them with fresh produce after the grocer ate all their food.
Talk about it - Why did the grocer eat all the food? - How did Frank help the family? - What did the family give thanks for at Thanksgiving? - Why is it important to share and be generous with others?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: The Thanksgiving the Other Jacks Built
The Great Turkey Escape
A family builds a cart to bring home a giant turkey for Thanksgiving, but it escapes and they have to chase it down before finally enjoying a delicious dinner.
Talk about it 1. Who built the cart to carry the turkey? 2. What did the grocer not have at his store? 3. Why did the family go to the farmer's farm? 4. How did they transport the turkey back to their house? 5. What happened to the turkey when they were on their way home?
Open reading -
Story RAZ Vocabulary J: What Pet Should You Get
The Adventures of Benny: A Bird's Journey to Decide
A bird named Benny escapes his cage and goes on a journey to find his own happiness, deciding for himself what is best for him.
Talk about it 1. What did Benny think about living in a cage before he started his journey? 2. What did Benny learn from the other birds during his journey? 3. What was the wise old owl's opinion on living in a cage? 4. What did Benny decide to do after talking to the wise old owl? 5. What lesson did Benny learn about making decisions for himself?
Open reading