Ignite a love of reading that connects schools, families, and communities.Lighting Literacy Fires is a practical, step-by-step guide for educators, administrators, and community leaders who want to strengthen family literacy through the proven All District Reads program.With clear explanations, inspiring stories, and powerful data, this resource demonstrates how a simple, district-wide read-aloud initiative can spark meaningful connections. From cl...

In 1918 the world was celebrating the end of World War I. But another enemy was just beginning its worldwide attack, infecting nearly one in five people. Explore the causes and effects of a flu pandemic that killed more than 40 million people. Perfect for Common Core studies on analyzing the chronology of an event.

In the spring of 1846, the Donner and Reed families joined a wagon train bound for California in hopes of a better life. But when the party took an untested shortcut, it set them down a tragic path. As they crossed the Sierra Nevada, heavy snow fell in the mountain pass. They were trapped. Supplies were already low, and now they faced a winter of starvation. Told through the gripping, full-color graphic novel format, this Deadly Expeditions tale transports readers back in time to follow th...

With the Declaration of Independence, the 13 colonies in America declared their independence from Great Britain. Virginian Thomas Jefferson, later the third president of the United States, was chosen to write it. But did he write every word? Did anyone help him? What are the differences between his first draft and the document signed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776? Readers will discover the answers to these questions and find out more about the desk Jefferson designed and at w...

In 1910, Sir Robert Falcon Scott led a team of Englishmen racing to be the first people to reach the South Pole. Amidst frigid temperatures and raging winds, Scott and four others made it to the pole only to find that another team had gotten there first. Low on morale and facing ever-plunging temperatures, the trek home would prove a harrowing task. Find out if Scott and his men ever made it back home from their frigid adventure.

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 nearly doubled the size of the United States. The U.S. suddenly went from consisting of 17 states along the Atlantic coast to claiming land as far west as present-day Montana. The U.S. government knew little about the terrain there. Was there a water route to the Pacific? President Thomas Jefferson sent William Clark and Meriwether Lewis to find out. With nothing to guide them but a compass, what would Lewis and Clark discover? Readers will find the answer to...

After pushing back the flight several times, the Challenger Space Shuttle was ready to launch. On January 28, 1986, the shuttle lifted off. Just 73 seconds into the flight, tragedy struck. Without warning, the Challenger exploded in front of stunned spectators, killing everyone on board. Readers will learn what caused this horrible disaster and the lasting effects to NASA and the space program.

The field of medicine is fascinating. But some medical conditions, treatments, and experiments are almost unbelievable! Did you know workers test medications and medical equipment for bacteria by using a chemical from horseshoe crab blood? Have you ever heard of freezing people's bodies in the hopes of bringing them back to life in the future? Check out these fascinating findings and even more bizarre medicine!

The natural world can be a beautiful and awesome place. But sometimes things happen naturally that are quite peculiar. Have you heard of Blood Falls in Antarctica? Ice cold water flows bright red out of a glacier. Did you know that Death Valley National Park in California has boulders that mysteriously slide across the desert? Learn the details of these mysteries and other peculiar natural phenomena.

SEAL Team 6 was formed in 1980 to help combat the growing threat of global terrorism and to better handle situations such as the failed attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran earlier that year. They've played an important part in many U.S. special ops missions. Infographics, sidebars, and fact boxes bring the experiences of these brave military men to life.

The Bill of Rights was written more than 200 years ago, but it's still just as relevant and important today as it was back then. Readers will take a look at what caused the Fourth Amendment to be born and what effects the amendment has had through history and today.

What was it like to be part of the U.S. Civil War? Personal accounts, newspaper stories, and other primary sources give students an opportunity to see what it was like to live during this amazing time in history.