The Mini Read is a short, high-interest nonfiction article that “warms up kids’ reading muscles” and also builds knowledge. Each Mini Read has a showstopping photo and nonfiction text features. 

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension, key details, grammar/punctuation

Our Big Read is a work of fascinating narrative nonfiction that brings important topics to life. Each article explores a highly engaging subject connected to social studies and science standards, making nonfiction feel like a story. Big Reads are rich with text features—including maps, headlines, and captions—and are paired with a background-building video to support comprehension.

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension text features, main idea, text structure, summarizing, author's craft, vocabulary

Storyworks Fiction connects with kids through relatable experiences such as friendships and school. Students read genres such as realistic fiction, fairy tales, fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. Each text is paired with an ELA video focused on either the genre itself or an essential literary concept, such as plot or character traits. 

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension, plot, character, setting, genre, problem/solution, theme

This short nonfiction text tackles the social studies standard of how things change over time. Students read about the history of things that are familiar in their everyday lives such as erasers, ice cream, and sneakers. Each article includes a timeline text feature. 

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension, sequencing

The poems introduce students to poetry standards like rhyme, rhythm, and repetition.The poems make great texts for fluency reading practice.They also help prepare students to analyze poetry in state tests. 

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Elements of poetry

Each debate explores a fun, age-appropriate topic that kids will love. Students learn that every issue has more than one point of view and that strong opinions should be supported with reasons and evidence. Each debate also includes an opinion-writing activity. 

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Opinion writing

The Paired Texts presents two short nonfiction articles connected by a shared topic or theme. Students compare ideas and synthesize information across both texts. This feature also helps prepare students for standardized tests.

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Compare/contrast, synthesizing

This short nonfiction feature is written in chunks that are easy for kids to navigate and read. It provides background knowledge for the fiction or the play. Research shows that having background knowledge about a subject increases comprehension.

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension, key details

Often covering classic fables, folktales, myths, and fairy tales from all around the world, our read-aloud plays are perfect to practice fluency and learn about features of drama. Plus, it makes a joyful class activity!

Skills covered in lesson plans and skill sheets: Comprehension, fluency, genre, character, theme

Every issue of Storyworks 3 offers a beautifully written and designed work of narrative nonfiction. Each six-page article delves into an important and highly engaging topic, often connected to social studies and science curriculums. Typical selections present natural disasters, significant events in history, and inspiring figures from the past or present.

Storyworks 3 offers fiction by renowned children’s authors in every issue. Stories often have a social-emotional learning (SEL) focus and address issues relevant to elementary students, including friendships, fitting in, and family dynamics.

Our popular paired-text feature offers two texts united by topic or theme; for example, two nonfiction articles, or a nonfiction paired with a timeline. Topics often draw on science, social studies, current events, or social-emotional learning.

Every issue includes a read-aloud play, providing a perfect opportunity to practice fluency and learn about features of drama. Storyworks 3 plays are often adapted from myths, folktales, or biographies.

Every issue of Storyworks 3 includes a debate on a hot-button topic for kids; for example, “Is TikTok Good for Kids?” or “Should Kids Have Later Bedtimes in the Summer?”

The debate comes with an online “opinion writing kit,” which guides students to write an essay supporting one side of the issue.

Each issue has a classic or contemporary poem by an acclaimed poet, accompanied by stunning artwork. Storyworks Jr. poetry is complex enough for lively discussions and lessons while remaining accessible and appealing to children. Poetry selections can usually be paired, by topic or theme, with another feature in the issue.

Mini Reads presents a short, high-interest nonfiction article. The accompanying Fact Finder activity prompts students to find key details in the article that check comprehension; for example, "WHAT are wildlife crossings?"