• Storyworks 2 is full of amazing text-to-text connections to help kids gain context for what they’re reading. This article will introduce students to Alaska, the setting for the longer nonfiction article “The Dog That Saved a Town” on page 6.
• But it also stands on its own! The chunked text and big, bright photos give kids a high-interest, less-demanding reading experience.
• Each issue of the magazine will feature a child from a different part of the United States. By the end of a year of Storyworks 2, your students will have been introduced to six regions of the country.
  

Focus on Geography (3 minutes)

• Pull up a map of the United States. Ask if any of the kids can find the state of Alaska on the map. (You can also look at the globe that shows Alaska on page 6 of Storyworks 2.)
• Ask students if they notice anything about Alaska on the map. It’s a really interesting state for a few reasons. (It’s not connected to the rest of the United States; it’s separate. Also, it’s really way up high.)
• You can explain that Alaska is the most northern state of all of the 50 states. Northern places tend to be colder. Alaska gets very cold!
  

• This article works well to read aloud with the whole class. You can call on different students to read each box aloud.
• As you read, do a comprehension check on “a.m.” and “p.m.” What time of day is “a.m.”? (morning) How about “p.m.”? (afternoon/evening)

Point Out Nosey (3 minutes)

• Point out our doggy character, Nosey, on page 5.
• Ask someone to read Nosey’s voice bubble.
• Explain that Nosey pops up throughout Storyworks 2 magazine. Not only does Nosey have a long nose to sniff out facts but she’s also just nosey. She’s curious and wants to know more about everything.
• Now kids can fill in her fact file.
  

ELA Focus: Key Details (20 minutes)

• It’s time to help Nosey fill out her fact file! Print out Nosey’s Fact File from our website. Kids can find four facts from the article.
• The fact boxes are each scaffolded to help kids know what to write. Kids can share their facts with a partner, the other students at their tables, or the class.
  

ELA Focus: Writing a Letter (20 minutes)

• Kids can write Nosey about their own state. If they write to [email protected], they may just get  a letter back!
  

Enrich the Learning: Paired Text Opportunity

• Making text-to-text connections builds knowledge and comprehension. We layer Storyworks 2 with many ways for your students to make connections.
• After reading the article, students will have helpful background knowledge for the nonfiction piece “The Dog That Saved a Town” on page 6. They’ll have learned about Alaska as well as dog sledding. These two articles make a great pair!