Students read literary and informational texts to learn that stories and books are important for learning about themselves and others. Students understand that storytelling can be a way to connect them to others and pass on family history and traditions. Students express their understanding by explaining how characters learn lessons through their experiences with one another and by writing their own story based on illustrations.

Students read literary and informational texts to learn about folktales in order to understand how they help to preserve the culture of societies that have disappeared. Students express their understanding by comparing an element in two different folktales and creating a dramatic presentation from a folktale.

Students read literary and informational texts about how Native Americans and global explorers laid the foundation for the United States. Students understand and express their understanding of how we learn about our past and how that impacts who we are today by writing about character and theme development and discussing how point of view is important for constructing meaning.