Student Texts
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Our searchable library of short texts offers a diverse mix of stories and perspectives. This multigenre, multimedia collection aligns with the Common Core's recommendations for text complexity and the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards.

Choose from informational and literary nonfiction texts, literature, photographs, political cartoons, interviews, infographics and more. You can also filter by text type, grade level, subject and topic.

“The leveled texts have really helped me engage students and introduce them to complex topics in a way they can understand.”

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Social Justice Domain
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278 Texts

Informational

The Thrilling Tale of How Robert Smalls Seized a Confederate Ship and Sailed it to Freedom

This story is the retelling of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery with his entire family in tow. With a plan "as dangerous as it was brilliant," Smalls commandeers a Confederate ship and successfully navigates it out of Charleston's blockaded port and into the hands of the Union army.
by
Cate Lineburg
Grade Level
6-8
Topic
Subject
History
Social Justice Domain
July 31, 2018
Multimedia

The Atlantic Slave Trade: What too few textbooks told you

Slavery has occurred in many forms throughout the world, but the Atlantic slave trade-which forcibly brought more than 10 million Africans to the Americas-stands out for both its global scale and its lasting legacy. Anthony Hazard discusses the historical, economic and personal impact of this massive historical injustice.
by
Anthony Hazard
Grade Level
Subject
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
September 28, 2018
Informational

The First Americans

The Grand Council Fire of American Indians wrote this letter in response to the Chicago mayor's 1927 campaign against the use of British textbooks in public schools. The letter condemns the misrepresentation of Native American history in schools.
by
The Grand Council Fire of American Indians
Grade Level
6-8
Subject
Civics
History
Social Justice Domain
July 3, 2014