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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343 Texts

Visual

Manzanar, 1942

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, over 110,000 Japanese Americans, mostly U.S. citizens, were incarcerated in “War Relocation Camps.” These photographs were taken at Manzanar, one of the ten Japanese internment camps, in 1942.
by
Clem Albers and Francis Stewart
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Social Justice Domain
September 3, 2015
Visual

Iesha Evans

Protesting the death of Alton Sterling and the Baton Rough Police Department’s request for Black Lives Matter demonstrators to clear roadways, Iesha Evans stands in the middle of a street as two Louisiana state troopers, dressed in riot gear, approach to arrest her.
by
Jonathan Bachman
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Social Justice Domain
January 30, 2017
Literature

(A)wake

In this poem, the speaker traces the senseless killings taking place abroad and at home, with a particular focus on the African-American community. The speaker also calls communities to action to "grow our hope and heal our hearts" in order to live together in peace.
by
Jessica Kobe
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Social Justice Domain
September 26, 2016
Informational

Rebel Yells

Like many schools being called on to reconsider their mascot, the University of Mississippi convenes a student-run committee to find a replacement for theirs—a Confederate soldier.
by
Robbie Brown
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Social Justice Domain
July 5, 2014
Informational

Loving for All

Richard and Mildred Loving were plaintiffs in the historic Supreme Court ruling Loving v. Virginia, which struck down race restrictions on the freedom to marry. What follows is Mildred Loving’s public statement delivered on June 12, 2007, the 40th Anniversary of the decision.
by
Mildred Loving
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Social Justice Domain
July 7, 2014
Informational

One America for today, tomorrow and forever, Clinton says

President Clinton delivered this speech at Little Rock's Central High School during a 40th-anniversary ceremony, in which he recognized the strength, conviction,and sacrifice shown by the Little Rock Nine and their parents.
by
William Jefferson Clinton
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Social Justice Domain
July 7, 2014