Featured Sites Week of: Aug 9, 2026 - Reading Treks

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Reading Treks: Uprising - TeachersFirst

Grades
5 to 8
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Uprising tells the powerful, interwoven stories of Bella, Yetta, and Jane--three young women from vastly different backgrounds living in New York City in 1911. This Reading Trek includes...more
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Uprising tells the powerful, interwoven stories of Bella, Yetta, and Jane--three young women from vastly different backgrounds living in New York City in 1911. This Reading Trek includes interactive maps--available as both a Google My Maps link and a downloadable Google Earth (KMZ) file--that trace key locations from the story. There is also a downloadable teacher guide (PDF) to support classroom instruction and provide activities and extensions.

tag(s): 1910s (29), fire (25), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Use the interactive Google My Maps or Google Earth file to trace Bella, Yetta, and Jane's paths through 1911 New York City, helping students visualize the neighborhoods, factories, and social divides that shaped their different lives. As students explore each location, they can research its historical significance, including the real Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, around which the novel is built. Pair this map exploration with the teacher guide's activities and extensions.
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Reading Treks: Prairie Lotus - TeachersFirst

Grades
5 to 8
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Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park is a historical fiction novel set in the Dakota Territory in the 1880s. It follows Hanna, a half-Chinese, half-white girl who moves with her ...more
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Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park is a historical fiction novel set in the Dakota Territory in the 1880s. It follows Hanna, a half-Chinese, half-white girl who moves with her father to a small frontier town after her mother's death. Hanna dreams of becoming a dressmaker and finishing school, but she faces discrimination and exclusion because of her Asian heritage. Despite the racism and prejudice around her, Hanna remains determined to honor her mother's legacy and find acceptance in the community. Through resilience, courage, and kindness, she begins to carve out a place for herself on the American prairie. This Reading Trek includes interactive maps (available as both a Google My Maps link and a downloadable Google Earth (KMZ) file). The maps trace key locations from the story. There is also a teacher guide (PDF) with classroom activities and extension activities.

tag(s): 1800s (89), racism (82), Reading Treks (56), westward expansion (42)

In the Classroom

Use the interactive maps to have students trace Hanna's journey to the Dakota Territory, visualizing the frontier landscape and the distances families traveled during Westward Expansion. As students explore each stop, they can research the historical context of the 1880s frontier, including the experiences of mixed-race and immigrant families during this era. Pair this map exploration with the teacher guide's activities to examine themes of identity, prejudice, resilience, and belonging.
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Reading Treks: Paper Towns - TeachersFirst

Grades
8 to 12
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Paper Towns, by John Green, explores the themes of identity, perception, and the complexities of growing up. The story follows Quentin "Q" Jacobsen, a high school senior in Orlando,...more
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Paper Towns, by John Green, explores the themes of identity, perception, and the complexities of growing up. The story follows Quentin "Q" Jacobsen, a high school senior in Orlando, Florida, who is infatuated with his mysterious neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman. After a night of adventurous revenge pranks, Margo disappears, leaving behind clues that Q and his friends try to decipher. As they trace her steps through paper towns--fake cities on maps and symbolic places in life--they question what it means to truly know someone. Included with this Trek are a downloadable Teacher Guide and two maps (a Google My Maps file and a downloadable Google Earth file).

tag(s): identity (42), mysteries (27), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Use the interactive Google My Maps or Google Earth file to have students trace Q's road trip and Margo's clues, mapping real Orlando-area locations alongside the mysterious "paper towns" referenced in the novel. This visual journey works well for small-group stations where students research the significance of each stop, from abandoned buildings to the fictional pseudo-visions on maps. Pair the exploration with the teacher guide's discussion questions and activities, ideal for literature circles or whole-class discussion. Use this book to dig into themes of identity, the danger of idealizing others, and the difference between perception and reality.
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Reading Treks: A Long Walk to Water - TeachersFirst

Grades
5 to 8
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A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on a true story and alternates between the stories of two characters living in Sudan at different times. One ...more
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A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on a true story and alternates between the stories of two characters living in Sudan at different times. One narrative follows Salva Dut, an eleven-year-old boy forced to flee his village during the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1985, facing danger, hunger, and exhaustion as he becomes one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The second story follows Nya, a young girl in 2008 who spends hours each day walking to fetch water for her family. Their stories ultimately intersect as Salva helps bring clean water to villages like Nya's through his real-life organization Water for South Sudan, revealing the power of perseverance, hope, and community.

This Reading Trek includes interactive maps-available as both a Google My Maps link and a downloadable Google Earth (KMZ) file- that trace the characters' journeys and key locations from the story. There is also a downloadable teacher guide (PDF) to support classroom instruction and discussion.

tag(s): africa (162), Reading Treks (56), water (106)

In the Classroom

Bring the story to life by having students trace Salva and Nya's journeys using the interactive Google My Maps or Google Earth file to help them visualize the vast distances traveled and Sudan's geography. As they explore each location, students can pause to research the historical and cultural context -- connecting the novel's dual timelines to the actual Sudanese Civil War and ongoing water access issues. The teacher guide's discussion questions and activities pair well with this map exploration, whether used for whole-class discussion, literature circles, or independent research projects on themes of resilience, survival, and access to clean water.
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Reading Treks: The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis & Clark Tribe - TeachersFirst

Grades
5 to 8
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This Reading Trek brings The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis & Clark Tribe to life through the eyes of Lewis's Newfoundland pup, Seaman. Students explore the Lewis and...more
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This Reading Trek brings The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis & Clark Tribe to life through the eyes of Lewis's Newfoundland pup, Seaman. Students explore the Lewis and Clark expedition using a Google My Maps journey, engaging in activities such as creating illustrated travel journals, producing short "postcards from the past" videos, and designing timelines that track the expedition's progress. Collaborative and creative extensions, including podcast storytelling, comic strip recreations, and structured discussions on leadership and perseverance, encourage students to think deeply about perspective and historical events. By combining hands-on projects, technology integration, and cross-curricular connections, this plan helps students build empathy, strengthen comprehension, and develop a richer understanding of exploration and discovery.

tag(s): explorers (65), lewis and clark (16), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Have students design a visual timeline (digital with MyLens, reviewed here or paper) that connects major expedition events to specific locations, including dates, images, and brief explanations. In small groups, students can record short podcast episodes with Buzzsprout, reviewed here from the perspective of expedition members (Lewis, Clark, Seaman, or Sacagawea), sharing discoveries, challenges, and emotions. Have students create a hand-drawn or digital journal with Sway, reviewed here from Seaman's perspective, including maps, sketches, and diary-style entries that describe each stop along the expedition.

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Reading Treks: They Called Us Enemy - TeachersFirst

Grades
7 to 12
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here,...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here, along with the accompanying Teachers' Guide that includes lesson activities, map extensions, and more. This powerful memoir shares Takei's childhood experience during World War II as his family is forcibly removed from their home and placed in Japanese American internment camps, highlighting both the injustices they faced and their resilience. The story blends personal narrative with historical context, making it ideal for grades 7-12. Activities in the Teachers' Guide connect to the Common Core ELA Standards, Social Studies standards, and Social Justice Standards, encouraging students to analyze historical events, explore themes of identity and justice, and reflect on the impact of prejudice and civil rights in American history

tag(s): 1940s (70), immigrants (50), japan (62), Reading Treks (56), world war 2 (168)

In the Classroom

Have students design an infographic using Infographic Presentation Templates, reviewed here that raises awareness about Japanese American incarceration. They can include quotes, historical facts, and a message about justice and the importance of remembering history. Have students script and record a podcast episode with Podomatic, reviewed here as if interviewing George Takei or another person from the camps. Encourage connections to modern-day issues of civil rights and identity. Using comic templates from the Free Comic Maker by Adobe, reviewed here, students can recreate or extend scenes from camp life.

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Reading Treks: Pete the Cat's Family Road Trip - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 2
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Explore travel, flexibility, and positive thinking through this Reading Trek inspired by Pete the Cat's Family Road Trip by James Dean and Kimberly Dean. Use the integrated map...more
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Explore travel, flexibility, and positive thinking through this Reading Trek inspired by Pete the Cat's Family Road Trip by James Dean and Kimberly Dean. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here, along with the accompanying Teachers' Guide that includes lesson activities, map extensions, and discussion ideas to support early learners. This fun, relatable story follows Pete the Cat and his family as they set off on a road trip filled with unexpected detours, new places, and memorable moments, all while Pete keeps his cool and stays positive. Blending early literacy skills with geography, social-emotional learning, and real-world connections, the Teachers' Guide activities connect to Common Core ELA Standards and Social Studies practices, encouraging students to build map awareness, practice sequencing and retelling, explore emotions and flexibility, and connect stories to their own travel experiences.

tag(s): emotions (73), flexibility (9), Reading Treks (56), sequencing (19), social and emotional learning (205)

In the Classroom

Turn a familiar family road trip into an engaging learning journey with creative activities that highlight flexibility, sequencing, and positive thinking in Pete the Cat's Family Road Trip. Begin by having students help Pete plan his journey by creating a simple class road-trip map using Google My Maps, reviewed here, adding picture icons for stops along the way, and discussing what families might see or do at each location. Next, invite students to create a short "Pete's Road Trip Journal" using Book Creator, reviewed here, where each page shows a stop from the trip, a short sentence, and an illustration that captures Pete's feelings when plans change. Extend learning by having students make a quick road-trip reflection video or drawing post on Padlet, reviewed here, sharing how Pete stays calm and positive during challenges, and connecting those moments to times when they had to be flexible on trips or in everyday life.
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Reading Treks: Enrique's Journey-The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mothe - TeachersFirst

Grades
4 to 7
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Follow a powerful real-world journey with this Reading Trek inspired by Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario. This virtual field trip uses an integrated map created with Google...more
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Follow a powerful real-world journey with this Reading Trek inspired by Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario. This virtual field trip uses an integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here, along with an accompanying Teachers' Guide that features lesson activities, map extensions, and discussion prompts to deepen understanding. The narrative chronicles Enrique's perilous trek from Honduras to the United States as he searches for his mother, offering students a deeply human perspective on immigration, family separation, resilience, and hope. Blending geography, social studies, and literacy, the story helps students trace migration routes while examining cause-and-effect relationships, point of view, and real-world challenges faced by children and families. Best suited for grades 4-7, the Teachers' Guide activities align with Common Core ELA Standards and Social Studies practices, encouraging critical thinking, empathy, close reading, and meaningful discussions about global issues and personal courage.

tag(s): diversity (56), immigrants (50), immigration (86), maps (221), point of view (9), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Step into a real-life journey of courage, sacrifice, and hope through activities that help students connect deeply with Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey. Begin by introducing the story to the whole class, with the Reading Trek map displayed on an interactive whiteboard, and guide students through its layers to preview the countries, routes, and challenges Enrique will face along the way. Next, have students use Google My Maps, reviewed here to plot Enrique's journey from Honduras through Mexico to the United States, adding a short description, an image, and a meaningful quote from the text at each stop to help visualize the danger, emotion, and resilience required at every stage. Extend learning by inviting students to create a short scene from Enrique's journey using Witty Comics, reviewed here, such as riding atop La Bestia or crossing the border, encouraging them to capture dialogue, determination, and risk in a visual format that deepens comprehension and builds empathy for Enrique's lived experience.
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Reading Treks: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch - TeachersFirst

Grades
7 to 9
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Step aboard a literary voyage through history with this Reading Trek inspired by Jean Lee Latham's novel, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, designed as a virtual field trip that uses an...more
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Step aboard a literary voyage through history with this Reading Trek inspired by Jean Lee Latham's novel, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, designed as a virtual field trip that uses an integrated Google My Maps experience along with an accompanying Teachers' Guide featuring lesson activities, map extensions, and discussion prompts. The story traces the life of Nathaniel Bowditch, a determined, self-educated mathematician and navigator whose passion for learning helps him overcome hardship and make lasting contributions to navigation and science. Set in late 18th- and early 19th-century New England and aboard merchant ships traveling the globe, the novel weaves together history, geography, and mathematics while highlighting themes of perseverance, curiosity, and intellectual growth. Best suited for grades 7-9, this Reading Trek aligns with the Common Core ELA Standards, mathematical practices, and social studies skills, using close reading, map exploration, and interdisciplinary activities to build content knowledge while strengthening critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world connections across subject areas.

tag(s): map skills (67), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Bring Nathaniel Bowditch's seafaring journey to life with hands-on activities that engage students in reflection, research, and problem-solving while exploring Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Begin by having students respond to the prompt "What's something you wish you knew before starting something new?" using a classwide survey created with Slido, reviewed here, then discuss how their responses connect to Nat's early challenges learning mathematics and navigation at sea. Extend learning by assigning groups to research common 18th-century sailor hardships, such as scurvy, isolation, or storm-related injuries, and create an informative visual using Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here that explains causes, effects, and solutions while highlighting how Bowditch responded through persistence and self-education. As students read, have them collaborate on a digital vocabulary and concepts board using Stormboard, reviewed here, where they define maritime terms, illustrate navigation ideas, and link each concept to locations on the Reading Trek map, reinforcing how mathematics, learning, and determination shaped Bowditch's success and impacted the lives of those who sailed with him.
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Reading Treks: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - TeachersFirst

Grades
3 to 8
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek and travel back to the 1930s Great Depression in Mississippi with Mildred D. Taylor's historical novel - Roll of Thunder, Hear ...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek and travel back to the 1930s Great Depression in Mississippi with Mildred D. Taylor's historical novel - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan is a young black girl who experiences and witnesses the harsh realities of racism: night riders terrorizing Black families, a boycott her family organizes against a racist store owner, and the constant threat of violence. This Reading Trek includes a Teacher Guide that uses Google My Maps reviewed here. Additional suggestions include using this book in lessons on map use and in extension activities across several core content areas. Teaching suggestions are correlated to National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Core Standards for Visual Arts, Next Generation Science Standards, and Social Justice Standards.

tag(s): great depression (32), racism (82), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Investigate many suggested classroom uses for this resource in the Instructional Guide (PDF). With older students, use Gravity, reviewed here as a video response platform for students to share what they learned and what surprised them about racism in the 1930s.

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Reading Treks: Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament - TeachersFirst

Grades
4 to 7
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon Caroline Carlson's novel, Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament. Use the integrated map created with Google...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon Caroline Carlson's novel, Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here, along with the accompanying Teachers' Guide that includes lesson activities, map extensions, and more. This middle-grade adventure follows science-whiz Lexi Magill as she competes in a global teleportation race filled with puzzles, teamwork, and problem-solving challenges. The story blends STEM concepts with geography, friendship, and perseverance, making it ideal for grades 4-7. Activities in the Teachers' Guide connect to the Common Core ELA Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and Social Studies practices, encouraging students to think critically, collaborate creatively, and explore the science behind teleportation and travel.

tag(s): competitions (10), Reading Treks (56), transportation (31)

In the Classroom

Bring Lexi Magill's high-tech adventure to life with hands-on activities that engage students in creativity, problem-solving, and global exploration. Begin by having students design a team badge or flag using Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here to represent Lexi's teleportation crew, symbolizing teamwork, perseverance, and innovation. Encourage students to create a travel vlog from Lexi's point of view using the video feature from Padlet, reviewed here, describing her thoughts and challenges at each tournament destination while integrating sensory details and reflections on friendship. Extend learning by organizing a classroom teleportation tournament where students rotate through STEM-based "teleportation stations" representing different countries from the story, solving puzzles and challenges to build collaboration, critical thinking, and excitement for science and discovery.
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Reading Treks: Pride - TeachersFirst

Grades
8 to 12
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based on Ibi Zoboi's Pride, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This Reading Trek includes a...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based on Ibi Zoboi's Pride, a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This Reading Trek includes a Teacher Guide that uses Google My Maps, reviewed here, to trace key settings from Zuri Benitez's neighborhood to the wealthy world of the Darcy family. Students can use digital tools to compare Bushwick and Manhattan, create "Then and Now" galleries, build playlists that capture mood and identity, and explore how place shapes character and theme. Extension activities include community pride projects, digital art galleries, podcasts about belonging, and poetry inspired by Zuri's voice. Teaching suggestions connect to Common Core English Language Arts Standards, National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, and Social Justice Standards focusing on identity and diversity.

tag(s): cultures (291), poetry (197), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many lesson ideas in the Teachers' Guide to bring Pride to life and connect students to Zuri Benitez's world of culture, community, and change. Challenge students to compare Bushwick and Manhattan by creating a digital Venn diagram using Canva's Venn Diagram Maker, reviewed here, to explore how setting shapes identity and opportunity. Encourage creativity by having students design a "Then and Now" gallery with Photo Joiner, reviewed here, showcasing how Bushwick has evolved over time and how those changes mirror Zuri's experiences in the novel. Finally, have students create a Pandora playlist, reviewed here, inspired by the book's locations and moods, with each song reflecting a character's emotions or a moment of transformation.
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Reading Treks: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 5
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon Kathryn Gibbs Davis' book, Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, ...more
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Take a virtual field trip with this Reading Trek based upon Kathryn Gibbs Davis' book, Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Use the integrated map created with Google My Maps, reviewed here and the accompanying Teachers' Guide that includes lesson activities, map extensions, and more. This picture book chronicles the true story of engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.'s creation of the original Ferris wheel for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Although the book is targeted for grades K-5, it is also suitable for use with older students when studying inventors. Activities in the Teachers' Guide include correlations to Common Core Standards, National Curriculum for Social Studies, and Social Justice Standards.

tag(s): 1800s (89), inventors and inventions (89), Reading Treks (56)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many lesson ideas in the Teacher Guide to bring this story to life and provide activities that correlate with the book's theme of adventure and exploration. Help students understand the timeline of Ferris' invention using MyLens, reviewed here or build a timeline as you read the book using ReadWriteThink's Timeline builder tool, reviewed here. Use the Teacher Guide and the book when students are studying inventors and inventions. Have your students join Little Inventors Club, reviewed here. Students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to store their ideas and images of their invention.
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Reading Treks: So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix - TeachersFirst

Grades
9 to 12
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Revisit the story of the novel Little Women in a new way through the eyes of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they live their lives within a community of ...more
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Revisit the story of the novel Little Women in a new way through the eyes of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they live their lives within a community of newly emancipated people on Roanoke Island. This Reading Trek shares ideas on integrating this book with Google Maps to create a virtual field trip that includes lesson ideas across different subject areas. Along with the suggestions on the map, this Reading Trek also includes several extension activities and resources to engage students to explore further the themes of social justice, diversity, and identity.

tag(s): civil war (145), diversity (56), emancipation proclamation (15), identity (42), maps (221), novels (34), Reading Treks (56), social and emotional learning (205), virginia (16)

In the Classroom

Use this Reading Trek as a guide to integrating a book study into your lessons on the Civil War. Create a template for your book study in Book Creator, reviewed here for students to complete during their activities while reading the book and conducting the virtual tour. Enhance understanding by including timelines created with MyLens, reviewed here, videos made with Motioon, reviewed here, and annotated images created with ClassTools Image Annotator, reviewed here. If this is your first book study, consider completing the Book Creator activities as a class or assigning a book to small groups. This Reading Trek is also perfect for gifted middle school students as an integrated learning activity that explores the book's different themes.
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