I finished it! {Cue the Angels singing and my family cheering!} This has been a real labor of love. From commissioning the art, from Melonheadz to writing and writing and WrItInG…. then editing, and editing (eyes crossing) and editing (Thank you Lisa and Greg for the help of editing) It’s been a long haul, but I am pleased to introduce…… Like Mammals of the Woods and American Symbols this unit falls into the category of “Common Core: Informational Reading and More” The fluency passages are differentiated to provide you materials to challenge all levels of reading in your classroom. The differentiation also means that this unit can reach first – third graders. My first graders read the same passage all week for fluency practice. Third graders might use these pages as comprehension builders. Every passage has a page like this that can be used as a test or photocopied on the back as reading comprehension. Here are the heroes I covered in this unit Johnny Appleseed Betsy Ross George Washington Helen Keller Abe Lincoln Harriet Tubman Alexander Graham Bell Susan B. Anthony Amelia Earhart Bessie Coleman Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks Barack Obama To keep the fluency readable for first graders ( which can be tricky, might I add) I provided a background information card to be read to them before hand. This introduces key vocabulary. It is pretty enough to be displayed on the wall while that hero is being studied. The second and third grade fluency passages don’t really need these background info cards, but can still be read to them ahead of time as a form of introduction. This time I have added a great grammar component to support teaching the parts of speech and subject/predicate for my 3rd grade peeps. I have provided cool anchor charts as tools. My most favorite part is the art! I am in love! Of course, all of the art has an academic component, which makes it smart art. Here’s Johnny…. I cannot tell a lie, this George is cute. Honestly, Abe is a sweetheart too! MKL is C-U-T-E. Of course, the art comes with directions in pictures and words. Here is a sample. I also gave you a ton of fun ways to support the Common Core in your classroom. Speaking of needs, when you are talking about history, timelines are super helpful. I gave you all the materials you need to create a HUGE timeline in your room! You get an 8-10 inch full color graphic of each hero. Also provided are date markers. This is really a labor of love and I hope you enjoy it. Head over to TpT by clicking here {here} The first person to comment wins my new unit! But comment away, because I will choose another winner on Monday 7th. You must be a follower on my blog to win. (I need to be able to find your name in my followers box) Congrats Michelle, comment #11 for winning my Place Value Leprechaun.