Support your first-grade students in close reading of nfiction and fiction texts with practice that supports Common Core methodology. Each unit contains two related reading selections in a minibook format. The themes reflect first-grade science and social studies topics and are focused around a Big Question. For example, Can I live without my bones? (Big Question) connects How Bones Work (a nfiction article) and Jacob's Bones (a fictional story). The activities in each unit help students: - Learn and apply academic vocabulary in context - Participate in oral close reading discussions - Answer comprehension questions - Write to a prompt with the help of a graphic organizer This resource includes: - Seven robust units that include a unit assessment with discussion of the topic, texts, and Big Question, as well as a writing prompt. - Downloadable home-school connection activities and projects that extend learning at home - Common Core correlations for every unit for easy reference. - Minibooks of each reading selection. Plus, the suggested learning path is easy to scaffold!