What are the benefi ts of facing challenges?

This unit is about challenges. You will read texts that describe how people have faced various challenges
and the benefits they experienced as a result. Reading, writing, and talking about these topics will help you practice the language you need to use in school.

READING 1: Social Studies Article
and Song
■ “The Train to Freedom”
■ “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
READING 2: Personal Narrative
and Poetry
■ “Five New Words at a Time”
by Yu-Lan (Mary) Ying
■ “Quilt” by Janet S. Wong
READING 3: Science Article
■ “The Great Fever”
READING 4: Interview and
Novel Excerpt
■ “An Interview with Gary Paulsen”
by Leonard S. Marcus
■ From Hatchet by Gary Paulsen