The Transcontinental Railroad
Informational (nonfiction), 2,016 words, Level X (Grade 5)

Lesson Objectives

Reading Strategy	Summarize
Comprehension	Main Idea and Details
Grammar and Mechanics	Adverbs
Word Work	Compound Words

Book Summary

Before the Transcontinental Railroad, travel across the American West was treacherous at best. And building the railroad was itself a dangerous task filled with battles, injury, and even death. This book recounts the difficulties in building the railroad and the amazing changes that the trains brought to the West.

About the Lesson

Targeted Reading Strategy

• Summarize

Objectives

• Use the reading strategy of summarizing
• Identify main idea and details
• Identify sequence adverbs and proper comma placement
• Understand and use compound words

Vocabulary

• Content words: agonizingly, ballast, discrimination, efficient, engineers, foremen, infamous, ties

Book Resources

Formats Single-Sided Book Single-Sided Color Cover Double-Sided Book Double-Sided Color Cover Lesson Resources Lesson Plan Worksheets Discussion Cards Comprehension Quiz Level X Answer Sheet