Great City Fires
Informational (nonfiction), 1,924 words, Level Z (Grade 5)

Lesson Objectives

Reading Strategy	Connect to prior knowledge
Comprehension	Compare and Contrast
Grammar and Mechanics	Verbs and Direct Objects
Word Work	Word Origins

Book Summary

Thrilling historical details and descriptions of city life of the past enhance the stories of three major urban fires. The fires of Rome, London, and Chicago led to tragic loss of life and property, but as the text shows, they also led to reforms and the fire safety our cities use today. Fire safety tips conclude the book.

About the Lesson

Targeted Reading Strategy

• Connect to prior knowledge

Objectives

• Use the reading strategy of connecting to prior knowledge to remember information in text
• Compare and contrast information in text
• Understand and identify verbs and direct objects
• Locate word origins, roots, and meanings

Vocabulary

• Content words: arsonists, bucket brigade, fire hook, firestorm, gasworks, lax, looting, militiamen, persecute, refugees, slums, stockyards, thatched-roofed, unruly

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 Z Answer Sheet