Special Collection: Courage and Resilience

We delved into the Storyworks archives to bring you some of our most beloved stories about courageous and resilient kids, both real and imagined. We hope these stories spark conversations with your young readers about how to cope with difficult situations, how we change as people, and how to build resilience.

There Were Giants

Marie has to spend a dreary winter with her grandfather. Is there any point to it?  

Read the Story
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Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this story
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PDF
Theme
Students explore the theme of this story
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PDF
Setting
This activity helps students analyze the setting of the story
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Girl. Fighter. Hero.

Our thrilling play is based on the true story of teen hero Sybil Ludington, a brave Revolutionary War messenger.

Read the Play
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this play
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Time Machine: The American Revolution
The sights and sounds of the American Revolution
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Plot
Break down the plot of the play
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I Live in a Refugee Camp

After fleeing her home, a 15-year-old girl must imagine a new future

Read the Article
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Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this article
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Beyond the Story
Journey to the Kobe refugee camp in Ethiopia to meet 15-year-old Bilan.
PDF
Summarizing
Students summarize the key points of the article
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My Life Without Hair

An illness took away Ariah’s hair—and her confidence. Here’s how she found it again.

Read the Articles
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Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this article
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PDF
Compare & Contrast
Students compare and contrast the two articles
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PDF
Main Idea & Supporting Details
Guide students to identify the main idea
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Brave Chicken

Izzy wants to make a difference. Can a chicken suit help?

Read the Story
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this article
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PDF
Character
Students identify how Izzy changes from the beginning of the story to the end
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PDF
Inference
Students use text clues to make inferences
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Go!

The amazing story of Wilma Rudolph, the fastest woman
in the world.

Read the Play
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this play
Download
PDF
Character Traits
A guide to understanding Wilma
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PDF
Choice Board
Students can choose an activity
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Art Credits: There Were Giants: Art by Randy Pollak; I Live in a Refugee Camp: Ariadne Kypriadi/UNHCR; My Life Without Hair: CHRIS CONE/NOVUS SELECT; KIM COOK/AP IMAGES FOR SCHOLASTIC INC. (ARIAH DEMING); Brave Chicken: C.B. Canga; Girl. Fighter. Hero.: Art by Allan Davey; Go!: Artwork by Greg Ruhl from The Superkids Reading Program Wilma Rudolph © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. Used with permission from Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All rights reserved..