Special Collection: Invasive Species 

Gripping nonfiction articles and stories cover the world of invasive species, from the problems created by the invaders to the people—and native animals—that work to stop them.

 

 

 

What Are Invasive Species?

Watch a video about the harmful effects of invasive species

Adored . . . and in Danger

Axolotls are disappearing from the wild. Can these 
cute creatures be brought back from the edge?

Read the Paired Texts
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the paired texts
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Amazing Amphibians
Watch a video about the characteristics of amphibians
Vocabulary Slideshow
Unlock challenging vocabulary words with great visual and audio support
Watch the Slideshow

Team Rattlesnake

Can Lia and her friends help protect this 
misunderstood creature?

Read the Play
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this play
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Connecting Texts
Students synthesize information across two texts
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Vocabulary Slideshow
Unlock challenging vocabulary words with great visual and audio support
Watch the Slideshow

Vampire of the Deep

In the 1940s, bloodsucking fish took over America’s
largest lakes. Could they be stopped?

Read the Paired Texts
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the paired texts
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Connecting Texts
Students synthesize information across two texts
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Vocabulary Slideshow
Unlock challenging vocabulary words with great visual and audio support
Watch the Slideshow

The Python Brothers

Alex and his brother are hunting for hungry snakes. 
What could possibly go wrong?

Read the Story
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the story
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How Characters Interact
Analyze the main characters' interactions and how they change
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Immersive Read Aloud
Hear the story read aloud with special sound effects
Listen

Nature's Firefighters

These goats are stopping wildfires by doing what 
comes naturally—eating a lot of plants

Read the Article

Would You Squash This?

Houseflies and other insects can be harmful—
but most are not. Is it OK to smoosh bugs, 
or should we leave them alone?

Read the Debate
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching any Storyworks debate
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The Wild World of Bugs
Watch a video to learn all about bugs
Write an Opinion Essay
This activity helps students write an opinion essay about the debate
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Rats: Ewww!/Rats: Awww!

They’re stealing our food. They’re trashing our stuff. 
They’re making us sick. Can rats be stopped?

Read the Paired Texts
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the paired texts
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Compare and Contrast
In this activity, students analyze different points of view expressed in the articles
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Text Features Slideshow
Explore the texts' detailed text features with this slideshow
Watch the Slideshow

The Snake That’s Eating Florida

Two texts explore an invasive species 
and what to do about it

Read the Paired Texts
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the paired texts
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Problem and Solution
Help students identify problems and solutions in the story
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Connecting Texts
Students synthesize information from the two articles
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Invasion of the Jellyfish

Trillions of slimy blobs are taking over our oceans. Can they be stopped? A fascinating article about jellyfish overpopulation is paired with an informational text on a possible solution to the problem

Read the Paired Texts
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching the paired texts
Download
Problem and Solution
Identify the problems and potential solutions in the paired texts
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Vocabulary Slideshow
Unlock challenging vocabulary words with great visual and audio support
Download

Alligator on the Loose

How did a 5-foot-long gator end up living in a city park?

Read the Article

Art Credits: Adored . . . and In Danger: Atsushi Sakurai/Nature Production/Minden Pictures; Team Rattlesnake: Shutterstock.com; Vampire of the Deep: Buiten-Beeld/Alamy Stock Photo; The Python Brothers: Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com (snake); Art by Mora Vieytes; Rats Ewww!: imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photo; Nature's Firefighters: ROBYN BECK/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES; Would You Squash This?: Shutterstock.com; Invasion of the Jellyfish: ETHAN DANIELS/WATERFRAME RM/GETTY IMAGES; Alligators On the Loose: Thierry Eidenweil/Shutterstock.com; The Snake That's Eating Florida: Hillary Kladke/Getty Images