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The Trial of Galileo (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) It was the middle of winter. Galileo was old, weak, and sick. But he had to make the 200 mile (320 kilometer) trip to Rome in the cold. Why all this trouble? The Head of the Roman Church said so. Galileo must go on trial... Read more
Captain Cousteau
ReadOasis Step 3 Jacques Cousteau (June 11, 1910 - June 25, 1997) studied the sea and all forms of life in the water. He was a French naval officer, explorer, scientist, photographer, author, and film producer. "Captain Cousteau," as people called him, became widely known because of his many... Read more
Newspeak and 1984
ReadOasis Step 3 Censorship and 1984 Winston is an editor. Every day he works with words. His hands are soft, and he is not strong. He does not do hard physical labor. But his job is challenging and even dangerous. He works for the government of Oceania. Every day,... Read more
One Lone Choice
ReadOasis Step 2 A long time ago, there was a young boy named George Washington. He had two older brothers. They were all very close. George often talked to his brothers about his dreams. "I would like to be a sailor," George said. "Then I could go to many... Read more
Ben Franklin’s Curious Kite
ReadOasis Step 4(Part 1) “Quick! It’s stormy outside! Maybe there will be thunder and lightning! Get the kite, and let’s go fly it in the storm!” Photo by GPTMC (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation) Imagine hearing these words from your father. You might think going out to play in... Read more
The Blind Poet Homer
Retold by James Baldwin and ReadOasis ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Homer and His Guide by Bouguereau A long time ago, there was a certain man who wrote poems. Today his poems are among the greatest treasures of the world. The man’s name was Homer. Tradition holds that Homer... Read more
Henry Ward Beecher, Friend of Slaves (Step 2)
By Max L. Knowles ReadOasis Step 2 On February 5, 1860, a strange thing happened at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Church members were not having a “bake sale.” They were having a “slave sale.”  But this sale was backwards. Church members were buying the freedom of a... Read more
Sincerely, Mother Teresa
By Cana Short ReadOasis Step 2 Mother Teresa in 1986 (Image Wikipedia) It was pouring rain. I was walking to a store, and as I did, I passed by a man. A homeless man for sure. He was huddled under a bench, trying to shield himself from the rain... Read more
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 Johnny started singing, but he looked uncomfortable. The audition was not going well. Sam Phillips, the producer, listened politely. But he didn't smile. Johnny kept singing, but with no confidence. Then Mr. Phillips said, "Hold up!" Johnny and his friends stopped playing. Phillips said, "I hate... Read more
The Most Famous Not a Protest Song (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 The little boy didn't want to eat chicken. He did not like the flavor and smell, so he protested. He said, "I hate chicken! It tastes bad! I will never eat it -- ever! His mother looked at him and smiled. And she said, "Jimmy, that's... Read more
Sincerely, Thomas Edison
By Cana ShortReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) An amazing thing happened this morning! I was walking down the street when I noticed a crowd gathered outside a local brokerage firm. People nearby told me that an important machine had broken down. The manager of the firm was in a great... Read more
On the Road Again (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 Willie Nelson's Guitar "Trigger"Little Willie was born into hard times. On October 29, 1929, the American economy crashed. It was called Black Tuesday. Many people lost all their money. By Willie’s day of birth in 1933, around 25% of Americans had lost their jobs. People were... Read more
JK Rowling and Harry Potter (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 After graduating from university in 1983, JK Rowling was living in London. She worked for the human rights group Amnesty International. But in 1990, she decided to move to Manchester. After spending a weekend looking for an apartment, she took the train back to London. It... Read more
Sincerely, Socrates
By Cana Short ReadOasis Step 3 Now, you might be wondering, “How can this be a letter from Socrates, if Socrates never wrote anything?” It is true that I do not write much, at least not for others. But I am having my student Plato write this letter for... Read more
The Trial of Galileo (Step 4)
ReadOasis Step 4(Part 1) Ideas on Trial Galileo was old, weak, and ill. But he had to make the 200 mile journey to Rome in the middle of winter. Why all this trouble? The leader of the Church, the Pope, demanded it. Galileo must go on trial for a... Read more
Word Painter: Ernest Hemingway
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) Hemingway Collection, Kennedy Presidential Museum “A writer is always alone, always an outsider," Ernest Hemingway said. Hemingway created many characters in his books. Some people said that Hemingway was his own best creation. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1891. He grew up in Oak Park,... Read more
The Blind Poet Homer
Retold by James Baldwin and ReadOasis ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 2) By good fortune, the poor and blind Homer found his way to a village. There he soon won many friends. Homer did not spend his time crying over his troubles. Instead, he tried to think of some way... Read more
Sincerely, Thomas Edison
By Cana ShortReadOasis Step 2(Part 2) I began my first job when I was twelve years old. I sold candy and newspapers on the local railroad. To make some extra money, I also ran a small business of my own selling fruits and vegetables. Although these jobs took up... Read more
Ben Franklin’s Curious Kite
ReadOasis Step 4(Part 2) Photo by GPTMC Now we see the reason for the kite. Franklin made it especially to fly in a storm. It was not a typical paper kite. He wanted a kite that would fly when it rained. Rain would spoil a paper kite in a... Read more
The Trial of Galileo (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 2) Galileo Showing his Telescope (Bertini) In 1564, in the city of Pisa, Galileo Galilei was born. His father, Vincenzo, was a famous musician who studied the science of musical sound. Growing up, Galileo also became a highly skilled musician. Even so, Vincenzo wanted Galileo to... Read more