Social Studies

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

Blood on the River

by Eliza Carbone

After attempting to steal back a necklace that belonged to his deceased mother, Samuel Collier is sent to an orphanage run by Reverend Hunt. The 11-year-old joins him on a journey to the New World, serving as a page to Captain John Smith.

Samuel’s account of the voyage to Virginia, political intrigues among the settlers, and the harrowing first winter of the James Town settlement brings to life figures like Smith, Powhatan, and Pocahontas.

How to Access the Lesson:

To Access the UB the Director Lesson you should register and log in. Then click on the lesson icon

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
820L	Middle School	256	Historical Fiction	2006	0670060607

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

This book takes place in small-town Depression-era Maycomb, Alabama. The story centers on the trial of Tom Robinson, a black worker who is falsely accused of rape by a young white woman. The small Southern town is bitterly divided over the racially fueled charges.

We see this ugly scenario play out through the eyes of a child. Jean Louise “Scout” Finch is the young daughter of Atticus, the civil rights lawyer who takes up Tom’s defense. She is spunky and bright and believes in the basic goodness of everyone, although the trial causes her to reexamine her beliefs. By the end of the novel, Scout learns about the evils of racism and the courage of one man (her father), who stands up for what he believes is right in the face of widespread public contempt.

How to Access the Lesson:

To Access the UB the Director Lesson you should register and log in. Then click on the lesson icon

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
870L	Young Adult	288	Drama	1960	0446310786