Daily Comprehension MAY REM 1110

WRITTEN BY: Anne Sattler

A TEACHING RESOURCE FROM

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REMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC. SCOTTSDALE, AZ

This product utilizes innovative strategies and proven methods to improve student learning. The product is based upon reliable research and effective practices that have been replicated in classrooms across the United States. Information regarding the Common Core State Standards this product meets is available at www.rempub.com/standards INTRODUCTION

Daily Comprehension is a 12-book series with each volume covering a single month of the year. The format features an “on-this-day-in-history” approach. A short, factual story about a person, place, or event is presented for each day of the month and was chosen because of its particular significance on that certain date. Each story is accompanied by an activity page which tests the student’s comprehension of the article’s content. Activities include questions, crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, and more. A related research project for each story requires the use of a dictionary, an almanac, an encyclopedia, or an atlas. The books are designed for use in grades 5-12. Readability is on the 3rd-4th grade level. CONTENTS

U-2 Incident �� 1 Stonewall Jackson �� 3 World’s Columbian Exposition �� 5 Alcatraz �� 7 Nellie Bly �� 9 Hindenburg Disaster �� 11 Edwin Land �� 13 Harry S. Truman �� 15 First American Newspaper Cartoon �� 17 The Golden Spike �� 19 Irving Berlin �� 21 Hurricane Names �� 23 Jamestown �� 25 Birth and Death of Skylab �� 27 L. Frank Baum �� 29 Academy Awards �� 31 Kentucky Derby �� 33 Mount St. Helens �� 35 Jumping Frog Jubilee �� 37 Dolley Madison �� 39 Clara Barton �� 41 First Transatlantic Steamship Crossing �� 43 Captain Kidd �� 45 New Amsterdam/New York �� 47 Discovering America �� 49 Sally Ride �� 51 Wild Bill Hickok �� 53 Jim Thorpe �� 55 Patrick Henry �� 57 Memorial Day �� 59 Johnstown Flood �� 59 Answer Key ��61-62

Daily Comprehension Activities ii ©Remedia Publications Name ______MAY 1

U-2 INCIDENT

In the mid-1940s, a “Cold War” information and had accidentally flown started between the United States off his course. The Russians did not and Russia. A Cold War is when believe this. They sentenced Powers leaders of nations strongly disagree to 10 years in prison in Russia. with each other but do not actually The incident caused added tension start fighting a military war. They do, between Russia and the United States. however, watch each other carefully President Eisenhower and Russian to find out if the “enemy” is doing Premier Krushchev had planned to something that might threaten the meet on May 2 to try to work out some safety and security of their countries. of their differences. When Powers’ One way of keeping watch is to have plane was brought down, Krushchev spies search for information. refused to have the meeting. On May 1, 1960, a U-2 spy plane In 1962, Powers was returned was shot down over Russia. The home in exchange for a Russian spy pilot was Francis Gary Powers. who was in prison in the United He was working for the United States. In 1977, at age 48, Powers States government. His mission died in a helicopter crash near Los was to secretly photograph Russian Angeles, California. military bases. The Cold War continued until the Powers survived the crash and early 1990s. That’s when Russia’s form was taken prisoner by the Russians. of government changed and the U.S. U.S. officials said Powers was and Russia were able to solve many of gathering high-altitude weather their problems.

©Remedia Publications 1 Daily Comprehension Activities Name ______

U-2 INCIDENT

1 2

3 4

5 6

8 9

10 11

Across Down 3. U.S. stands for _____. 1. large country in Europe and Asia 5. name of pilot who crashed in Russia 2. Powers died in a _____ crash. 8. atmospheric conditions 4. last name of U.S. president 9. a kind of conflict with no military war 6. a happening or event that can 10. name of Russian premier cause trouble 12. to give one for another 7. Powers spent two years in a Russian _____. 11. The U-2 was a _____ plane.

Research: Russia’s form of government was called communism. Look up the word communism in a dictionary. Write what it means.

Daily Comprehension Activities 2 ©Remedia Publications Name ______MAY 2

STONEWALL JACKSON (1824-1863)

Thomas Jackson was a Confederate that Jackson and his men “stood like general in the Civil War. A tragic a stone wall” against the enemy. From mistake on May 2, 1863, led to his that point on, Thomas Jackson was untimely death a short time later. known as Stonewall Jackson. Jackson was born in 1824 in West In battle after battle, Jackson Virginia. As a young man, he entered outsmarted the armies of the North. West Point Military Academy, from In 1863, by a clever flank movement, which he graduated in 1846 near the he defeated General Hooker’s army top of his class. at Chancellorsville, Virginia. On May 2, After graduation, Jackson fought in in the evening of his victory, Jackson the Mexican War. He quickly rose in and a few of his men were returning rank from captain to major. Then he to their camp from a trip to learn became an instructor at the Virginia more about the enemy’s position. They Military Institute. When the Civil War were fired on by their own soldiers, started, Jackson was made a colonel who mistakenly thought they were in the army of the South. He did so spies from Hooker’s army. Jackson well as colonel that he became a was seriously wounded. He died on brigadier general. May 10. Jackson’s ability to inspire troops In modern wars, when soldiers to acts of endurance and heroism led are accidentally killed by their own to defeats of Union forces sometimes side, they are reported as having died twice as large as his own. At the from friendly fire. General Stonewall Battle of Bull Run in 1861, it was said Jackson was a victim of friendly fire.

©Remedia Publications 3 Daily Comprehension Activities Name ______STONEWALL JACKSON

Answer the questions.

1. The story is about an accident in what war? ______2. Which side of the war did General Jackson fight on? ______3. How did Jackson get the name “Stonewall?” ______4. Match each word with its definition. Write the letter of the definition on the line next to the correct word. outsmart ______a. when a soldier’s own men accidentally fire on him or her inspire ______b. ability to withstand hardship friendly fire ______c. to cause others to feel or act a certain way flank ______d. one who is harmed by the actions of another endurance ______e. to overcome or get the better of someone by quick thinking victim ______f. to the right or left side of a formation 5. Where were the two battles mentioned in the story held? ______6. How did Jackson become a victim of friendly fire? ______7. Circle the words that could describe Stonewall Jackson. courageous intelligent cowardly skillful dull-witted 8. What word in paragraph 3 is made from the word able?______

Research: Read more about the Civil War in an encyclopedia. What happened at Appomattox Court House, Virginia?

Daily Comprehension Activities 4 ©Remedia Publications Name ______MAY 3

WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION

On May 3, 1893, the World’s the enormous midway. It was for Columbian Exposition opened in the World’s Columbian Exposition Chicago, Illinois. Its purpose was that George Ferris built the first- to commemorate, or honor, the ever giant Ferris wheel. The wheel 400th anniversary of Columbus’ was 250 feet across. Each of its cars discovery of America. A major held 40 passengers. Over 1,000 theme of the Chicago Fair, as it people could ride on it at the same came to be known, was American time. People were thrilled by this Artistic Achievements. new invention. It was a dream come As well as the works of famous true for Ferris, who had been told American artists, 72 other countries his idea would never work. also displayed their national Almost all of the buildings erected artwork. Over 150 buildings were for the fair are gone. Fires in January constructed in the styles of the and February of 1894 destroyed different cultures. many of them. Others were torn The fair covered 686 acres along down. One building, called The the shore of Lake Michigan in Palace of Fine Arts, is still being Chicago. More than 27 million used. It houses Chicago’s Museum visitors from around the world came of Science and Industry. to see the wonderful sights during The Columbian Exposition was the six months it was open. one of the most successful of all Visitors also came to enjoy the the world’s fairs ever held in the rides, games, and attractions at United States.

©Remedia Publications 5 Daily Comprehension Activities Name______

WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION

Write your answers on the lines of the pattern. ______

1. The fair opened on May _____, 1893. 2. Over _____ million visitors came to the fair. 3. The fair commemorated the _____th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. 4. The fair was held in the year _____. 5. Visitors came from around the _____. 6. A big attraction was a new invention c alled the _____ wheel. 7. The fair was held in the city of _____. 8. The fair exhibited American _____ achievements. 9. Art displays from 72 other _____ were also there. 10. The rightful name of the Chicago Fair was the World’s Columbian _____.

Research: Read about George Ferris in an encyclopedia. Write a paragraph telling the place and date of his birth, what his occupation was, where he was living when he invented the Ferris wheel, the date of his death, and his age when he died.

Daily Comprehension Activities 6 ©Remedia Publications Name______MAY 4

ALCATRAZ

Alcatraz is an island in San The prison, which became known Francisco Bay, about a mile from the as “The Rock,” was considered shores of California. The island edges to be escape-proof. The Rock’s rise almost straight up from the fortress-like structure and location ocean and have overhanging, jagged in treacherous waters made it rock formations. It is surrounded by almost impossible for prisoners strong, cold currents of water. to escape A few tried, but none The island was discovered by were successful. the Spanish in 1775. It was covered On May 4, 1946, a riot broke out with pelicans. The Spanish named on The Rock. Violent fighting went the island for these birds. It was on for two days. When guards called Isla de Alcatraces, which means finally regained control, five people “Island of Pelicans.” Today, it is had been killed, and many were called Alcatraz. injured. The United States has owned Because of its age and poor Alcatraz since 1850. It used a fort condition, the prison was closed that the Spanish had built there as in 1963. It stood empty for many a military prison. Alcatraz became years. Alcatraz became part of the a federal prison in 1933. Most of Golden Gate National Recreation the prisoners sent there were Area in 1972. Visitors are taken to “lifers.” They had been convicted the island by boat to see the former of murder, kidnapping, and other prison. It has become a popular serious crimes. tourist attraction.

ALCATRAZ Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the box.

military California tour States 1850 empty closed lifers escape-proof riot five currents island Alcatraz straight rocky go successful The Rock United federal water

Alcatraz is an ______off the coast of ______. It is a ______formation that rises almost ______up out of the ocean. The surrounding ______is cold with strong, deep ______. The ______has owned Alcatraz since ______. It was first used as a ______prison. Then it became a ______prison. Most of the inmates were “______.” The prison became known as ______. It was thought to be ______. No one who tried ever made a ______escape. A ______in 1946 resulted in the death of ______people. In 1963, the prison was ______. It stood ______for many years. In 1972, ______became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can ______to the island by boat to ______the former prison.

Research: Read about a pelican in an encyclopedia. Describe this bird.

NELLIE BLY (1864-1922)

Nellie Bly has been called the best She pretended to be insane and newspaper reporter in America. spent 10 days in a mental hospital Not only did she become famous in order to write about the bad for the stories she wrote, but she treatment there. She wrote about was a reporter at a time when poverty, homeless children, and reporting was considered to be a poor prison conditions. As a result job for men only. of Nellie’s articles, many changes Nellie Bly, whose real name was were made so that conditions in Elizabeth Cochrane, was born in these places got better. Pennsylvania on May 5, 1864. She Nellie also liked adventure. She was just 18 when she became a had read Jules Verne’s novel Around reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. the World in Eighty Days and decided She had written a letter to the editor to find out if she could beat that protesting an article in the paper time. It was 1890, so Nellie’s only entitled “What Girls Are Good For.” transportation was by train, ship, The editor was so impressed by the mule cart, and small boat. Yet Nellie letter that he decided to hire her. beat the time. She set a world Elizabeth wrote under the name record by circling the globe in 72 Nellie Bly. Nellie wrote vivid articles days. The New York World, for whom about terrible working and living she was working, reported daily conditions that people, especially on her incredible journey. Other women, were enduring at that newspapers picked up the stories, time. She became a factory worker and Nellie became world-famous. to find out about the long hours In 1922, Nellie Bly died of and dangerous work in factories. pneumonia. She was 58 years old.

NELLIE BLY

Write your answers on the lines of the pattern.

1. N 2. E 3. L 4. L 5. I 6. E

7. B 8. L 9. Y –

1. The Pittsburgh Dispatch was a _____ paper. 2. Nellie became a _____ for the paper. 3. The editor was impressed by a _____ she wrote. 4. _____ Verne was the author of Around the World in Eighty Days. 5. Nellie wrote about terrible working _____ people were enduring. 6. Nellie real last name was _____. 7. Nellie’s real first name was _____. 8. Nellie traveled around the _____. 9. It took Nellie _____ days to circle the globe.

Research: Find the word byline in a dictionary. Write its definition.