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Student Texts

Our searchable library of short texts offers a diverse mix of stories and perspectives. This multigenre, multimedia collection aligns with the Common Core's recommendations for text complexity and the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards.

Choose from informational and literary nonfiction texts, literature, photographs, political cartoons, interviews, infographics and more. You can also filter by text type, grade level, subject and topic.

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Text Type
Grade Level
Social Justice Domain
Subject
Topic

210 Texts

Informational

Thanksgiving Sermon

This is a sermon by Benjamin Morgan Palmer that argues for the preservation of slavery. It gives students a close look at the religious arguments made for the institution of slavery.
by
Benjamin Morgan Palmer
Grade Level
9-12
Topic
Slavery
Subject
History
Social Justice Domain
Diversity Justice
December 15, 2017
Informational

Gawking, Gaping, Staring

In this personal narrative, Clare explores multiple facets of the self and questions why gender is still discussed as a binary. He acknowledges the tortured lives that many have lived as a result of their gender ambiguity and declares that all those who "gawk," "gape," and "stare" at those who are different never get it right.
by
Eli Clare
Grade Level
9-12
Topic
Ability Gender & Sexual Identity
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice
July 14, 2014
Literature

For My People

In 1942, “For My People” won the Yale Series of Younger Poets award, and Margaret Walker became one of the youngest black writers to have published poetry in the 20th century. Her poem makes tangible the African American struggle, yet also brings to the forefront a hope for all people to “rise and take control” during a dark period in American history.
by
Margaret Walker
Grade Level
9-12
Topic
Class Rights & Activism
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
Identity Justice
December 30, 2015
Informational

Una Vida de Esperanza

In this interview, Luis Rodriguez describes how the systemic demoralization he faced in school and society at a young age drove him to join a street gang and how writing his book, Always Running, was an attempt to call his son and other young people in similar situations to change their lives.
by
Luis Rodriguez and Sara Bullard
Grade Level
9-12
Topic
Class Immigration Bullying & Bias
Subject
Civics
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
June 20, 2016
Literature

The Fiery Tail: A Chinese Tale of True Beauty

A blue peacock flies high in the night sky. Two people watch from their window.
The Peacock Fairy needs to choose an apprentice, but all of the peacocks look alike. To stand out, most of them decide to add things to their feathers, but the Little Peacock doesn't follow suit, and his actions succeed in catching the Peacock Fairy's attention.
by
Hua Long
Grade Level
K-2 3-5
Topic
Class
Subject
Civics
Social Justice Domain
Action
July 3, 2014
Multimedia

Growing vegetables and expanding horizons

Expanding Horizons
“Many residents of Compton, California, live in a food desert, which means they lack access to healthy foods and young people have never acquired the habit of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Retired neurosurgeon Sherridan Ross may have a solution: Teach them to grow their own food. Drawing on the legacy of farming in Compton by African Americans, Sherridan develops community gardens that transform the attitude of neighborhood youth to food, and benefits them in other ways, too.”
by
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Grade Level
3-5
Topic
Class Rights & Activism
Subject
History
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
June 27, 2019