ReadWorks and News-O-Matic have partnered to help you pair news articles that teach children 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and global awareness with ReadWorks' trusted texts that build background knowledge and vocabulary. ​​Each week, read News-O-Matic's hand-selected article, available for free through our partnership. Each article is available at three levels for access to all readers. Then, read ReadWorks' hand-curated texts to support explorations and discussions of the news article. Download our easy one-page guide for linking reading, writing, and speaking!

News-O-Matic articles share current events with your students

ReadWorks' knowledge- building texts support the articles' key themes

Use our research-based Book of Knowledge to add writing & speaking

To view the pairings, scroll below!

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This Week's News Article and Supporting Background Knowledge Texts

News-O-Matic: A SWING AT PIÑATA STAMPS!
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 1 (PDF)

knowledge text set: 2nd-3RD grade

• Chichén Itzá​, Mexico (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• Cinco de Mayo-Time to Celebrate! (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• Día de la Raza (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• The Nahua (3rd grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: A SWING AT PIÑATA STAMPS!
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 2 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 4th-5th grade

• Dolores Huerta, Fighting for the Farmers (4th grade, nonfiction)
• Mexican Mole (4th grade, nonfiction)
• The Story of Mexican Murals (5th grade, nonfiction)
• Traveling through Tenochtitlán (5th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: A SWING AT PIÑATA STAMPS!
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 3 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 6th-8th grade

• Rufino Tamayo, An Influential Mexican Artist​ (6th grade, nonfiction)
• Introduction to Día de los Muertos (7th grade, nonfiction)
• Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts (7th grade, nonfiction)

Past Articles from News-O-Matic and ReadWorks' Text Sets 

News-O-Matic: EARTHQUAKE HITS MOROCCO: LEVEL 1
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 1 (PDF)

knowledge text set: 2nd-3RD grade

• A Dangerous Landslide​ (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• The Power of the Earth (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• Why are There Earthquakes? (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• Quick & Destructive: Earthquakes (3rd grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: EARTHQUAKE HITS MOROCCO: LEVEL 2
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 2 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 4th-5th grade

• Our Changing Earth: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions (4th grade, fiction)
• Morocco's Geography (5th grade, nonfiction)
• Preparing for a Disaster (5th grade, nonfiction)
• Responding to Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Landslides, and Volcanoes (5th grade, nonfiction)
• The Historical Medina of Fes, Morocco (5th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: EARTHQUAKE HITS MOROCCO: LEVEL 3
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 3 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 6th-8th grade

• ​Tagine: A Cookware and a Delicious Stew (5th/6th grade, nonfiction)
• Cracking Up (6th grade, nonfiction)
• Finding Fault (7th grade, nonfiction)
• Mount Pinatubo and the Ring of Fire (8th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: CHINA'S PANDAS HEADING HOME: LEVEL 1
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 1 (PDF)

knowledge text set: 2nd-3RD grade

• The Geography of China ​(​2nd grade, nonfiction)
• China: The Giant Panda (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• Habitats-Zoos (3rd grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: CHINA'S PANDAS HEADING HOME: LEVEL 2
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 2 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 4th-5th grade

• Mountain Animals (4th grade, nonfiction)
• Panda Power!​ (4th grade, nonfiction)
• Endangered Animals at a Glance (5th/6th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: CHINA'S PANDAS HEADING HOME: LEVEL 3
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 3 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 6th-8th grade

• Bear Care​ (6th grade, nonfiction)
• The Endangered Bamboo-Eaters of Nepal: Red Pandas (7th grade, nonfiction)
• Brave New Zoos (8th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: INDIA ON THE MOON!: LEVEL 1
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 1 (PDF)

knowledge text set: 2nd-3RD grade

• The Moons in Our Solar System ​(2nd grade, nonfiction)
• ​A Walk on the Moon (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• What Should We Take to the Moon? (3rd grade, fiction)
• What's it Like in Space?​​​ (3rd grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: INDIA ON THE MOON!: LEVEL 2
​​News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 2 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 4th-5th grade

• Why is the Moon So Scarred with Craters? (4th grade, nonfiction)
• ​Space Centers Across the U.S.A. (4th grade, nonfiction)
• ​​​In Pictures: Beyond Planet Earth (5th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: INDIA ON THE MOON!: LEVEL 3
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 3 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 6th-8th grade

• Climbing Space (6th/7th grade, nonfiction)
• The Earth's Moon: In Depth (7th grade, nonfiction)
• ​"Seven Minutes of Terror," Eight Years of Ingenuity (8th grade, nonfiction)

News-O-Matic: PRESIDENT VISITS HAWAII AFTER FIRES: LEVEL 1
​News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 1 (PDF)

knowledge text set: 2nd-3RD grade

• Fire Safety (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• To the Rescue! (2nd grade, nonfiction)
• A Fire Safety Checklist (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• Coral Reefs in Hawaii (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• Hawaii's Traditional Hula Dance (3rd grade, nonfiction)​​​​​

News-O-Matic: PRESIDENT VISITS HAWAII AFTER FIRES: LEVEL 2
​​News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 2 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 4th-5th grade

• Into the Flames (3rd grade, nonfiction)
• Preparing for Wildfires (4th grade, nonfiction)
• The History of Surfing in Hawaii (5th grade, nonfiction)​​​​

News-O-Matic: PRESIDENT VISITS HAWAII AFTER FIRES: LEVEL 3
News-O-Matic Educator Resources: Level 3 (PDF)

KNOWLEDGE TEXT SET: ​ 6th-8th grade

• Not Scared...Prepared (6th grade, nonfiction)
• The Musician with Aloha Spirit (6th grade, nonfiction)
• The Nature and Culture of Hawaii on a Quilt (8th grade, nonfiction)