Understanding Memorial Day Reading and Questions

This reading activity is to inform elementary school students with an overview of the significance of Memorial Day. It explains why Memorial Day is important, its historical background, the heroes it commemorates, and the traditions associated with the holiday. This activity also includes five comprehension questions to ensure that students have grasped the key concepts discussed. It emphasizes the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. military while encouraging an understanding of the holiday's deeper meaning.

Reading Standards for Informational Text (Grade 3-5):

1. Key Ideas and Details:
   

• RI.3.2: Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
• RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
• RI.5.2: Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

1. Craft and Structure:
   

• RI.3.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
• RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
• RI.5.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.

1. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
   

• RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text.
• RI.4.7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
• RI.5.7: Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

Writing Standards (Grade 3-5):

1. Text Types and Purposes:
   

• W.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
• W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to convey ideas and information clearly.
• W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

1. Research to Build and Present Knowledge:
   

• W.3.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
• W.4.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
• W.5.7: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.