Themes

Anchor Texts by Theme

The same nine themes occur at every grade level, specific theme content changes to reflect the developmental and interest levels of students. Themes range from personal, spiritual, and family-oriented topics to those incorporating cultural, sociological, and environmental issues. Spiritual lessons aligned with the Adventist Worldview, essential question, and big idea are intentionally integrated within the unit. The framework for instruction is consistent across grade levels.

→ You can find a brief synopsis of each text on the Anchor Texts page.

→ Download a spreadsheet

• White type indicates Informational Text.

• Black type indicates Literature Text.

Text Complexity

Research supports the need to choose more complex text to better prepare students for post-secondary experiences—either academic or work. Text complexity demands for college and career readiness have held steady or increased over the past half century, yet the complexity of texts that K-12 students use has steadily decreased in that same interval. Pathways 2.0 provides increased text complexity in literary selections.

The Three-Part Model for Text Complexity useful in understanding the expectations of complex texts at all grade levels. The three domains—quantitative, qualitative, reader and task considerations—are equally intertwined in determining the appropriateness of text.

  • Heroes

    Students are introduced to heroes who overcome insurmountable odds. Biographies feature many types of heroes facing challenges ranging from the defending beliefs to social injustices. Students are led to recognize God’s power and love in these stories as well as in their own lives.

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    Ellen Ochoa

    by Jaffee

     

    Odd Boy Out

    by Brown

     

    Fly High!

    by Borden

     

    The Story of George
    Washington Carver

    by Moore

     

    Good Queen Bess

    by Stanley

     

    Amos Fortune, Free Man

    by Yates

     

    David Livingstone

    by Benge

     

    Noah Webster

    by Shea

  • My World and Others

    Students experience how people live in different cultures and political settings. They gain insight from historical and contemporary perspectives about how people live in different geographical regions and how culture affects human lives. Students will celebrate not only the differences among cultures but also the many similarities that make up God’s family.

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    Arroz con lech (Rice Pudding)

    by Argueta

     

    On the Same Day in March

    by Singer

     

    Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

    by Raven

     

    A Boy Named Beckoning

    by Capaldi

     

    Lewis and Clark

    By Rodger

     

    If You Lived Here

    by Laroche

     

    Shipwrecked

    by Blumberg

     

    I Am Malala

    by Yousafzai

  • Living Things

    Students are encouraged to study the natural world around them through the lens of creation. Each level has a specific scientific focus. Through the study of “God’s Second Book” students are brought to a closer relationship with Him.

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    A Tree is a Plant

    by Bulla

     

    Cactus Hotel

    by Guiberson

     

    Grow With Me: Spider

    By Bodden

     

    Far From Shore

    by Webb

     

    Butterflies and Moths

    by Bishop

     

    First Flight

    by Carrol

     

    Gifts of an Eagle

    by Durden

     

    Phineas Gage

    by Fleishman

  • Walking with God

    This theme encourages students to grow spiritually and to foster a personal relationship with Jesus by seeking God’s plan for their lives. The many Christ-like attributes described in the stories will exemplify what being a Christian truly means. Included are stories of how God has led the Adventist church and how He leads in the affairs of those who trust His guidance.

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    Little Maid

    by Degering

     

    Twice Yours

    by Gurley

     

    A Question of Yams

    by Repp

     

    Out of the Blue

    by Mills

     

    Guardians of the Mercy Seat

    by Booth

     

    Jonah Shepherd Warrior

    by Booth

     

    Heartwarming Stories of
    Adventist Pioneers

    by Collins

  • Friends and Family

    This theme includes literature about interrelationships among family members and friends. In the early grades, students explore roles and relationships within families. In the middle and upper grades, the content broadens to interpersonal relationships with friends. Students are encouraged to recognize how their actions influence others by following the example of Jesus.

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    The Doorbell Rang

    by Hutchins

     

    Galimoto

    by Williams

     

    The Lemonade Club

    by Polacco

     

    Yuki

    by Crawford

     

    Thin Wood Walls

    by Patneaude

     

    The Door in the Wall

    by de Angeli

     

    Heartbeat

    by Creech

     

    Eric Liddell

    by Benge

  • Environment

    Selections in this theme stress the interrelationships between people and their environment. Students study ways people appreciate and preserve the environment. Students realize their responsibility to care for God’s creation.

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    We All Went on Safari

    by K1rebs

     

    Me … Jane

    by McConnell

     

    Will We Miss Them?

    by Wright

     

    Come Back Salmon

    by Cone

     

    Dinosaurs

    by Graham-Kennedy

     

    Volcano

    by Lauber

     

    Under the Ice

    by Conlan

     

    The Case of the Monkeys that
    Fell from the Trees and Other Mysteries in Tropical Nature

    by Quinlan

  • Personal Feelings and Growth

    Texts for this theme stress personal issues and struggles as students explore how life experiences enable them to grow closer to God and become resilient. The primary grade literature focuses on students’ growing knowledge of themselves and their potential. The upper grade literature explores an individual’s personal feelings and growth, change, perseverance, and family relationships.

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    The Art Lesson

    by dePaola

     

    Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match (Marisol McDonald no combina)

    by Brown

     

    The Gardener

    by Stewart

     

    Julius!

    by Wiggins

     

    A Family Apart

    by Nixon

     

    Song of the Trail

    by Cason

     

    Maritcha

    by Bolden

     

    A Single Shard

    by Park

  • Yesterday

    Texts for this theme allow students a glance at life during various historical periods. Through literature students explore a variety historical events such as colonial times, western expansion, racial injustice, the polio epidemic, and child labor laws. While learning about cultural events they are led to see God’s hand in the affairs of humans.

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    Warrior Maiden

    by Schecter

     

    Charlie Horse

    by Ricchiuti

     

    Sarah, Plain and Tall

    by MacLachlan

     

    The Cabin Faced West

    by Fritz

     

    Small Steps

    by Kehret

     

    A Long Walk to Water

    by Parks

     

    Kids at Work

    by Freedman

     

    The Forbidden Schoolhouse

    by Jurmain

  • Social Issues and Culture

    Readers explore relationships among different groups over issues of prejudice, physical challenges, cultural differences, immigration, social injustices, and death. They experience how characters learn to accept others with special needs and people from different cultural backgrounds. Students explore how to respond compassionately to the turmoil in our world.

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    Cleversticks

    by Ashley

     

    Helen Keller

    by Hurwitz

     

    I Miss Grandpa

    by Holford

     

    Twenty and Ten

    by Bishop

     

    Journey to Jo’burg

    by Naidoo

     

    Esperanza Rising

    by Ryan

     

    Drowned City

    by Brown

     

    Luke