Nonfiction

by Francine Thompson

PAIRED
Four Voyages
READ
 STRATEGIES & SKILLS
Comprehension Phonics
Strategy: Reread r-controlled vowels air,
Skill: Author’s Purpose are, ear

Vocabulary Content Standards

favorite, few, gone, nation, Social Studies
surprise, unite, wonder, American History
young

ELL Vocabulary
honor, relax Word count: 314**

Photography Credit: Cover Paul Barton/CORBIS

only. Numerals and words
**The total word count is based on words in the running text and headings only
in captions, labels, diagrams, charts, and sidebars are not included.

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ISBN: 978-0-02-119520-6
MHID: 0-02-119520-X

Printed in the United States.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DOC 17 16 15 14 13 12
A
 Genre Nonfiction

Essential Question
Why do we celebrate holidays?

by Francine Thompson

Chapter 1
What Is Labor Day? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2
How Do We Celebrate? . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Respond to Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
PAIRED
Four Voyages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
READ
Focus on Social Studies . . . . . . . . . . . .16
In the United States, Labor Day is a
special day. It happens in September.

On Labor Day, many grown-ups do

not go to work. Children do not go
to school.

Labor Day is on the first

Monday of September.

calendar
Alfonso de Tomas/Alamy

2
 factory

Long ago, children worked

in places like this.

Did you ever wonder what Labor

Day is? Labor Day is a day to honor
workers.

In the past, the work day was very

long. Workers could not rest. Young
children had to work too. Sometimes
work was not safe.
CORBIS

3
Now our nation has laws. The laws
make sure that workers are safe.
Work is more fair. A worker can take
a break.

Other laws say that children can’t

work. Children must go to school.

rest. En español: descansar.

Hard hats keep

workers safe.

hard hat
Ron Levine/Photodisc/Getty Images

4
 cafeteria worker

Many workers help

us at school.

Americans unite to say thank you to

workers on Labor Day.
Stockbroker/Purestock/SuperStock

People also like to celebrate on

Labor Day!

STOP AND CHECK

Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

5
Some cities have parades on Labor
Day. It’s fun to wave a flag. Maybe
some clowns will surprise you. Have
you ever gone to a parade?

Have is a special verb. Find

another special verb on page 4.

Parades are fun!

flag

parade
Michael Tyo/Alamy

6
 blanket

Some concerts are

held outdoors.

In some towns, people can listen

to music after a Labor Day parade.
The town has a concert. The whole
family has fun.

Strike up the band!

Stock Connection/SuperStock

Get the band started!

En español: empezar a tocar.
7
On Labor Day, families like to have
picnics. They share their food at a
park. What is your favorite picnic
food?

It’s fun to eat lunch

outside.

Paul Barton/CORBIS

grill

8
 Relaxing with family
can also be fun.

After lunch, people like to relax for

a few minutes. Then it’s time to play
a game! What games do you like to
play outside?
Fancy/Alamy

9
 A lot of people go to the beach on
Labor Day. It’s fun to play in the
sand. When it gets hot, it’s time to
go in the ocean. Don’t forget your
swimsuit!

Your is a possessive pronoun.

Find another possessive pronoun
on page 8.

Many families like the

beach.

Purestock/SuperStock

ocean

sand

10
 Many children ride the
bus to school.

Labor Day is at the end of summer.

The next day, most children go to
school. It’s time to use a backpack
again.

Here comes the bus!

Vstock/Getty Images

STOP AND CHECK

What are some fun things

to do on Labor Day?
11
 Retell
Use the chart Clue Clue

to help you retell

It’s Labor Day!
Author’s
Purpose

Text Evidence
1. Why did the author write Chapter
1? Author’s Purpose

2. Why did the author write Chapter

2? Author’s Purpose

3. Are the people in It’s Labor Day!

made-up or are they real? How do
you know? Genre

12
 Genre Nonfiction
Compare Texts
Read about another American
holiday.
Rebecca Marvil/Photolibrary/Getty Images

ship

13
 Christopher Columbus

Emanuele Taroni/Photodisc/Getty Images, (inset) FPG/Taxi/Getty Images

Columbus Day is on the second
Monday in October.

Christopher Columbus sailed

from Spain. Columbus made four
voyages, or trips, to the Americas.
On Columbus Day, we remember
the first voyage.

14
 Spain
KEY
1492
1493
North
1498
America 1502

Africa

South
America
Illustration: Rob Schuster

The map shows all four voyages.

You can see where the ships went.

Make Connections
Look at both selections. How do you
celebrate both holidays? Text to Text
15
 Purpose To find out about workers
you honor

What to Do
Step 1 Think about people you know
and the jobs they do. Think
about how their work helps you.

Step 2 Draw a chart like this one.

Fill it in with the jobs those
people do.
Jobs I honor them because
teachers They help me learn.

Step 3 Write a paragraph about

someone in your chart. Draw a
picture. Share with the class.

16
 Literature Circles

Nonfiction

The Topic
Why do we celebrate
Labor Day?

Vocabulary
What new words did you learn
in the text?

Make Connections
How does your family celebrate
Labor Day?