

The Transcontinental Railroad
Informational (nonfiction) 2,348 words, Level Z2 (Grade 5+), Lexile 1060L
How could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged American West? The Transcontinental Railroad addresses the laborious and often dangerous process of connecting the United States from east to west. Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. Students will have the opportunity to practice the skills of identifying main ideas and details and summarizing to understand the text. The book and lesson are also available for levels X and Z1.