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Reading Classwork
KIPP 2015: _______________________
Aim: Use specific details from the text to complete graphic organizers on a reading test.
A good rule of thumb for graphic organizers is to make sure that your answers are specific
details from the text and that they clearly provide examples of what you are being asked to
show.
Christopher Columbus and the Taino
The Taino once lived on the islands in the northern
Caribbean. They were the first people to welcome Christopher
Columbus when he arrived in the New World in 1492. The Taino
thought that Columbus and his crew were gods. They gave their
visitors many gifts. In addition, the Taino provided shelter, food, and
peaceful trade. The Spanish, though, treated the Taino badly. First,
they claimed all the Taino land. Then they forced the islanders to dig
for gold in barren mines. As a result, many Taino died from overwork. Others starved. Diseases which
the Spanish brought to the island were the main reason that the Taino died. By 1530, the Taino
population had almost completely disappeared.
Graphic Organizer: Complete the graphic organizer below by finding two examples of how the Taino
treated the Spanish, and two examples of how the Spanish treated the Taino.
The Wrong Way to do this
How the Taino treated the Spanish
1. The Taino thought they were gods.
2. They were nice to the Spanish.
How the Spanish treated the Taino
1. The Spanish treated the Taino badly.
2. By 1530, the Taino population had almost
completely disappeared.
The Right  Way to do this
How the Taino treated the Spanish
1. The Taino gave the Spanish many gifts.
2. The Taino provided food, shelter, and
trade with the Spanish.
How the Spanish treated the Taino
1.
The Spanish took all of the Taino land and
forced the Taino to work on their land.
2. The Spanish infected the Taino with deadly
diseases that destroyed their population.
Read this Greek Myth, then complete the graphic organizer that follows.
Daedalus and Icarus
Daedalus was an inventor who designed a labyrinth for King Minos on the island of
Crete. The king had ordered the maze built to hold the Minotaur, a monster who was half
man and half bull.
At first, King Minos was very pleased with Daedalus, because nobody could escape
his brilliantly made maze, but Daedalus began bragging about how wonderful his work was
and how he had been underpaid for it. King Minos got so angry at this offense that he
imprisoned Daedalus along with his son, Icarus.
Daedalus immediately set to work on an escape plan. He made two pairs of wings
by threading together bird feathers and fastening them with wax. Then, he and his son put
on their wings. Just before they flew off, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high or too
low. The best thing, Daedlus told his son, was to follow him closely. Then, flapping their
wings up and down, the father and soon took to the
air.
Daedalus flew ahead, but looked back to see
how his son was doing. Icarus was not one for
carefulness, and became so excited to be flying like a
bird that he forgot his father’s warnings. Even after
his father tried to remind him to stay close to him,
Icarus ignored the warnings, thinking that his father
was being silly and too cautious. He climbed higher
and higher into the air. At last, he came so near the
sun that the wax holding his wings together melted.
Icarus plunged into the sea and was drowned.
Graphic Organizer: Write a word that describes the character Daedalus and a word that
describes the character Icarus, then give an example of an action from the story that
supports that description.
Character
Daedalus
Icarus
Word that describes that character’s
personality in the story
Action from the story that
supports that description