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Jeans Nation

How did all of America end up wearing the same type of pants?

By Allison Friedman

From the September 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: to synthesize information from two nonfiction texts

Lexiles: 860L, 990L

Featured Skill: Synthesis,

Other Key Skills: figurative language, key ideas and details, compare and contrast

Want to hear this story read aloud? Click here!

AS YOU READ

How did jeans become popular?

Jeans Nation

How did all of America end up wearing the same type of pants?

by Allison Friedman

Thousands of men swarmed over the dusty hills of western Nevada. It was 1870, and they were all looking for the same thing: the glint of silver and gold.

Just one shiny nugget could make them rich. And so day after day, they trudged through cramped tunnels and hunched over shovels, searching. But as they dug and scraped and sifted dirt, many faced a terrible problem. It wasn’t their aching backs or their blistered fingers. It wasn’t even the mountain lions prowling the hills.

The problem was that they kept ripping their pants!

A tailor from Eastern Europe named Jacob Davis would help fix that. As the story goes, a worker’s wife asked Davis to make her husband a stronger pair of pants. Looking at the round metal pins he used on horse blankets, Davis was struck with an idea: Fasten the pins, called rivets, onto the parts of the pants that tore most often—the pocket corners and the fly.

His idea was simple—and genius. The rivets held the fabric together perfectly, making the pants virtually indestructible. Soon, every worker wanted a pair.

More than 150 years later, Davis’s riveted pants are still popular. In fact, you probably have a pair in your closet right now. You know them as jeans.

Thousands of men swarmed over the dusty hills of western Nevada. It was 1870. They were all looking for the same thing: the glint of silver and gold.

Just one shiny nugget could make them rich. And so day after day, they trudged through cramped tunnels. They hunched over shovels. They searched. But as they dug and scraped and sifted dirt, many faced a terrible problem. It wasn’t their aching backs. It wasn’t their blistered fingers. It wasn’t even the mountain lions prowling the hills.

The problem was that they kept ripping their pants!

Jacob Davis, a tailor from Eastern Europe, would help fix that. Here’s how the story goes: A worker’s wife asked Davis to make her husband a stronger pair of pants. As he looked at the round metal pins he used on horse blankets, Davis got an idea. He would fasten the pins, called rivets, onto the parts of the pants that tore most often—the pocket corners and the fly.

His idea was simple—and genius. The rivets held the fabric together perfectly. The pants were virtually indestructible. Soon, every worker wanted a pair.

More than 150 years later, Davis’s riveted pants are still popular. You probably have a pair in your closet. You know them as jeans.

Tough Pants

Davis may be credited with inventing modern jeans, but people in India, Italy, and France were wearing jeans-like pants made of thick, coarse fabrics as far back as 500 years ago. When Europeans began moving to the Americas in the 1500s, they brought one of those fabrics, denim, with them. The heavy cloth was sturdy yet comfortable, making it ideal for work pants. To hide the grime that built up, the denim was often dyed blue.

But it wasn’t until the 1870s, when Davis invented his super-sturdy pants, that denim started to become America’s uniform. The new riveted jeans flew off shelves so fast that Davis couldn’t keep up with all the orders. So he asked his fabric supplier, Levi Strauss, to go into business with him. Over the next 60 years, their riveted denim pants came to be worn by workers across America—for everything from farming and logging to manufacturing and construction.

Davis is credited for inventing modern jeans. But people in India, Italy, and France were wearing jeans-like pants as far back as 500 years ago. The pants were made of thick, coarse fabrics. When Europeans began moving to the Americas in the 1500s, they brought one of those fabrics with them. The heavy cloth, called denim, was sturdy yet comfortable. It was ideal for work pants. To hide the dirt that built up, the denim was often dyed blue.

But it wasn’t until the 1870s, when Davis invented his super-sturdy pants, that denim started to become America’s uniform. The new riveted jeans sold so fast that Davis couldn’t keep up with the orders. So he asked Levi Strauss, his fabric supplier, to go into business with him. Over the next 60 years, their riveted denim pants came to be worn by workers across America—for everything from farming and logging to manufacturing and construction.

Fashion Choice

So how did denim pants make their way into your life? It began in the 1930s, with movies called Westerns. People flocked to theaters to watch heroic cowboys gallop across dusty landscapes. And tucked into the cowboys’ boots? Jeans, of course! Kids begged their parents for a pair so they could dress up as cowboys, and wealthy Americans donned jeans to imitate their favorite movie stars.

“Companies making jeans realized, ‘Wow, there are a lot of people who want to wear jeans just for fun,’” says James Sullivan, author of a book on the history of jeans. In other words, jeans were transforming from a strictly practical garment for physical work into a fashion item.

By the 1950s, blue jeans had become the ultimate symbol of cool, especially among young people. Rock star Elvis Presley shimmied onstage in his jeans. Actors like James Dean wore them to play tough-talking teens. Many schools banned the pants, which were seen as the outfit of troublemakers. But that only made jeans seem cooler.

Over the next few decades, jeans became increasingly popular in America—and around the world. Although the pants originated outside the U.S., they came to be seen as a classic piece of American culture, like baseball or apple pie. Dozens of new denim companies sprang up to feed what was becoming a worldwide blue jeans obsession.

So how did denim pants become a part of your life? It began in the 1930s, with movies called Westerns. People flocked to theaters to watch heroic cowboys gallop across dusty landscapes. And tucked into their boots? Jeans, of course! Kids begged their parents for a pair so they could dress up as cowboys. Wealthy Americans donned jeans to imitate their favorite movie stars.

“Companies making jeans realized, ‘Wow, there are a lot of people who want to wear jeans just for fun,’” says James Sullivan. Sullivan is the author of a book on the history of jeans. In other words, jeans were becoming more than just a work garment—they were becoming a fashion item.

By the 1950s, blue jeans had become the ultimate symbol of cool, especially among young people. Rock star Elvis Presley danced onstage in his jeans. Actors like James Dean wore them to play tough-talking teens. Jeans were soon seen as the outfit of troublemakers. Many schools banned the pants. But that only made them seem cooler.

Over the next few decades, jeans became even more popular in America—and around the world. Although the pants originated outside the U.S., they came to be seen as a classic piece of American culture, like baseball or apple pie. Dozens of new denim companies sprang up to meet what was becoming a worldwide demand for blue jeans.

Just for You

Today, 96 percent of Americans own a pair of jeans, and according to some estimates, about half of all the people on the planet wear jeans on any given day. Maybe you even have a pair from Levi Strauss & Co., which not only still exists but in fact sells more jeans than any other company in the world.

Jacob Davis would surely be amazed to see how jeans have changed since he added those first rivets back in 1870. There were the bell-bottoms of the 1960s and ’70s and the high-waisted jeans of the 1980s. There were the baggy, wide-legged styles of the 1990s and the skinny jeans of the 2010s. And while today’s denim wearers don’t need the durability that Davis’s rivets offered, many pairs still have them, as a decorative feature.

“Every generation finds a new way to wear jeans so that they feel like their own,” Sullivan says. “You can do anything you want to them to make them an expression of your individuality.”

Perhaps that’s the secret to their long-lasting power. Jeans have been around for more than 150 years. They’re worn by everyone. But somehow your favorite pair feels like it was made just for you.

Today, 96 percent of Americans own a pair of jeans. According to some estimates, about half of all the people on the planet wear jeans on any given day. Maybe you even have a pair from Levi Strauss & Co., which not only still exists but sells more jeans than any other company in the world.

Jacob Davis would surely be amazed to see how jeans have changed since he added those first rivets back in 1870. There were the bell-bottoms of the 1960s and ’70s. There were the high-waisted jeans of the 1980s. There were the baggy, wide-legged styles of the 1990s and the skinny jeans of the 2010s. And while today’s denim wearers don’t need the durability that Davis’s rivets provided, many pairs still have them as decoration.

“Every generation finds a new way to wear jeans so that they feel like their own,” Sullivan says. “You can do anything you want to them to make them an expression of your individuality.”

AS YOU READ

How did backpacks become popular among students?

Rise of the Backpack

The surprising story behind a back-to-school icon

By Mackenzie Carro

Gerry Cunningham, 16, loved the outdoors. Growing up in upstate New York, he enjoyed skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. And like most outdoor enthusiasts in the 1930s, when he’d go on his adventures, he’d toss his gear into a bag called a rucksack and sling it on his back.

But rucksacks weren’t exactly comfortable. The bags could be heavy and cumbersome, with their stiff canvas fabric and thick leather straps.

One day, Gerry decided he’d had enough. Using his mother’s sewing machine, he fashioned a new pack with an ingenious feature: zippers. Now when climbing, Gerry could easily reach over his shoulder, pull a zipper, and grab what he needed—without having to heave the pack on and off his back.

Gerry’s new pack was comfortable and convenient—and it wasn’t long before other climbers wanted one too. In 1946, he and his wife started their own business selling his backpacks, or “Gerrys.”

What Gerry didn’t know was that he had invented an item that would do a lot more than ease the tired backs of outdoor adventurers. He had invented an item that would eventually impact the lives of kids everywhere: the school backpack.

Gerry Cunningham, 16, loved the outdoors. Growing up in upstate New York, he enjoyed skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. Like most outdoor enthusiasts in the 1930s, he’d toss his gear into a bag called a rucksack and sling it on his back when he’d go on adventures.

But rucksacks weren’t very comfortable. The bags could be heavy and cumbersome, with their stiff canvas fabric and thick leather straps.

One day, Gerry decided he’d had enough. He used his mother’s sewing machine to make a new pack with an ingenious feature: zippers. Now when climbing, Gerry could easily reach over his shoulder, pull a zipper, and grab what he needed—without having to heave the pack on and off his back.

Gerry’s new pack was comfortable and convenient. It wasn’t long before other climbers wanted one too. In 1946, he and his wife started their own business selling his backpacks, or “Gerrys.”

What Gerry didn’t know was that he had invented an item that would do a lot more than ease the tired backs of outdoor adventurers. He had invented an item that would eventually affect the lives of kids everywhere: the school backpack.

Perfect Material

Gerry may have invented the zippered backpack, but people have been carrying their stuff on their backs for thousands of years. One of the oldest known backpacks—it was made of wood and animal fur—was found alongside the mummified remains of a man who lived 5,000 years ago in Europe. The Inuit, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, wore packs made of sealskin and sticks. Some Civil War soldiers carried their things in rough bags called haversacks. And by the late 1800s, several kinds of canvas packs, often called knapsacks, rucksacks, or sometimes backpacks, had emerged. These early packs were used mostly by the military, travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts like Gerry.

Over the decades, Gerry continued to tinker with his backpack. And in 1967, he made a significant improvement: Instead of canvas, he began using a fabric called nylon. Nylon was strong and durable like canvas but lighter, which made it ideal for backpacks because it did not add much weight.

Still, the first nylon backpacks were intended for hikers and climbers. It wasn’t until a company called JanSport came along that backpacks became popular with students.

Gerry may have invented the zippered backpack, but people have been carrying their stuff on their backs for thousands of years. One of the oldest known backpacks was made of wood and animal fur. It was found alongside the mummified remains of a man who lived 5,000 years ago in Europe. The Inuit, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, wore packs made of sealskin and sticks. Some Civil War soldiers carried their things in rough bags called haversacks. And by the late 1800s, several kinds of canvas packs had emerged. They were called knapsacks, rucksacks, or sometimes backpacks. These early packs were used mostly by the military, travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts like Gerry.

Over the decades, Gerry continued to tinker with his backpack. And in 1967, he made a significant improvement. Instead of using canvas, he used a fabric called nylon. Nylon was strong and durable like canvas, but it was lighter. That made it ideal for backpacks because it did not add much weight.

Still, the first nylon backpacks were made for hikers and climbers. But then a company called JanSport came along. And backpacks soon became popular with students.

Students Take Over

In 1969, JanSport debuted its own nylon backpack. The company marketed it to outdoor-gear shops, but the packs ended up in the sporting goods section of the University of Washington’s bookstore.

In 1969, JanSport debuted its own nylon backpack. The company marketed it to outdoor-gear shops. But the packs ended up in the sporting goods section of the University of Washington’s bookstore.

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Today, backpacks are a global billion-dollar industry.

The backpacks became top sellers—but not for camping trips. Like most kids at the time, UW students hauled their textbooks around in their arms, but the frequent rain in Seattle meant their books were always getting wet. JanSport’s backpacks kept them dry.

When JanSport found out how students were using its bags, it began tailoring them to students’ needs. It reinforced the bottom with sturdy vinyl, for example, to help support the weight of textbooks. Soon, JanSport’s packs were lining the shelves of college bookstores along the West Coast, and eventually across the country. Companies on the East Coast, like L.L. Bean, began selling their own styles. And within a decade, students of all ages were using backpacks.

In 1969, JanSport debuted its own nylon backpack. The company marketed it to outdoor-gear shops. But the packs ended up in the sporting goods section of the University of Washington’s bookstore.

The backpacks became top sellers—but not for camping trips. Like most kids at the time, UW students carried their textbooks in their arms. But the frequent rain in Seattle meant their books were always getting wet. JanSport’s backpacks kept them dry.

When JanSport found out how students were using its bags, it began tailoring them to students’ needs. For example, it made the bottom with sturdy vinyl to help support the weight of textbooks. Soon, JanSport’s packs were lining the shelves of college bookstores along the West Coast. Eventually, they were sold across the country. Companies on the East Coast, like L.L. Bean, began selling their own styles. Within a decade, students of all ages were using backpacks.

Part of Life

By the late 1980s, backpacks had become an indispensable part of the American student’s life—and identity. After all, there were endless ways to make a backpack your own. You could choose a bold color or pattern, like race car red or tie-dye. You could deck it out with pins of your favorite bands or key chains of your favorite sports teams. Each back-to-school season, students selected their bags with the same care and passion as they did their sneakers and jeans.

State Bags

Today, backpacks remain an essential part of student life. And though there are clues inside them that tell you the world has changed—sleeves for tablets, pockets for phones, loops for headphones—today’s backpacks are not so different from those of the 1960s.

Is that because the original design can’t be rivaled? Or is it because another teenager like Gerry Cunningham has not yet come along to revolutionize the backpack once again?

Today, backpacks remain an essential part of student life. They do have some clues that tell you the world has changed, like sleeves for tablets, pockets for phones, loops for headphones. But today’s backpacks are not so different from those of the 1960s.

Is that because the original design can’t be rivaled? Or is it because another teenager like Gerry Cunningham has not yet come along to revolutionize the backpack once again?

Writing Prompt

Consider the expression “necessity is the mother of invention.” What does this expression mean? How does it relate to jeans and backpacks? Answer both questions in two to three paragraphs.

Writing Prompt

Consider the expression “necessity is the mother of invention.” What does this expression mean? How does it relate to jeans and backpacks? Answer both questions in two to three paragraphs.

^{This article was originally published in the September 2022 issue.}

Slideshows (1)

Audio ()

Activities (9)

Quizzes (1)

Slideshows (1)

Audio ()

Activities (9)

Quizzes (1)

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Connected Reading

Essential questions: What drives innovation? How does something become popular? What does fashion reflect about a culture?

1. PREPARING TO READ (15 MINUTES)

Do Now: Consider a Saying (5 minutes)

Write this saying on your whiteboard for students to reflect on as they come into your classroom: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Have students write down what they think it means. (It means something like “New ideas or ways of doing things are created when there is a problem that needs to be solved.”) Ask them if they agree with the saying. Then brainstorm some inventions that might have come to be out of necessity. Note: The culminating writing prompt requires students to apply this saying to the two articles they read.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Vocabulary Slideshow on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. The audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Highlighted words: cumbersome, donned, indestructible, indispensable, ingenious, marketed, revolutionize, tinker.

Do Now: Consider a Saying (5 minutes)

Write this saying on your whiteboard for students to reflect on as they come into your classroom: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Have students write down what they think it means. (It means something like “New ideas or ways of doing things are created when there is a problem that needs to be solved.”) Ask them if they agree with the saying. Then brainstorm some inventions that might have come to be out of necessity. Note: The culminating writing prompt requires students to apply this saying to the two articles they read.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Vocabulary Slideshow on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. The audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Highlighted words: cumbersome, donned, indestructible, indispensable, ingenious, marketed, revolutionize, tinker.

2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)

“Jeans Nation”

Have a volunteer read the As You Read box that appears on page 18 of the magazine and at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article through once as a class. Optionally, have students listen to author Allison Friedman read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
Have students reread the article silently to themselves.

“Rise of the Backpack”

Read the second article as a class. Optionally, have students listen to author Mackenzie Carro read the article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
As a class, discuss the following questions, which apply to both articles. Alternatively, after posing the questions to the class, have students share their thinking with a partner first, then expand the share into a whole-class discussion.
Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)
Author Allison Friedman writes, “But it wasn’t until the 1870s, when Davis invented his super-sturdy pants, that denim started to become America’s uniform.” What does she mean by “America’s uniform”? (figurative language) A uniform is special clothing worn by members of a particular group or organization—a sports team, workplace, school, army, etc.—to make the members of the group look the same as one another and distinct from others. In saying that denim started to become America’s uniform, Friedman means that jeans started to become the pants worn by almost all Americans.
Friedman explains that people have worn jean-like pants since as far back as 500 years ago. What change did Jacob Davis make to the jean-like pants that already existed and why? (key ideas and details) Jacob Davis attached the rivets to the pocket corners and flies of the denim pants workers were already wearing in order to make the pants more durable. By attaching the rivets to those areas of the pants, Davis solved the problem of the pants constantly ripping.

What change did Gerry Cunningham make to backpacks—and why? (key ideas and details) Cunningham created a pack that was more comfortable than the backpacks that existed at the time (which were called rucksacks) and that had an important new feature: zippers. The zippers made it possible to reach back and get something out of the pack without taking the whole thing off. Gerry made these changes because he found the backpacks that existed to be uncomfortable and cumbersome to use while rock climbing.
Who uses jeans and backpacks today? How has the use of these two items changed over time? (compare and contrast) Both items are used today by people around the world. Friedman explains that about half of all the people on the planet wear jeans on any given day. Carro explains that today, backpacks are everywhere and used by students of all ages. Originally, jeans were a practical garment worn only by those doing physical labor, but they became a fashion item worn by all. Similarly, backpacks were a practical bag for climbers, but now they are essential for anyone carrying anything, especially students carrying books.
How do the rise of jeans and the rise of the backpack differ? (contrast) At one time, the wearing of jeans was met with resistance and jeans were even banned in some places, while backpacks were never out of favor with the public. And while jeans were popularized by movie stars and musicians, backpacks were popularized by college students and the companies that tailored them to students’ needs. Finally, jeans are seen as quintessentially “American,” while backpacks are seen as quintessentially “student.”

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

Friedman quotes James Sullivan as saying “Every generation finds a new way to wear jeans so that they feel like their own. You can do anything you want to them to make them an expression of your individuality.” Which lines from “Rise of the Backpack” express a similar idea? How do your own jeans, backpack, or other belongings express your individuality? The following lines from “Rise of the Backpack” express a similar idea to what James Sullivan says about jeans: “By the late 1980s, backpacks had become an indispensable part of the American student’s life—and identity. After all, there were endless ways to make a backpack your own. You could choose a bold color or pattern, like race car red or tie-dye. You could deck it out with pins of your favorite bands or keychains of your favorite sports teams. Each back-to-school season, students selected their bags with the same care and passion as they did their sneakers and jeans.” Answers to the second question will vary.
Carro writes, “. . . today’s backpacks are not so different from those of the 1960s. Is that because the original design can’t be rivaled?” How would you answer that question? If you could revolutionize the backpack once again, what improvements would you make? Answers will vary.

“Jeans Nation”

Have a volunteer read the As You Read box that appears on page 18 of the magazine and at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article through once as a class. Optionally, have students listen to author Allison Friedman read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
Have students reread the article silently to themselves.

“Rise of the Backpack”

Read the second article as a class. Optionally, have students listen to author Mackenzie Carro read the article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
As a class, discuss the following questions, which apply to both articles. Alternatively, after posing the questions to the class, have students share their thinking with a partner first, then expand the share into a whole-class discussion.
Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)
Author Allison Friedman writes, “But it wasn’t until the 1870s, when Davis invented his super-sturdy pants, that denim started to become America’s uniform.” What does she mean by “America’s uniform”? (figurative language) A uniform is special clothing worn by members of a particular group or organization—a sports team, workplace, school, army, etc.—to make the members of the group look the same as one another and distinct from others. In saying that denim started to become America’s uniform, Friedman means that jeans started to become the pants worn by almost all Americans.
Friedman explains that people have worn jean-like pants since as far back as 500 years ago. What change did Jacob Davis make to the jean-like pants that already existed and why? (key ideas and details) Jacob Davis attached the rivets to the pocket corners and flies of the denim pants workers were already wearing in order to make the pants more durable. By attaching the rivets to those areas of the pants, Davis solved the problem of the pants constantly ripping.

What change did Gerry Cunningham make to backpacks—and why? (key ideas and details) Cunningham created a pack that was more comfortable than the backpacks that existed at the time (which were called rucksacks) and that had an important new feature: zippers. The zippers made it possible to reach back and get something out of the pack without taking the whole thing off. Gerry made these changes because he found the backpacks that existed to be uncomfortable and cumbersome to use while rock climbing.
Who uses jeans and backpacks today? How has the use of these two items changed over time? (compare and contrast) Both items are used today by people around the world. Friedman explains that about half of all the people on the planet wear jeans on any given day. Carro explains that today, backpacks are everywhere and used by students of all ages. Originally, jeans were a practical garment worn only by those doing physical labor, but they became a fashion item worn by all. Similarly, backpacks were a practical bag for climbers, but now they are essential for anyone carrying anything, especially students carrying books.
How do the rise of jeans and the rise of the backpack differ? (contrast) At one time, the wearing of jeans was met with resistance and jeans were even banned in some places, while backpacks were never out of favor with the public. And while jeans were popularized by movie stars and musicians, backpacks were popularized by college students and the companies that tailored them to students’ needs. Finally, jeans are seen as quintessentially “American,” while backpacks are seen as quintessentially “student.”

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

Friedman quotes James Sullivan as saying “Every generation finds a new way to wear jeans so that they feel like their own. You can do anything you want to them to make them an expression of your individuality.” Which lines from “Rise of the Backpack” express a similar idea? How do your own jeans, backpack, or other belongings express your individuality? The following lines from “Rise of the Backpack” express a similar idea to what James Sullivan says about jeans: “By the late 1980s, backpacks had become an indispensable part of the American student’s life—and identity. After all, there were endless ways to make a backpack your own. You could choose a bold color or pattern, like race car red or tie-dye. You could deck it out with pins of your favorite bands or keychains of your favorite sports teams. Each back-to-school season, students selected their bags with the same care and passion as they did their sneakers and jeans.” Answers to the second question will vary.
Carro writes, “. . . today’s backpacks are not so different from those of the 1960s. Is that because the original design can’t be rivaled?” How would you answer that question? If you could revolutionize the backpack once again, what improvements would you make? Answers will vary.

3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (20 MINUTES)

Have students complete Writing Planner: The Mother of Invention. This activity will help them organize their ideas in preparation for the prompt on page 21 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page.
Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.

Have students complete Writing Planner: The Mother of Invention. This activity will help them organize their ideas in preparation for the prompt on page 21 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page.
Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.

4. CONNECTED READING

Connected reading from the Scope archives:

Paired Texts: “Sneaker Nation” and “Does He Have the Best Job Ever?” ( February 2021)

Connected reading from the Scope archives:

Paired Texts: “Sneaker Nation” and “Does He Have the Best Job Ever?” ( February 2021)

Text-to-Speech

Jeans Nation

Jeans Nation

by Allison Friedman

Rise of the Backpack

The surprising story behind a back-to-school icon

By Mackenzie Carro

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Connected Reading

1. PREPARING TO READ (15 MINUTES)

2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)

3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (20 MINUTES)

4. CONNECTED READING

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About Us

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Jeans Nation

Jeans Nation

by Allison Friedman

Rise of the Backpack

The surprising story behind a back-to-school icon

By Mackenzie Carro

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read 2. Reading and Discussing 3. Skill Building and Writing 4. Connected Reading

1. PREPARING TO READ (15 MINUTES)

2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)

3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (20 MINUTES)

4. CONNECTED READING

Help/Support

Help/Support

About Us

Subscriber Information

Connect with Us

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Connected Reading