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Paired Texts,

Could You Be a LEGO® Master?

Read two nonfiction texts on what it takes to be a LEGO® Master.

By Katie Mach
From the May/June 2023 Issue
Lexiles: 490L
Guided Reading Level: I
Featured Skill: Comparing Texts,
Vocabulary: base, models, training
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words RI.1.3 Describe the connection between two ideas or pieces of information in a text RI.1.5 Know and use various text features to locate information in a text RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and information from images RI.1.7 Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas RI.1.9 Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic RI.1.10 Read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1 SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade-1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups L.1.4.A Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
TEKS Standards
  • Health
    (4) Mental health and wellness—developing a healthy self-concept. The student develops the capacity for self-assessment and evaluation, goal setting, and decision making in order to develop a healthy self-concept. The student is expected to: (A) discuss ways to be kind to self and how to identify areas for growth; and (B) explain the importance of goal setting and task completion.

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Think and Read

As you read, think about how one article is about a job and the other article tells how to build a tower.

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Best Job Ever!

Ekaterina79/iStockPhoto/Getty Images

Would you want to get paid to play? Some grown-ups get paid to build with LEGO® bricks. They are LEGO Master Model Builders. It is their job to make LEGO models, like this giant dinosaur.

The models go in stores and even museums. Some Masters also teach kids how to build.

It can take years of training to become a LEGO Master Builder. So keep practicing!


LEGO House/©2019 The LEGO Group (Dinosaur); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Child)

Dino egg! (bottom)

 LEGO® Master Secrets

Photo by Nathan Sawaya

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How do you build the best LEGO® towers? We asked a Master Builder named Nathan Sawaya. He loves playing with bricks all day. Here are his tips and secrets.


Photo by Nathan Sawaya

Nathan says, “Math, science, and art help me build with LEGO bricks. If you want to be a LEGO Master, keep practicing and be creative.”

video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (2) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Informational text

Comparing

Science Focus

Engineering and technology

Vocabulary

base, models, training

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS

Read-Aloud

  • Storyworks 1 provides a variety of text types and levels that you can use in different ways. One suggestion is to read “Could You Be a LEGO Master?” during a whole-class read-aloud.

Partner Read

  • After reading the two articles as a whole class, pair a stronger reader with a striving reader to practice fluency and comprehension. The stronger reader can whisper read the longer article, “Best Job Ever!” The striving reader can whisper read “LEGO Master Secrets.” Then they can discuss something that each enjoyed learning.

1. BEFORE READING

Preview Vocabulary (3-5 minutes)

  • Play the online vocabulary slideshow. This article’s featured words are base, models, and training.

Set a Purpose and Show a Video (10 minutes)

  • Preview vocabulary and key concepts by watching a video about a real LEGO® Master named Veronica. Ask children to think about what a LEGO Master’s job is.

Set a Purpose for Reading and Preview the Article (7-10 minutes)

  • Turn to the opener. Children will be excited by the photo of the LEGO bricks! Read the text and tell students they are going to read two nonfiction articles about the same topic, becoming a LEGO master.
  • Turn the page and preview the structure of the two articles. Read the headlines together and review the photos. What do children notice about these two articles? How are they alike? (They both have pictures of LEGO creations; they both have headlines and headings.) How are they different? (One has a diagram and tips.)

2. READ THE PAIRED TEXTS (15-30 MINUTES)

  • Read the first story, stopping to check comprehension after each section. Guide children to find the main idea: One job you can have is to be a LEGO Master.
  • Read the second article. Guide children to see the main idea of this piece. It tells us how to build a strong LEGO tower. Now they know that readers can get information from reading more than one text on a topic!

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON SKILLS

ELA Focus: Compare and Contrast (20 minutes)

  • The Perfect Pair! printable helps kids compare and contrast nonfiction texts on the same topic.

ELA Focus: Compare and Contrast (15 minutes)

Text-to-Speech