Aly's Discovery by Jacqueline Adams | CommonLit | Paired Texts

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by Jacqueline Adams 2015

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

The Lion and the Mouse

In this classic fable by Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, a tiny mouse proves to a powerful lion that she is greater than she seems.

Pair “The Lion and the Mouse” with “Aly’s Discovery” and ask students to discuss the themes of friendship in the two texts. How is the lion and mouse’s friendship an unlikely one? How does their unlikely friendship compare to Aly and Rachel’s? Ask students to compare how the friendships in the two texts develop.

5th Grade Fable 880L

"The Worst Birthday" from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

J.K. Rowling

After a year spent at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, Harry Potter returns to his non-magical family for the summer, where he must endure his family treating him badly because they fear his powers.

Pair “‘The Worst Birthday’ from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” with “Aly’s Discovery” and ask students to discuss how the characters from the two texts feel isolated. How do Harry’s feelings of isolation compare to Aly’s? Why is Aly able to resolve her loneliness and boredom, while Harry is not?

6th Grade Fantasy 980L

Queen Minbe and the Cricket

In "Queen Minbe and the Cricket," a queen learns something about herself in a quiet garden.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “Queen Minbe and the Cricket” and have students discuss how the main characters solve their problems in both stories. What do the main characters discover? What role does nature play in each story?

4th Grade Short Story 970L

Elizabeth Donnelly

In "Cracks of Gold," a boy fixes a mistake with the help of a new neighbor.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “Cracks of Gold” and ask students to discuss how the main characters feel about moving. Do Aly from “Aly’s Discovery” and Benjamin feel the same or different about moving? What lessons do they learn from their neighbors?

4th Grade Short Story 660L

To Have a Friend...

Richard Woodard

In "To Have a Friend," a boy tries to make a friend after moving somewhere new.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “To Have a Friend” and ask students to discuss how the main characters feel about moving to a rural area. How does Aly, from “Aly’s Discovery” make a new friend? How does Gil? How do both characters find new ways to enjoy themselves?

3rd Grade Fiction - General

A Pond for Maddie

Charnan Simon

In "A Pond for Maddie," a young girl helps her family bring their backyard pond back to life.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “A Pond for Maddie” to have students think about how a new discovery can make moving to a new place easier. How does Aly feel when she moves to a new place in “Aly’s Discovery”? How does her discovery of Rachel help her adjust to her new home? In “A Pond for Maddie” how does Maddie feel when she moves to a new place? How does the discovery of the artificial pond help her adjust to her new home? How are Aly and Maddie’s experiences similar and different?

3rd Grade Fiction - General 620L

Odin's Firefly Goodbye

In "Odin's Firefly Goodbye," a young boy has a final special moment before moving to his new house.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “Odin’s Firefly Goodbye” and have students think about how moving can be difficult. Why is moving to a new place difficult for Aly in “Aly’s Discovery”? Why is moving to a new place difficult for Odin in “Odin’s Firefly Goodbye”? How do both Aly and Odin overcome their difficulties with moving?

4th Grade Short Story 650L

Clare Mishica

In "I Am the Pine," a girl gathers the courage to go to art camp without her friends.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “I Am the Pine” and ask students to discuss how both stories teach a lesson. What is Aly’s problem in “Aly’s Discovery”? How does Aly solve it? What is Tessa’s problem in “I Am the Pine”? How does Tessa solve her problem in “I Am the Pine”? What lesson do both stories teach? How are the lessons alike or different?

3rd Grade Fiction - General 710L

Henrietta Applebaum is Upside Down

Hannah Hoffman

In "Henrietta Applebaum is Upside Down," a young girl learns that some days are "upside-down days" and that tomorrow will be better.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “Henrietta Applebaum is Upside Down” and have students think about how the older women help the girls learn important lessons. Why is Aly upset in “Aly’s Discovery”? How does Miss Strawbridge help Aly feel better? Why is Henrietta upset in “Henrietta Applebaum is Upside Down”? How does her mother help her feel better? How do both women help the girls see that “tomorrow will be better”?

4th Grade Short Story 540L

The Weird Day with Walden

M. Coutts (Morgan Irons)

In "The Weird Day with Walden," a boy does not know that his confusing new neighbor is actually two twin brothers.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “The Weird Day with Walden” and ask students to compare the discoveries in each story. What does Aly discover at the end of “Aly’s Discovery”? What does Tim discover at the end of “The Weird Day with Walden”? What do you think will happen as a result of each character’s discovery?

3rd Grade Short Story 520L

mail delivery (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)

Joseph Bruchac

In "mail delivery (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)," a Native American girl receives a package during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pair “Aly’s Discovery” with “mail delivery (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)” and ask students to discuss how to handle loneliness. Why is Aly lonely in “Aly’s Discovery”? Why might Malian be lonely in “mail delivery (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)”? Who does Aly become friends with in “Aly’s Discovery”? How do they become friends? Who does Malian become friends with in “mail delivery (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)”? How do you think these friendships help the characters with their loneliness?