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Benny and Danny were twins. Each week, they each got five

dollars in allowance. Benny always spent all of his allowance on candy and small toys. Every so often, Danny bought some candy, but he saved most of his money in a piggy bank that he kept on his nightstand by his bed.

Sometimes, Danny did extra chores around the house to earn more money. He always put his earnings into his bank.

The months passed and soon school was out for summer. One day, Danny asked his parents to take him to the bike store. He had saved enough money for a new bike! Danny picked out a red bike with blue handlebars. His parents were so impressed with how much he had saved that they bought him a helmet and a bike lock.

Danny spent the summer riding his new bike around the neighborhood with his friends. Since he did not have a bike, Benny spent most of his summer alone at home.

• You can buy more if you save your money.

• Danny is smarter than Benny.

• You shouldn't spend all your money on candy.

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CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

Lucy never put anything away. When she made her breakfast in the morning, she left the cereal and the milk out on the counter and she left her dirty bowl on the table. When she got home from school, she tossed her coat and her backpack on the floor where her mother often tripped on them when she came in from work.

One day, Lucy and her friend Amelia decided to color pictures outside under the big oak tree. Lucy had just gotten a brand new box of 108 crayons and she wanted to try them out. They sat under the tree, happily coloring until it was time for Amelia to go home. “Want me

to help clean up?" Amelia asked before she left.

“Nah, I'll do it later," Lucy replied as she headed inside to watch TV. Lucy watched three shows and forgot about the

crayons. The next day, when Lucy went outside to play, she found that the sun had melted her new crayons into a big, goopy mess.

• Put things away when you are done using them.

• You shouldn't leave crayons out in the sun.

• Lucy is lazy and inconsiderate.

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CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

One day Michael's new friend, Brice, invited him over for dinner.

Brice's family had a lot of money and Michael was amazed at how big their house was. His family's whole apartment could probably fit in Brice's living room! Michael's amazement turned to envy when he saw Brice's bedroom. Brice had his own computer, a big screen TV, and about every video game that was ever made! Michael had to share his tiny room with his brother and all they had was a shelf full of books.

When it was time for dinner, the boys went down to the dining room and sat at a long, fancy table. No one else came to sit with them. A woman served them their dinner and cleaned up after they were done.

“Is that your mom?" Michael asked.

“No, that's Ana, our maid." Brice replied. “My parents always work late. I almost never see them before I go to bed."

Michael thought about how his own family always ate dinner together. He thought about how his dad helped him with his homework and how his mom always came in to say goodnight to him at bedtime. Suddenly, he didn't feel so envious of Brice anymore.

• Michael's parents are better than Brice's.

• You shouldn't be envious (jealous) of other people.

• There are more important things than money.

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CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Cody had not studied for the big math test. When he got his test, he quickly realized that he had no idea how to solve the problems. Luckily, Cody sat right behind Emily. Emily was the best math student in the class and he could see her paper. Cody copied all of Emily's answers.

The next day when Mrs. Jenkins passed back the graded tests, she told that class that only two students had gotten A's. Since these two students had done so well, she would have them explain some of the more challenging problems to the class.

Emily was first. Mrs. Jenkins wrote a problem on the board. Emily solved it easily and explained each step to the class. Then it was Cody's turn. Again, Mrs. Jenkins wrote a problem on the board. Of course, Cody did not know how to solve the problem. A long moment passed as Cody stood in front

of the board trying to figure out what to do. Some of his classmates started to whisper and snicker.

“Can you solve this problem?" Mrs. Jenkins finally asked. Humiliated, Cody just shook his head. Now everyone knew he had cheated and he was in big trouble.

• Cheating doesn't pay off in the end.

• Cody got in trouble for cheating on his test.

• It's important to study for a test.

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CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9