Scholastic BrainStorm™ provides literacy volunteers and reading mentors with materials to develop children's reading skills through high-interest topics – encouraging active engagement and fostering a lifelong love of reading.
The program includes:

  • BrainStorm: A Read-To-Learn Magazine, a skill-building student activity book at three levels: Wild Weather (Level A), Animals at Risk (Level B), and Great Lives (Level C).
  • BrainStorm Teaching Guide, an easy-to-use resource filled with information and ideas for supporting your reading partner.
  • Scholastic books, leveled for reading success, with downloadable
    and printable lessons (see below).
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    For further ordering information, call: (212) 965-7443

    Level A: Wild Weather
    This level takes you and your reading partner on a wild ride through every kind of weather you can imagine!

    Snow Day!
    By Patricia Lakin
    Illustrated by Scott Nash
    This book uses high-frequency words, rhyme, strong picture support, and simple dialogue to help children learn vocabulary associated with outdoor clothing and outdoor places.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    Clouds
    By Marion Dane Bauer
    Illustrated by John Wallace
    This book uses simple sentences and questions to explore and explain scientific terms associated with clouds.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    The Magic School Bus: Wet All Over
    Adapted by Pat Relf
    Illustrated by Carolyn Bracken
    The well-known characters from the Magic School Bus book and television series help explain the scientific terms associated with the use and reuse of water.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

     

    Level B: Animals at Risk
    In this level, you and your reading partner will learn about endangered animals and how humans are helping them.

    Endangered Animals
    By Faith McNulty
    Illustrated by Carol Schwartz
    The use of high-frequency words and simple sentence structure supports readers as they learn about the delicate balance among humans, animals, and natural resources.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    One Tiny Turtle
    By Nicola Davies
    Illustrated by Jane Chapman
    This book combines descriptive, poetic narrative with detailed illustration to depict the life cycle of the loggerhead turtle.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    Cheetahs
    By Ann O. Squire
    This nonfiction book presents information about cheetahs, including their endangered status and the need to protect them. Glossary words support students as they read.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

     

    Level C: Great Lives
    In this level, you and your reading partner will read about people whose hard work and knowledge have helped to change the world.

    Mae Jemison
    By Nancy Polette
    This short biography profiles the first African-American woman astronaut, Mae Jemison.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    Teammates
    By Peter Golenbock
    Illustrated by Paul Bacon
    In this nonfiction picture book, racial segregation forms the historical background to the compelling story of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese -- men of different races brought together as Brooklyn Dodgers teammates.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE

    Let's Drive, Henry Ford
    By Peter and Connie Roop
    This chapter book chronicles Ford's life from his early boyhood years to his creation of the famous Model T car.
    DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY GUIDE HERE