Grade 5
Explanatory Article
The Tiny Bump That Revealed Charon
Follows Christy’s repeated observations and the evidence for a separate moon.
Read passageJune 22 reading ideas
Finding reading ideas for this date…
Finding reading ideas for this date…
Read about the 1978 discovery of Pluto’s moon Charon and explore how tropical rainforests support life and shape the climate.
On this date in history · 1978
On June 22, 1978, astronomer James Christy identified evidence of Pluto’s moon Charon in photographic plates; NASA’s public announcement came July 7. The reading pair supports observation and evidence, not a generic solar-system lesson.
2 reading resources
Follows Christy’s repeated observations and the evidence for a separate moon.
Read passageAdds Pluto and its moon system as supporting context.
Read passageOn this date in history · 1633
Museo Galileo records the June 22, 1633 sentence against Galileo. The biography provides supporting context about his telescope and limits on speech, but is not a full trial account; handle the religious and historical context carefully.
2 reading resources
Offers broader invention-related reading as supplementary context, not a trial explanation.
Open collectionProvides biographical background for a short date bridge to the trial.
Read passageSpecial date
National HVAC Tech Day is observed June 22 as an informal annual observance; it is not a federal holiday. The new passage introduces HVAC work and building comfort.
2 reading resources
Introduces the work of HVAC technicians and the systems they maintain.
Read passageConnects technical education with career pathways.
Read passageSpecial date
World Rainforest Day is observed each June 22 and began in 2017. The selected readings connect tropical rainforest habitat, communities, and climate; no 2027 campaign theme is assumed.
3 reading resources
Introduces tropical rainforest ecosystems.
Read passageConnects basin ecology with energy and community.
Read passageSupports discussion of Amazon climate connections.
Read passageSpecial date
Pollinator Week runs June 22–28 in 2026 and June 21–27 in 2027. Use this additional reading period to follow how pollen moves between flowers.
2 reading resources
Follow a bee’s flower visit and explain how it helps pollination.
Read passageMore reading for this time of year, alongside today’s special dates.
5 reading resources
Continue June ocean learning with reading about marine animals.
Explore themeExplore nature and outdoor learning during June’s Great Outdoors Month.
Open collectionExplore ocean habitats and conservation throughout June Ocean Month.
Open collectionExplore stories about fathers, caregivers and family appreciation around U.S. Father’s Day.
Open collectionExplore summer reading ideas for classroom wrap-up and reading at home. School vacation dates vary.
Open collectionYour topic. Your level.
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June 22 offers two ways to practice noticing patterns and using evidence. In 1978, astronomer James Christy spotted an unusual shape on a photographic plate of Pluto. The new reading, The Tiny Bump That Revealed Charon, follows how repeated observations helped distinguish a real moon from a flaw in an image. Pair it with Pluto: A Dwarf Planet’s Story to connect the discovery with Pluto’s place in the solar system. NASA dates the discovery to June 22; its public announcement came later, on July 7.
The same date is World Rainforest Day, an annual observance that began in 2017. Read Exploring Tropical Rainforests, Lifelines of the Basin: Ecology, Energy, and Community, and The Climate Engine of the Amazon to consider rainforest habitats, communities, and climate connections. s.
Two additional June 22 readings open different questions. Galileo Galilei: Stargazer can prompt a careful discussion of historical limits on scientific speech; distinguish the biography’s supporting context from a full account of the 1633 trial. Who Keeps Our Buildings Comfortable? introduces HVAC work and the systems people rely on indoors. National HVAC Tech Day is an informal observance, not a federal holiday.
For class, ask learners to identify one observation that supports each reading’s main idea and one question the evidence cannot yet answer. At home, invite a child to sketch a repeating pattern they notice in the sky or outdoors, then explain what they would observe next to check their idea. The goal is to distinguish a first impression from a conclusion supported by several observations.
What additional observation would help confirm a surprising pattern?
