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Maple Grove Middle School Unveils Student-Built Book-Swap Cabinet

PicoBuddy6th GradeNews Article3 min read
Image for Maple Grove Middle School Unveils Student-Built Book-Swap Cabinet

Editor’s Note: The following article is a fictional school newspaper report created as a classroom practice example.

MAPLE GROVE — On Tuesday morning, students and teachers gathered outside the cafeteria at Maple Grove Middle School to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s first "Take a Page" book-swap cabinet. The bright turquoise wooden cabinet, built by the eighth-grade woodworking club from recycled cedar boards, aims to make reading for fun easier while encouraging students to share books across grades.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place right before the morning bell, wrapping up a three-month project led by the Maple Grove Student Council. The rules for the cabinet are simple and run entirely on the honor system: any student or staff member can browse the shelves, take an interesting book, and return it later or swap it with a good book from home. Unlike the regular school library, there are no barcode scanners, checkout deadlines, or late fees.

Glossary
woodworking:
The activity or skill of making objects out of wood.
recycled:
Reused or converted from old or discarded materials.
ceremony:
A formal event held in honor of a special occasion.
sealant:
A protective coating applied to a surface to prevent damage or moisture.
traffic:
The movement of people or vehicles through a specific area.
biographies:
Written accounts of real people's lives and experiences.
dismissal:
The act of sending someone away or releasing students at the end of the school day.

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Preview questions from this passageShow
  1. 1What is the central purpose behind introducing the "Take a Page" book-swap cabinet at Maple Grove Middle School?
  2. 2How does the book-swap cabinet operate differently from the traditional school library?

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About this news article passage for 6th Grade

“Maple Grove Middle School Unveils Student-Built Book-Swap Cabinet” is a news article reading passage about School Book Swap, written for 6th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (497 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. With a free account, you can read “Maple Grove Middle School Unveils Student-Built Book-Swap Cabinet” online and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is “Maple Grove Middle School Unveils Student-Built Book-Swap Cabinet”?

It’s written for 6th Grade — a news article text about School Book Swap, about a 3-minute read (497 words).

What’s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

Yes. Remix is included with Pro and Max for adapting it to another grade level or language.