100 Book Challenges provides a framework for student research and exploration

Our thematic and genre collections comprise more than 2,000 titles relating to specific topics in the fields of science, social studies and language arts. Each collection focuses on one unified theme and spans multiple grade levels.

Concentration of the entire class in a topic of study, e.g., Animals, Bugs, Civil War, etc., using the Thematic Collections, allows for deep, mutual exploration and sharing of vocabulary particular to that topic/theme. Students' wide reading within the topic brings them into repeated contact with new vocabulary within a variety of meaningful contexts. Skills Cards, specifically designed for each topic, present and organize the key vocabulary that students need to master as they research sub-topics of their own choosing. This vocabulary is further explained and explored using various graphic organizers. The Reading and Writing Workshop format provides teachers with daily opportunities to teach vocabulary directly and to reinforce students' acquisition of new vocabulary.

SCIENCE
Animals
Marine Life
Bugs
Dinosaurs
Rainforest
Habits and Environments
LANGUAGE ARTS
Traditional Tales
Biography
Historical Fiction
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Poetry
SOCIAL STUDIES
Sports
Native Americans
Colonial America/Revolutionary War
Civil War/Slavery
Westward Expansion/Pioneers
Immigration
World War II
Civil Rights
Ancient Civilations
Medieval Civilization
African American Heritage
Asian American Heritage
Hispanic American Heritage
That's Us (African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Making Things Better)

Several of these thematic collections have been expanded into 100 Book Challenge Research Labs, including additional student and teacher support materials.