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Farmland Innovator

A Story about Cyrus McCormick

From the Series Creative Minds Biographies

  • Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 8
  • Reading Level: Grade 5

Cyrus McCormick patented and manufactured the reaper, an important 19th century invention that dramatically improved the efficiency of wheat farming. While McCormick did not invent the reaper solely by himself, he did refine and popularize it. His company eventually became the International Harvester Company.

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978-0-8225-8777-4
 $25.99
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Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 8
Reading Level Grade 5
Copyright 2007
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 64
Publication Date 2007-01-01
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007090, JNF007020
Dewey 681'.7631092
Graphics 1-color illustrations
Dimensions 5.875 x 8.5
Guided Reading Level T
ATOS Reading Level 5.2
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 110548
Accelerated Reader® Points 1.0
Features Afterword, Bibliography/further reading, and Teaching Guides

Author: Catherine A. Welch

Catherine A. Welch is an award-winning author with more than 20 books to her credit and is a writing instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature. Elementary teachers have found her two short historical fiction books especially useful in the classroom. A teaching strategy for her book, Clouds of Terror, an NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, appeared in Instructor (October 1995). A four-day lesson plan for Danger at the Breaker, her book praised by School Library Journal and Booklist, appears at teachers.net. While many of her works are biographies and history books, her writing credits include several science books. She has degrees in biology and biochemistry, and enjoys giving writing workshops to children and teachers.

Illustrator: Jan Naimo Jones

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

Creative Minds Biographies

Meet some of the world’s most creative minds! Written in story format, these episodic biographies give clear, straightforward accounts of historical figures’ lives. Each true story is accompanied by black-and-white illustrations. View available downloads →