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Winter Theme Unit


Robert Peary


Robert Peary
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.1

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    expanse, investigation, vast, surveyor, unsuccessful, crossing, impressed, better, insure, pursue, attempt, goal, supplies, arctic, bitter, evidence
     content words:    Robert Peary, Bowdoin College, United States Coast, Geodetic Survey, Navy Corps, Civil Engineers, Matthew Henson, North Pole, Ellesmere Island, Frederick Cook


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Robert Peary
By Mary L. Bushong
  

1     Snow. A vast expanse of snow and ice stretching as far as the eye can see. Bitter cold and short daylight hours. This is the arctic in winter.
 
2     Robert Peary was born in Cresson, Pennsylvania on May 6, 1856. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1877, he worked as a land surveyor with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. In 1881, he joined the U.S. Navy Corps of Civil Engineers. While working on a canal project in Nicaragua, he read about work being done in the arctic and dreamed about going there.
 
3     He took a leave from the Navy to pursue his arctic dream a couple of years later. One day, while he was getting supplies together for the trip, Peary was introduced to Matthew Henson, a sailor. Perry was so impressed with his skill that he added Matthew to the surveying crew. Eventually, Matthew became Peary's most trusted friend.

Paragraphs 4 to 9:
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