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Middle Ages
 Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.15

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    heresy, ransom, martyr, military, inspiration, religion, affectionate, commander, refused, bravery, kings, running, command, daily, destination, death
     content words:    Meuse River, Archangel Michael, King Charles VII, Catholic Church, Hundred Years

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Joan of Arc
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     Joan of Arc was a French girl who grew up on her family's farm in the valley of the Meuse River. She learned to spin wool, sew, and help with other chores on the farm. She was a very religious child who loved to listen to the daily ringing of the church bells.
 
2     While Joan was growing up, a terrible war was raging across France. France and England had been fighting for control of the country, off and on, for nearly one hundred years! At this time, England was winning. It already controlled much of northern France and the city of Paris. Charles, who should have been the king of France, had never been crowned and only ruled a small area in the south of France. He was running out of both troops and money, and his situation was becoming hopeless.
 
3     Then Joan, who was now a teenager, said that she had been hearing voices and seeing visions. She claimed to have seen the Catholic saints Catherine and Margaret and the Archangel Michael. She said that the voices of the saints told her to go to Charles and help him become king.
 
4     Joan believed that it was her mission to do just that. First, she went to the nearby town of Vancouleurs to see the military commander there. At first the commander laughed at Joan, but eventually she convinced him to take her seriously. The commander escorted Joan to see Charles.
 
5     Charles had no options left. Maybe that is why he decided to give Joan a chance. Even though she had no military experience, he gave her troops to command.

Paragraphs 6 to 15:
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