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Long ago, our country had about a billion acres of forests! That is A LOT of trees.
GREG RYAN/Alamy Stock Photo
Our Country Long Ago
You are going to read a tall tale about Paul Bunyan. It takes place in our country about 140 years ago. Here are five things to know first.
By Laine Falk
From the May / June 2026 Issue
Learning Objective: Students will learn background knowledge about our country long ago before they read this issue’s Fiction, “The Story of Paul Bunyan.”
Lexile® measure: 470L
Featured Skill: Key details
Standards
1. So Many Trees!
2. People On the Move
GREG RYAN/Alamy Stock Photo
In this photo, people act out moving west long ago.
More and more people moved here. The eastern part of our country became crowded. People began to move west.
3. Chop, Chop! Wood Needed!
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Today people who cut down trees are called loggers.
People needed wood to build cities and suburbs. They built homes, furniture, and ships. They also cooked and kept warm with it. Who cut all that wood? Lumberjacks did! Lumberjacks are people who cut down trees as their job.
4. Farming Long Ago
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Today people use a lot of machines to help on farms. But long ago, people used animals to help on farms more than machines.
An ox is a big animal that helps people farm. It pulls heavy loads. It also helps plow fields. To plow is to break up the soil. That makes it easier to plant seeds.
5. The Great Lakes
Jim McMahon/Mapman ® (Map)
Great Lakes
There are five Great Lakes. They are in the United States and Canada. They are huge. In many spots, you can’t even see the other side.
Activities
(1)
Skills Activities
Answer Key
(1)
Text-to-Speech