Historical

Fiction

Harry’s
Great Idea
by Liz Rawlings
illustrated by Margaret Freed

PAIRED
Eleanor Roosevelt
READ

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 STRATEGIES & SKILLS
Comprehension Vocabulary
Strategy: Visualize amazement, bravery,
Skill: Cause and Effect disappear, donated, leader,
nervous, refused,
Vocabulary Strategy temporary
Idioms
Content Standards
Social Studies
History

Word count: 1,234**

**The total word count is based on words in the running text and headings only. Numerals and words
in captions, labels, diagrams, charts, and sidebars are not included.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by
any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, network storage or transmission, or
broadcast for distance learning.

Send all inquiries to:

McGraw-Hill Education
Two Penn Plaza
New York, New York 10121

ISBN: 978-0-02-119005-8
MHID: 0-02-119005-4

Printed in the United States.

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 Essential Question
How can one person change the way you think?

Harry’s
Great Idea
by Liz Rawlings
illustrated by Margaret Freed

Chapter 1
A Social Studies Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2
Planning the Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 3
Fun Had by All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4
Reports on the Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Respond to Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
PAIRED
Eleanor Roosevelt . . . . . . . . . . . 17
READ
Focus on Genre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

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 Chapter 1
A Social Studies Lesson

Harry strolled to school. He was almost

10 years old and he loved baseball. As he
walked, he thought about the birthday party
that his mother was organizing for him. They’d
decided who they would invite. They’d decided
that the cake would be decorated with a
baseball diamond. The party hats would
be baseball caps. And of course, they were
going to play baseball. They’d also hired a
magician to entertain everyone.

“I can’t wait,” thought Harry. “It’s going

to be the best party ever!”

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 At school, Harry went on daydreaming
about his party. He hardly heard a word of
what the teacher was saying.

“Harry, have you been listening?” asked the

teacher. “What can you tell me about Eleanor
Roosevelt?”

Harry thought quickly. “She was First Lady

of the United States,” he said. “Now she works
hard for human rights. My mom thinks Eleanor
Roosevelt is great.”

The teacher smiled. “Very good,” she said.

“Eleanor Roosevelt also did everything she
could to help President Roosevelt. She has
represented our country at the United Nations
since 1946.”

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 After school, Harry went to the recreation
center. He played table tennis with his friend,
Gary, and talked about his party.

“I’m inviting 10 friends, including you,” he

said. “And a magician is coming!”

“That sounds like fun. I wish I could have

a party,” said Gary.

“Why don’t you ask your folks?” said Harry.

“I have,” said Gary. “They can’t afford to

have a party for me this year.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” said Harry, and he

meant it.

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 On his way home, Harry thought about
Gary missing out on a party. He remembered
that Eleanor Roosevelt organized dances for
kids in New York City. Thinking more, Harry
wondered if he could hold his birthday party
for all the boys and girls at the rec. center.
Every kid with a birthday this month could
come. Everyone could bring along a party
game idea. And the mothers could make the
food. It was a great idea! He would see what
his parents thought.

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 Harry’s family talked about his idea. His
sister Anna was not sold on the idea. She
thought there would be too many kids. But his
mom and dad thought it would be fun.

“Oh boy!” said Harry. “This will be the best

party ever!”

“Don’t count your chickens before they

hatch,” said his dad. “We’ll have to see what
the other parents think about it.”

“Okay, Dad,” said Harry, grinning. “I’ll hold

my horses. But I’m excited all right.”

“We could have it the same day as the

party we’ve planned,” said his mother. “We’ve
already hired the magician.”

“Guess we might as well,” said Anna, with a

sigh. But she was coming around to the idea.
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 Chapter 2
Planning the Party

Next day, Harry got home from school

to find his mother reading recipes.

“I’ve been on the telephone to the rec.

center,” she said. “The party’s on, and there
are plenty of volunteers who want to help.”

“Swell! Thanks, Mom,” said Harry. He thought

about his favorite party food.

“Mom, will you bake the birthday cake at

the rec. center?” he asked.

“I’d expect an award for bravery to make a

birthday cake in the rec. center kitchen!” Mom
said. “I’ll make it here at home and we’ll take
it over.”

“I can’t wait!” said Harry. He went to his

room to plan his party game.

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 There were eight children with birthdays that
month. Harry invited them all to the party.
Their families and friends were invited, too.
No one had refused their invitation, so there
would be about 80 people.

The night before the party, Harry felt

nervous. If the party went badly, it would be
his fault for suggesting it! But his doubt was
only temporary. Before he went to sleep, he
was already thinking about the fun he would
have. He dreamed of cakes and balloons and
streamers.

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 Chapter 3
Fun Had by All

The party was in full swing and Harry was

enjoying himself. He looked around the room
with amazement at so many boys and girls.
They were batting balloons and munching
party food.

Gary came over. “You’re great for organizing

this, Harry!” he said.

“Gee, thanks,” said Harry. “Actually, I got

the idea from Eleanor Roosevelt! She used to
organize dances.”

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 There was plenty of delicious party food.
Harry’s mom had made strawberry shortcake
as well as a birthday cake. There was
lemonade to drink. The baker had donated a
huge cake with “Happy Birthday” frosted on
top. And the toy shop had donated a present
for each of the birthday children, too.

Everyone thought that the party should

become a regular event.

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 The magician entertained everyone for half
an hour. He made cards and coins disappear
from his hand. Somehow, he found them again
behind someone’s ear, or in their back pocket.

Everyone stood around the cake to sing

“Happy Birthday”. The names of the birthday
boys and girls came out jumbled, although
Harry heard his name clearly. Then they played
party games. They played quiet games like
memory, and noisy ones like musical chairs.
They also played a game of baseball. It was
great fun.

To finish, the magician played the piano and

people sang along.

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 Chapter 4
Reports on the Party

At school, Harry
told his class about
the party.

“Eleanor Roosevelt
certainly inspires
many people,” said
their teacher. “What
qualities does she have that inspire you all?”

A few students put up their hands.

“Bravery,” said one. “It takes bravery to

go on standing up for others.”

“Perseverance,” said another. “She keeps

trying no matter what.”

“Kindness,” said Harry. “Eleanor Roosevelt

cares about other people.”

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 Then the local newspaper sent a
photographer to Harry’s house to take a photo
of him. It was published with the headline,
“Birthday Boy Behind Big Party”. Harry stuck
the article on the wall in his bedroom.

His mom put an arm around his shoulders.

“I’m proud of you for organizing the party,
Harry,” she said. “You’ve really started
something. It takes a leader to do that.”

“Thanks, Mom,” said Harry. “It was a lot of

fun. And maybe I’ll get invited to the parties
in May, June, and July!”

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 Summarize Character
Setting
Summarize the important
Cause Effect
events in Harry’s Great Idea.
Cause Effect
Your Cause and Effect Chart
Cause Effect
may help you.

Text Evidence
1. How do you know that Harry’s Great Idea is
fiction? What kind of fiction is it? How do
you know? GENRE

2. How did Harry get his big birthday party

idea? CAUSE AND EFFECT

3. What does Harry mean when he says “I’ll hold

my horses” on page 7? IDIOMS

4. Write about how Eleanor Roosevelt inspired

Harry. WRITE ABOUT READING

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 Compare Texts
Read about Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspiring life.

Eleanor Roosevelt
(b. 1884, d. 1962)
Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt was born into
the wealthy, powerful
Roosevelt family. So,
she was involved in
politics from a young
age. At 19, Eleanor was
interested in helping
others, not just going
to dances and parties.
She visited poor families Eleanor Roosevelt with
in New York City. She President Roosevelt

investigated the working conditions in factories.

Underwood & Underwood/CORBIS

Franklin D. Roosevelt invited Eleanor to his

21st birthday party. They fell in love and were
married in 1905.
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 Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in
1933. He stayed in office until 1945. This was
a time of depression and war. As First Lady,
Eleanor Roosevelt visited workers in factories
and mines. She talked to the troops. She did
useful things like volunteering in soup kitchens.
Actions like these made her loved by the people.
Ordinary people felt that she knew what they
were going through.
After her husband’s death in 1945, Eleanor
continued to advise the new president, Harry
Truman. In 1946, President Truman
appointed her to the U.S.
delegation to the
United Nations
(U.N.).

Eleanor Roosevelt
was loved by
many people.
Underwood & Underwood/CORBIS

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 Eleanor Roosevelt
holds a copy of
the Declaration of
Human Rights.

At the U.N., Eleanor led the committee that

wrote the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The Declaration says that everyone has
the right to live in freedom and safety. The U.N.
passed the Declaration in 1948.
Throughout her life, Eleanor was a leader.
She fought hard for the rights of women and
African Americans. Believing that all people are
equal, she worked to bring about changes for the
benefit of everyone.

Make Connections
What are some of the qualities that made Eleanor
Roosevelt such an inspiration to so many people?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
FPG/ Archive Photos/Getty Imges

Harry was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt. Is there a

person you find inspiring in your life? In what ways
do they inspire you? TEXT TO SELF
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 Historical Fiction Historical fiction tells a story
that is set in the past. The settings are realistic
and drawn from history, and may contain historical
persons, but the main characters are usually
made  up.

Read and Find Harry’s Great Idea tells a story that

is set in the 1950s. The author used the historical
figure of Eleanor Roosevelt in this story, as well as
realistic details of American life at that time.

Your Turn
Choose a time in the past and research some
facts about that time. Then write your own story
set during this time period, using the facts you
have researched. Have your characters do things
that people in that time would have done.

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 Literature Circles

Fiction

Setting
Where did the story Harry’s Great Idea
begin?
In what time in history did the story
take place?

Sequence of Events
What happened in this story?
What happened first, then, next,
and finally?

Plot
What was the problem Harry faced?
How did he solve it?

Conclusions
After reading Harry’s Great Idea, what
conclusions can you draw about how
someone can change the way a person
thinks?

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 Leadership

GR N • Benchmark 30 • Lexile [t/k]

Grade 3 • Unit 3 Week 2

www.mheonline.com

ISBN-13 978-0-02-119005-8
MHID 0-02-119005-4
99701
EAN

9 780021 190058
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