High five reading

Recalls the history of the Iditarod dog sled race, including some of its greatest mushers and dogs, and explains how teams and volunteers prepare for and run this famous Alaskan race.

Discusses ancient Egyptian customs and beliefs regarding death and the afterlife, the process of mummification, and the legend of a mummy's curse in relation to the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922.

Looks at the history, equipment, training, and work of fire fighters who parachute into wildfires burning in areas that are otherwise hard to reach.

Highlights inventions and inventors throughout history and discusses why people invent and the steps in the inventive process.

Presents an introduction to rock climbing, providing information on the different types of climbing, its related gear, technique, and locations.

A short study of SpaceShipOne, built and flown by Burt Rutan in June 2004, and discusses the possibility of public space travel by 2007.

Tells the story of the shipwreck of the "Endurance" in a sea of ice en route to Antarctica, and the amazing survival of all twenty-eight members of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Profiles a number of young athletes who have had the courage to succeed in spite of their disability or handicap.

Reviews the history of the Hmong people, discussing their lives in Laos before and after the Vietnam War, looking at some of the reasons Hmong decided to move to the U.S., and describing their experiences in the new country.

Presents a study of how bridges have been built over the centuries beginning with ancient Roman bridges and aqueducts, arched bridges, and suspension bridges, and describes great bridge disasters such as the 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.