Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows

533400
$7.95
$7.95
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Where the Red Fern Grows | 5th Grade Literature | Kolbe Academy Catholic Classical Curriculum

Where the Red Fern Grows follows Billy Colman, a boy who works patiently and sacrificially to earn the money for two hunting dogs he has long desired. With determination and care, he trains Old Dan and Little Ann, and together they venture into the woods and river valleys near his home, learning endurance, discipline, and loyalty through shared effort.

Their successes bring pride and recognition, but the story also leads Billy through hardship and loss. Through his experiences he begins to understand perseverance, responsibility, and the meaning of faithful companionship. The novel presents both the joy of achievement and the maturity that comes through sorrow.

Written as a reflective narrative, the book encourages careful reading and thoughtful discussion while supporting written response. Selected for fifth grade readers, Where the Red Fern Grows strengthens comprehension and invites students to consider courage, gratitude, and hope in the face of suffering within a memorable coming-of-age story.

Course Information

This Grade 5 literature course deepens comprehension and introduces more sustained literary analysis through a year of classic fiction, historical narrative, and adventure. Core readings include Island of the Blue Dolphins, Where the Red Fern Grows, My Side of the Mountain, Calico Captive, and The Hobbit. Students develop mature reading habits through guided discussion, regular reading checks, and written responses that support clear, organized thinking.

Poetry study is integrated throughout the year using our Classic Poems Across the Ages text and extends beyond recitation to include imagery, structure, and meaning. Students also complete structured journal work, paragraph practice, and projects. The course supports adaptable pacing, allowing instructors to adjust reading and writing workload as needed while preserving instructional coherence. Detailed lesson plans and teacher keys support both independent student growth and confident instruction.

Courses this book is used in:

  • Literature 5:
    • Online
    • Digital Homeschool
    • Homeschool - This course includes multiple reading tracks to support different reading levels. Please use the Course Plan to choose your books and weekly assignments, since the titles and pacing vary by track. Families may change tracks if needed, but we recommend switching only at a unit/quarter break so you can continue smoothly without repeating the same content. Where the Red Fern Grows is used in all three reading plans.
Book Elementary 5
Reading Plan		 Advanced 5
Reading Plan 1		 Advanced 5
Reading Plan 2
Island of the Blue Dolphins X X X
Classic Poems Across the Ages X X X
Where the Red Fern Grows X X X
My Side of the Mountain X X X
Calico Captive X X X
The Hobbit X X  
Kateri Tekakwitha:
Mohawk Maiden		   X  
Misty of Chincoteague   X  
A Wrinkle in Time   X  
Mother Cabrini:
Missionary to the World		   X  
Mother Seton and
the Sisters of Charity		     X
Black Beauty     X
White Fang     X
St. Katherine Drexel:
Friend of the Oppressed		     X
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch     X

Course this book was previously used in:

  • Discontinued: Elementary Literature
  • Materials for the discontinued Elementary Literature course may still be purchased while supplies last. To find available Elementary Literature course materials, click here.