LightSail Classics

Classics are an ingrained part of our educational system. They teach history, context, vocabulary, and help to develop higher order comprehension skills. Your child will encounter these texts throughout their educational career, from elementary school to graduate school. Classics at all levels are used to spark discussions about philosophy, history, government, art, science, and more. These texts will challenge your child’s understanding of the world.

LightSail has over 3,500 classics from all levels. This includes both fiction and non-fiction works that span from Ancient Greece to Progressive America. Within the collection, LightSail supports your child with seven layers of educational features, such as text-to-speech for unknown words, an integrated dictionary, and related audio or video clips. Let LightSail provide the foundation for your child as they learn through the Classics.

Click on a classic to experience . . .
. . . how children on LightSail answer one of the thousands of thought-provoking questions written by highly experienced educators and designed to spark critical thinking and a deeper analysis of the text than just reading alone.

Sample Book Questions

Hamlet

Author: William Shakespeare

Included in the book:

8 Multiple Choice Questions

RL.3, Location 28%
RL.5, Location 44%
RL.2, Location 66%
RL.2, Location 85%
RL.1, Location 100%

3 Short Response Questions

SNE, Location 18%
MIT, Location 35%
SNE, Location 100%

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Question:

How does the final act emphasize the theme of death? Use examples from the text to support your thinking.

Above Grade - Example Answer

Death has been a pervasive theme throughout the entire play. Hamlet has constantly pondered the mysteries of mortality and the afterlife. In the final act, this theme is reinforced when, while watching the gravedigger, Hamlet happens upon the skull of Yorick, the king's jester, and as Hamlet states, "a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet marvels that all of Yorick's verve and humor are now reduced to a skull buried in the ground. Hamlet then remarks to Horatio on the common fate of all humanity to return to the dust. These musings seem to foreshadow the avalanche of death that will occupy the rest of the play. In terms of sheer body count, the final act of the play is saturated with death. This serves as a cementing of all the philosophizing about mortality that has happened throughout the play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task and uses specific and correct textual evidence to support an argument. Using sophisticated vocabulary, this answer demonstrates full comprehension and picks up on nuances of the text.
On Grade - Example Answer

The final act of the play is preoccupied with death. Virtually every major character is dead by the conclusion of the action. Deaths occur onstage in poisonings and bloody battles, and they also occur offstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, the prelude to all this carnage seems to be Hamlet's quiet musings on the skull of the former court jester. While looking at this skull, Hamlet marvels that such an infinite variety of humanity all proceed to a common fate. It is this reflection about the inevitability of mortality that suffuses the entire play.

Rationale: This answer meets the demands of the task, citing correct textual evidence to help support an argument.
Approaching Grade - Example Answer

The theme of death is reinforced through the sheer number of deaths that happen in the final act. All of the major characters are dead by the end. Also, Hamlet continues to philosophize about the inevitability of death.

Rationale: This answer provides partial textual evidence, but it does not fully answer the question. There is not enough evidence to demonstrate complete understanding of the given task.
Below Grade - Example Answer

Death is a major theme in the final act because everyone dies.

Rationale: This answer does not provide textual evidence and does not answer the question. There is not enough evidence to prove comprehension of the given task.

sympathy.
contempt.
jealousy.
love.

Classics

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Is LightSail different from an Amazon Kindle or other e-readers?

Unlike static e-readers, LightSail doesn’t just offer children books.

Every book and article in LightSail contains 6 layers of added features that let your child experience books.

By adapting to a child’s precise reading ability, offering them content that is at that “just-right” reading level to promote literacy growth, and providing a fully customizable, rewarding reading experience, LightSail unlocks the magic of reading in ways no physical book or static e-reader can.

What types of parental control do I have over my child’s activity and content?

In short, complete control.

LightSail contains an entire suite of parental control features that govern every aspect of the platform from video viewing, to chats, to what content can be seen and accessed.

Additionally, LightSail’s revolutionary ChildSafe Content Controls lets parents screen and block content according to dozens of nuanced subcategories based on maturity factors, family values, and religious topics.

How can I make reading fun for my child?

LightSail incorporates gamification features into every aspect of the platform, especially reading!

By integrating badges, goals and milestones, social sharing options, motivational messages, and the ability for parents to add customizable gift rewards, LightSail incentivizes reading, writing, and learning just like kids’ favorite games.

Parental Controls

Parental Controls allows you to relax while your child is in LightSail. You have complete oversight of all of your child's activities. The ChildSafe matrix lets you control the content your child is allowed to read. You will be guided through the Parental Controls set up, so you never have to worry about whether a book is not appropriate for your child.

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Gamification

LightSail has built gamification into every step of your child’s journey. They can set goals, earn badges, use social sharing, and gift rewards. These practices make learning in LightSail fun and rewarding. Your child will be encouraged and excited to read.

LightSail Classics

Sample Book Questions

Hamlet

Author: William Shakespeare

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Classics

Our 90 day money back guarantee

We're here to help!

Parental Controls

About Us

Gamification

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer

Short Response Question - RL.1, Location 100%

RL. 1 Key Ideas And Details

Question:

Above Grade - Example Answer

On Grade - Example Answer

Approaching Grade - Example Answer

Below Grade - Example Answer