Here are 3 texts suitable for 8th-grade students
1. The Secret of St. Sophia’s Bell Tower
Kyiv’s St. Sophia Cathedral is not only a beautiful landmark but also a place full of secrets. One foggy morning, a boy named Ivan was helping his grandfather clean the bell tower. While dusting, Ivan discovered a hidden compartment with a dusty scroll inside.
The scroll contained a map and a riddle: “Where the sun meets the golden wings, a treasure of wisdom lies.” Intrigued, Ivan and his grandfather followed the clues to an old oak tree in the cathedral’s garden. They unearthed a box containing an ancient book of stories about Kyiv’s history.
From that day on, Ivan was inspired to learn more about his city and share its tales with others.
2. A World Without Borders
In the small village of Verkhovyna, a 13-year-old girl named Olha dreamed of traveling the world. Her teacher often spoke about other countries, and Olha wanted to experience them for herself. One day, she found a language exchange website and began chatting with a girl named Emma from Canada.
Through their conversations, Olha and Emma shared stories about their cultures, traditions, and dreams. Emma taught Olha about Canadian wildlife, while Olha described the beauty of Ukrainian embroidered shirts and pysanky.
Their friendship showed Olha that even though they lived far apart, their dreams and ideas were not so different. “The world feels smaller when we connect,” Olha thought.
3. The Experiment That Changed the Village
In a quiet Ukrainian village, Mykola loved working in his family's garden. But he noticed that every summer, the crops suffered from drought. Inspired by a school science project, Mykola decided to build a simple irrigation system using recycled materials.
With pipes from an old shed and a rainwater collection barrel, he created a system that watered the plants automatically. His neighbors were amazed when their fields began to thrive. Soon, the whole village adopted Mykola’s idea, and the harvest that year was better than ever.
Mykola’s invention proved that even small changes can make a big difference when driven by creativity and care.
