Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Confucius Day
Daily theme
Reading Comprehension for September 28
Many years ago, there lived a man in China who was unhappy with his surroundings. He didn't like the way his country was being ruled. This poor, unimportant man set out to change things. He traveled around his country, trying to convince rulers of a better way of life. This man died without success. His words and teachings lived much longer than he did. Today, this man named Confucius is at the head of a major Eastern philosophy called Confucianism.
According to legend, Confucius was born in 551 BC. At the time of his birth, his father was 70, and his mother just 15. Confucius's father died when he was just three years old. Confucius's mother was left to raise him alone. They were a very poor family.
As a young man, Confucius served as an administrative manager in his home state of Lu. He later became the Minister of Justice. While working for the government, he came to dislike politics. He thought the government was corrupt. He tried to change the government from within but was unsuccessful. About age 50, he quit working for the government. From there, he took his ideas around China.
