TEXT SET

Monica Athey and Kacie Dixon

SOL 3.8
The student will investigate and understand basic patterns and cycles occurring in nature. Key concepts include: a) patterns of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, simple phases of the moon, and tides; b) animal life cycles; and c) plant life cycles.

Read-Aloud Texts
These texts are slightly above grade level in readability and would be used for read-alouds and a related activity in the classroom. The pictures are engaging and the language is challenging, but comprehendible when read aloud to students. These would be good books to expand vocabulary, check comprehension during the reading, and have pictures to reinforce knowledge.

Readability: 730L Grades 4-6

Hiscock, B. (1991). The big tree. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.
This book follows the tree's growth over time starting with its sprouting from a winged seed around the time of the American Revolution and ending with its evolution into a beautiful shade tree. This book allows children to delve into the past integrating with social studies, but also allows children to personally connect with the big tree perhaps in their

Readability: 740L Grades 4-7

Gibbons, G. (1997). The moon book. New York, NY: Holiday House.

This book identifies the moon as our only natural satellite. As well as describes the moons movement and phases, and discusses how we as humans have observed and explored it over the years. It covers scientific information in a readable way and students could refer back to it when studying the moon phases and and the ocean tides.

Readability: 1040L Grades 7-12

A Butterfly Is Patient by Diana Ashton Ashton, D. (2011). A butterfly is patient. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
This book explores a butterflys journey through metamorphosis using a variety of butterflies, from the worlds tiniest butterfly, the Western Pygmy Blue to the worlds the largest, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. It has lots of great factual information, but it is displayed through very intricate illustrations, which would make for a great read-aloud.

Individual Reading/Take Home Texts

These books are at an appropriate reading level for third grade students and are all related to SOL 3.8. They would be good books to have in a classroom library for students to read during the day or to check out and take home to read on their own.

Readability: 400L Grades 2-3

Carle, E. (1987). The tiny seed. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
This picture book is about the miracle of a seed. The story begins with flower pods bursting and dispatching their seeds in the wind. The seeds then travel all different places, exploring where a seed would thrive or perish. The book then follows the life cycle of the surviving seeds and how they mature into beautiful flowers or various plants.

Readability: 480L Grades 2-4

Hall, Z. (1996). The apple pie tree. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Two sisters watch as their colorful blossoms on their tree develop into big, red, and ready-to-pick apples. This book allows children to learn about how things grow, but also a fun easy recipe to making apple pie, which you could even make with your class! They are able to see a plant life cycle through something relatable that many of them have probably eaten or even cooked at home. It could also be used for a cooking activity in class and help students learn how to read and follow a recipe.

Readability: 490L Grades 2-4

Locker, T. (1995). Sky tree. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
This book explains a trees journey through the seasons, paired with beautiful illustrations. The book also explores how animals interact with each of the trees through the seasons. For example, in spring, a snapping turtle lays her eggs on the hillside beneath the tree and in autumn, leaves fall as squirrels scamper up the trunk carrying nuts. It incorporates nature and wildlife animals and shows how they all work together.

Readability: 510L Grades 3-4

Branley, F. M. (1974). Sunshine makes the seasons. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
The sun not only gives us warmth and light, but makes the seasons! This book talks about the Earths rotation around the sun each year creating the seasons; Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. This is a fun way for students to see how the sun is the cause of seasons and how the sun affects life on Earth.

Readability: 690L Grades 3-6

McNulty, F. (2005). If you decide to go to the moon. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
This book is written in the second person, allowing the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing, to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling through space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). Eventually, the reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, which is the real site of the first lunar landing. This book is factual, but incorporates great literary techniques like similes and descriptive writing.

Readability: 700L Grades 3-6

McCauley, J. R. (1983). Baby birds and how they grow. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society.
This book introduces various birds in different stages of caring for their eggs and their young. A great way to show students the life cycle of birds from eggs to adulthood. This book would be used to teach life-cycles through non-fiction texts so that the students are able to get factual information from a text and a real perspective of how birds grow.

Readability: 70L Grade 1

The Sun Is My Favorite Star by Frank Asch Asch, F. (2000). The sun is my favorite star. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, Inc.
This story is about a young child explaining why the sun is their favorite star in the galaxy. Some of the reasons for her love of the sun include its the star that wakes us up in the morning, helps us grow, plays hide-and-seek behind the clouds, and paints pretty pictures in the evening sky. This book would be best suited for students who are reading below grade level so that they can build up fluency and not become frustrated when they are reading on their own.