Read and Understand Science Grades 3-4

A hybrid between a reading comprehension book and science workbook, this series features both fiction and non-fiction reading selections based around scientific topics followed by comprehension, vocabulary and science activities. Each level includes 27 stories, which are listed in the table of contents along with the main science concept covered. Life, earth and physical science concepts are all represented. The stories are 1-2 pages in length and contain bold science vocabulary words, and a few illustrations (which could be colored, since the pages are black-and-white). Three activity sheets follow each story. The first activity focuses on reading comprehension and typically includes multiple-choice, short-answer, or true-false questions. The vocabulary activity tests the reader's knowledge of the science terms used, and may involve matching, labeling, a word puzzle, or fill-in-the-blanks. The last activity allows the reader to put their science knowledge to use by doing a simple hands-on experiment or writing and drawing about the topic. For example, in Grades 2-3, students draw arrows on several pictures representing the flow of heat after reading a story about heat and insulation, or they number the steps of digestion on a diagram after reading about the digestion of pizza. Compared to Nonfiction Reading Comprehension - Science, this series offers a much wider range of follow-up activities and emphasizes vocabulary and science activities on top of reading comprehension. Reproducible, answers included. 144 pgs, pb. - Jess