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Books in Smithsonian Steam Readers series

  • Navigating at Sea

    Dona Herweck Rice

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, July 2, 2018)
    Navigation instruments have changed over time. Lodestones, sunstones, and sextants helped early navigators find their way. Modern technology makes navigation more precise than it has ever been. But the roots of navigation still remain. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds students' reading skills while engaging their curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through every step of the engineering design process and is perfect for makerspace activities. It makes STEAM career connections by providing a glimpse into the lives of real-life Smithsonian employees currently working in STEAM fields. Discover engineering innovations that solve real-world problems with this book that touches on all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math!
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  • The Science of Waves and Surfboards

    Lisa Steele MacDonald

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, Oct. 1, 2018)
    Dive in and discover the science behind surfing! surfers use science to Select the right surfboard and to understand the motion of waves. This high-interest book features a hands-on steam activity and uses real-world examples to teach the content.
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  • Raising Clouded Leopards

    Lisa MacDonald

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, July 2, 2018)
    You've probably heard of lions and tigers. Perhaps you've seen them at the zoo. But have you heard of the clouded leopard? This shy member of the cat family is an endangered species. Their shyness makes studying them a challenge for zookeepers and scientists. Find out why they are so special, and why they need our help. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds students' reading skills while engaging their curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through every step of the engineering design process and is perfect for makerspace activities. It makes STEAM career connections by providing a glimpse into the lives of real-life Smithsonian employees currently working in STEAM fields. Discover engineering innovations that solve real-world problems with this book that touches on all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math!
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  • Smithsonian Readers Earth and Beyond Level 1

    Editors of Silver Dolphin Books

    Paperback (Silver Dolphin Books, Aug. 13, 2019)
    Learn about Earth and outer space with the Smithsonian!From Earthโ€™s diverse habitats to space exploration, Smithsonian Reader Earth and Beyond Level 1 includes four books that cover fascinating topics such as world wonders, animals, natural disasters, and space. Perfect for early readers, this collection encourages reading comprehension with high-interest topics and a carefully-designed leveling structure.
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  • Raising Silkworms

    Anne Montgomery

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    Silk is an expensive fabric that is valued for its texture and durability. Learn how silk is harvested from silkworm cocoons with this STEAM book that will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this book features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Introduce early science topics to young readers with this book that is ideal for 1st grade students or ages 5-7.
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  • Conserving an Aircraft

    Ben Nussbaum

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, Oct. 1, 2018)
    Read how smithsonian conservators saved and restored an experimental wwii aircraft from ruin! with a hands-on steam activity and career connections, this book uses real-world examples to teach how the engineering design process is used to solve problems.
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  • Saving the Arctic

    Serena Haines

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, Oct. 1, 2018)
    Discover how changes in the Arctic Ecosystem and melting polar ice affect the entire earth. With a hands-on steam activity and career connections, this book uses real-world examples to teach how the engineering design process is used to solve problems.
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  • Smithsonian Readers: Early Adventures Level 1

    Brenda Scott-Royce, Ruth Strother, Emily Rose Oachs, Kaitlyn DiPerna

    Hardcover (Silver Dolphin Books, Nov. 17, 2015)
    Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, the Smithsonian Readers series is designed to encourage reading comprehension with high-interest topics and build reading skills with a carefully designed leveling structure. Level 1 focuses on familiar content and simple text to promote engagement and success for new readers. Smithsonian Readers: Early Adventures Level 1 contains six 32-page topics for beginning readers: Vehicles, Reptiles, Outer Space, Animal Habitats, Insects, and Safari Animals. The fascinating content is accompanied 36 perforated fact cards to further encourage early adventures in reading.Level 1: Early Readers-Basic factual texts with familiar themes and content-Concepts in text are reinforced by photos-Includes glossary to reinforce reading comprehension-Phonic regularity-Simple sentence structure and repeated sentence patterns-Easy vocabulary familiar to kindergarteners and first graders
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  • Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4

    Brenda Scott-Royce, Stephen Binns, Emily Rose Oachs, Kaitlyn DiPerna

    Hardcover (Silver Dolphin Books, Oct. 27, 2015)
    For fluent readers that have mastered levels 1, 2, and 3, Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4 provides fascinating facts and challenging content that promotes reading success and enjoyment. Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4 contains six 32-page topics for children on their way to becoming expert readers: Predators, Space Exploration, Natural Disasters, World Wonders, Ocean Habitats, and Flight. Bound into the book are 36 perforated fact cards created for fluent readers looking for extra learning opportunities.Level 4: Fluent Readers-Variety of factual texts that contain unfamiliar themes and challenging technical content-Includes glossary and pronunciation guides to-Contains longer and more complex sentence patterns-Most of the vocabulary should be familiar to second-graders-Longer stretches of text and extended descriptions without the support of pictures-Extended sentences with various structures
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  • Playing with Wind

    Elizabeth Austin

    Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    Have you ever wondered how the wind makes a kite fly? Learn about the wind with this fun STEAM book for kindergarten that makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM and beginner science topics to their youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book uses real-world examples to make STEAM topics easier to understand. It features an age-appropriate STEAM activity that is perfect for makerspaces and introduces kindergartners to the steps of the engineering design process. It helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students and ages 4-6.
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  • Staying Afloat

    Nellie Wilder

    Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    This STEAM book for kindergarten makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM to their youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book uses real-world examples to make STEAM and basic science topics easier to understand and teaches the concept of buoyancy. It features an age-appropriate STEAM activity that is perfect for makerspaces and introduces kindergartners to the steps of the engineering design process. It helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students or ages 4-6.
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  • The Wright Brothers

    Marissa Hernandez

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, July 2, 2018)
    The Wright brothers wanted to build a flying machine. The path to achieve their dream was filled with many obstacles. Countless hours would be spent studying and testing their plans. But their hard work paid off, and today they are known as the "forefathers of flight." Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds students' reading skills while engaging their curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through every step of the engineering design process and is perfect for makerspace activities. It makes STEAM career connections by providing a glimpse into the lives of real-life Smithsonian employees currently working in STEAM fields. Discover engineering innovations that solve real-world problems with this book that touches on all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math!
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