Books in Smithsonian Steam Readers series

What happens after death? That was a big question for ancient Egyptians. They believed that a person needed his or her body in death as much as in life. So they did all they could to preserve and protect the body. For them, preparing for life after death was an important part of life! Learn about the science behind mummification with this book 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!

Have you ever heard of a space farmer? Space farmers are astronauts who have received special training to learn how to grow plants in outer space. Learn about the challenge of farming in outer space with this high-interest STEAM book created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. It 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 Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Ideal for school reports and projects, this informational text will appeal to reluctant readers and ages 6-8. Ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics with this high-interest text!

Muddy Creek in Edgewater, Maryland is the site of a major makeover. The land around the stream has worn down. Find out what caused Muddy Creek to erode, and the many steps involved in saving it. 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!

Inka rulers led a huge empire with grand palaces. They had incredible riches. Artists made statues out of gold and silver. The Inka also made masterpieces out of grass. Their grass bridges crossed deep canyons. These engineering marvels let soldiers and messengers travel around the empire. 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!

Learn to read with the Smithsonian! Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian and esteemed literary childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Smithsonian Reader Level 3: Sharks! continues children’s journeys to become lifelong readers with engaging content and more challenging text. From great whites to leopard sharks, children will learn about sharks while building reading skills with the carefully designed leveling structure. After reading the 32-page high-quality introduction to nonfiction, children can take a quiz that reinforces reading comprehension. Also includes 28 stickers.

Smithsonian Readers: World of Wonder Level 3 continues children’s journeys to becoming lifelong readers with new and engaging content and more challenging texts. Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, World of Wonder Level 3 contains six 32-page topics for engaged readers looking to learn more about the world around them: Ancient Egypt, Wild Weather, Rain Forest Animals, The United States, The Planet, and Sharks. Children can also practice their reading skills and share their newfound knowledge with the included 36 topical fact cards.Level 3: Engaged Readers-Interesting factual and informational text that contains new and unfamiliar content-Includes glossary to reinforce reading comprehension-Repetition of longer sentence patterns with variation of placement of subjects, verbs, and adjectives-Most of the vocabulary should be familiar to first graders-Introduction of more complex spelling patterns and letter-sound relationships-Photos, illustrations, and diagrams are included for further concept exploration

Amphibians can be found all over the world. There are more than 7,500 kinds of amphibians living in streams, rainforests, deserts, and everywhere in between. Many of them are in danger due to a deadly fungus, but help is on the way! 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!

Smithsonian Readers: Seriously Amazing Level 2 provides accessible and engaging content designed to encourage further progress in children’s reading abilities. Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Seriously Amazing Level 2 encourages development in readers with unfamiliar vocabulary terms, new phonic structures, and more variation in sentence patterns. Seriously Amazing Level 2 contains six 32-page topics, chosen for their appeal to developing readers: Nighttime Animals, Sea Life, Dinosaurs, Solar System, Baby Animals, and the Human Body. Thirty-six perforated fact cards extend the learning and reading practice.Level 2: Developing Readers-Simple factual texts with mostly familiar themes and content-Concepts in text are supported by images-Includes glossary to reinforce reading comprehension-Repetition of basic sentence structure with variation of placement of subjects, verbs, and adjectives-Mostly easy vocabulary familiar to kindergarteners and first graders-Introduction to new phonic structures-Integration of contractions, possessives, compound sentences, and some three-syllable words