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Books in Smithsonian Steam Readers series

  • Making Water Safe

    Nellie Wilder

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    Everyone needs clean water to live. But not everyone has access to clean water. Learn how people around the world are working hard to solve the clean water problem! Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. 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 actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. This book builds young readers' foundational literacy skills and is ideal for 1st grade students or children ages 5-7.
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  • Helping Injured Animals

    Anne Montgomery

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    Learn how prosthetic devices and 3D printing are being used to help injured dogs, cats, elephants, and dolphins with this fun and informative book. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. 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 actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. This book builds young readers' foundational literacy skills and is ideal for 1st grade students or ages 5-7.
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  • Life in a Cube

    Seth Rogers

    Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, Dec. 3, 2018)
    Learn how studying life in one Cubic foot can teach us about life on the entire planet! created in partnership with the smithsonian institution, this high-interest steam reader builds literacy skills and features a hands-on steam challenge.
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  • Smithsonian Readers: Amazing Animals Level 2

    Brenda Scott Royce, Emily Rose Oachs, Courtney Acampora

    Paperback (Silver Dolphin Books, Jan. 2, 2018)
    Challenge yourself and engage with the amazing wildlife around the world in the newest Smithsonian reader!This engaging nonfiction book continues children’s journeys to becoming lifelong readers with new and engaging content and more challenging texts. Developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Amazing Animals Level 2 contains four 32-page topics for engaged readers looking to learn more about the world around them—from sea life and nighttime animals to rain forest animals and baby animals! Children can also practice their reading skills and test their newfound knowledge with the included quizzes.
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  • Rebuilding the Body

    John-Michael Seeber

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, Oct. 1, 2018)
    3D-printed prosthetics. Bionic and robotic limbs. Learn how technology has advanced the field of prosthetics. With a hands-on steam activity, this book uses real-world examples to teach how the engineering design process is used to solve problems.
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  • Smithsonian Reader: Apollo 11: Mission to the Moon Level 2

    Courtney Acampora

    Paperback (Silver Dolphin Books, May 14, 2019)
    A celebration of Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary! Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Reader: Apollo 11: Mission to the Moon Level 2 celebrates the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first time humans stepped foot on the Moon. This reader is designed to encourage reading comprehension while covering one of the most important feats in American history. From president John F. Kennedy’s declaration to land a man on the Moon to astronaut Neil Armstrong’s first steps, children will learn all about Apollo 11, while building reading skills with the carefully designed leveling structure. After reading this introduction to nonfiction, children can use the included quiz to reinforce reading comprehension.
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  • Dealing with Wildfires

    Kristy Stark

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    This informative title teaches students about the causes of wildfires, how firefighters put them out, the differences between different types of fire, how to prevent wildfires, and the aftereffects of wildfires on both people and the environment. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. 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.
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  • Predicting Earthquakes

    Kristy Stark

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, July 2, 2018)
    Earthquakes can leave people and property in bad shape. At times, they can be deadly. Find out about the science of studying earthquakes and the men and women who track the movements of the ground below us. 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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  • Plant Invaders

    Vickie An

    Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, Dec. 3, 2018)
    Learn how people are working to stop the growth of invasive plant species and what you can do to help! created in partnership with smithsonian, this high-interest steam reader builds literacy skills and features a hands-on steam challenge.
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  • Underwater Training

    Danica Kassebaum

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials -, June 1, 2018)
    Did you know that swimming pools are used to train astronauts? Athletes use swimming pools to train when they're injured, and doctors use them to help patients feel better. Learn how swimming pools and aquatic therapy help all kinds of people! 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: Ultimate Predators Level 3

    Brenda Scott-Royce, Megan Roth

    Paperback (Silver Dolphin Books, Oct. 1, 2016)
    Master reading with the Smithsonian! Smithsonian Readers: Ultimate Predators Level 3 continues children’s journeys to becoming lifelong readers with new and engaging content and more challenging texts. Developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Ultimate Predators Level 3 contains four 32-page topics for engaged readers looking to learn more about the world around them from dinosaurs and reptiles to big cats and sharks! Children can also practice their reading skills and test their newfound knowledge with the included quizzes. 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
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  • The Art of Shadow Puppets

    Dona Herweck Rice

    Perfect Paperback (Teacher Created Materials, May 15, 2019)
    People have been using shadow puppets to entertain people for centuries. Learn the history of shadow puppets and the ""technology"" behind them 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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