Strategy Guides
Strategy Guides highlight some of the most powerful instructional strategies from the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading integrated curriculum. Each Strategy Guide provides a description of one of these strategies, an overview of how to teach the strategy with many science texts, and a specific plan for teaching the strategy with a Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading book.
| Grade | Book | |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Procedural Writing | 2-3 | Bursting Bubbles: The Story of an Improved Investigation |
| Teaching Process Description Writing | 3-4 | Voyage of a Cracker |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | 3-4 | Blue Whales and Buttercups |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | 4-5 | Handbook of Planets and Moons |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | 4-5 | Ecosystems Around the World |
| Teaching Scientific Description Writing | 4-5 | Visit to a Pond |
| Teaching Scientific Explanation Writing | 3-4 | Light Strikes! |
| Teaching Scientific Explanation Writing | 4-5 | Chemical Reactions Everywhere |
| Teaching Scientific Explanations | 2-3 | Gary's Sand Journal |
| Teaching Scientific Explanations | 2-3 | Handbook of Interesting Ingredients |
| Teaching Summary Writing | 3-4 | The Speed of Light |
| Teaching Summary Writing | 4-5 | Made of Matter |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Connecting Science and Everyday Words | What Are Roots? |
| Making Sense of Data in Science Texts | Snail Investigations |
| Taking Notes Based on Observations | My Nature Notebook |
| Teaching About the Nature of Science | Talking with a Habitat Scientist |
| Teaching Text Structure | The Handbook of Forest Floor Animals |
| Using Discourse Circles | Without Soil |
| Using Discourse Routines with Science Texts | Into the Soil |
| Using Text Features | Earthworms Underground |
| Using the Cognates Strategy* | Walk in the Woods |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Interpreting Visual Representations | What's Stronger? The Forces that Cause Erosion |
| Searching for Information in Science Texts | Handbook of Sandy Beach Organisms |
| Teaching About Multiple Meaning Words* | My Sea Otter Report |
| Teaching About the Nature of Science | Shoreline Scientist |
| Teaching Concept Mapping | What Belongs on a Beach? |
| Teaching Scientific Explanations | Gary's Sand Journal |
| Teaching Text Structure | The Black Tide |
| Teaching Vocabulary with Science Texts* | Beach Postcards |
| Using Text Features | What Lives on a Sandy Beach? |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Interpreting Visual Representations | Forces |
| Making Sense of Data in Science Texts | What My Sister Taught Me About Magnets |
| Teaching Concept Mapping | Mystery Forces |
| Using Anticipation Guides* | Gravity Is Everywhere |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Teaching About the Nature of Science | Jess Makes Hair Gel |
| Teaching Scientific Explanations | Handbook of Interesting Ingredients |
| Teaching Text Structure | Jelly Bean Scientist |
| Using Anticipation Guides* | Solving Dissolving |
| Using Discourse Circles | What if Rainboots Were Made of Paper? |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Teaching Procedural Writing | Bursting Bubbles: The Story of an Improved Investigation |
| Posing Investigation Questions | Handbook of Chemical Investigations |
| Promoting Word Consciousness | Communicating Chemistry |
| Teaching Scientific Explanation Writing | Chemical Reactions Everywhere |
| Teaching Text Structure | What Happens to the Atoms? |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Analyzing Part-to-Whole Relationships | Systems |
| Making Sense of Data in Science Texts | What’s the Diagnosis? |
| Searching for Information in Science Texts | Handbook of Body Systems |
| Teaching About the Nature and Practices of Science | Secrets of the Stomach |
| Teaching Process Description Writing | Voyage of a Cracker |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Connecting Science and Everyday Words | Go with the Flow: Making Models of Streams |
| Gathering Information from Science Texts | Weather Encyclopedia |
| Making Sense of Data in Science Texts | What’s Going on With the Weather? |
| Taking Notes Based on Observations | Sky Notebook |
| Teaching About Multiple Meaning Words* | Falling Through the Atmosphere |
| Teaching About the Nature and Practices of Science | Tornado! A Meteorologist and Her Prediction |
| Teaching Text Structure | Water in the Desert |
| Using Text Features | Wet Weather Handbook |
| Using the Cognates Strategy* | Drinking Cleopatra’s Tears |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Interpreting Visual Representations | Sunlight and Showers |
| Searching for Information in Science Texts | The Handbook of Light Interactions |
| Teaching About Idioms* | Can You See in the Dark? |
| Teaching About the Nature and Practices of Science | Why Do Scientists Disagree? |
| Teaching Concept Mapping | It’s All Energy |
| Teaching Scientific Explanation Writing | Light Strikes! |
| Teaching Summary Writing | The Speed of Light |
| Teaching Vocabulary with Science Texts* | Cameras, Eyes, and Glasses |
| Using Discourse Routines with Science Texts | I See What You Mean |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Teaching About the Nature and Practices of Science | Evidence from the Past |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | Blue Whales and Buttercups |
| Using Discourse Circles | The Code |
| Using Visual Evidence to Make Inferences | Mystery Mouths |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Connecting Science and Everyday Words | Exploring Planets and Moons |
| Promoting Word Consciousness | Technology for Exploration |
| Taking Notes Based on Observations | Observing the Moon |
| Teaching About How Scientists Use Models | Planetary Scientist |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | Handbook of Planets and Moons |
| Using Anticipation Guides* | Tomato Landers |
| Using Discourse Circles | What About Pluto? |
| Using Science Text to Visualize | Spinning Through Space |
| Using the Cognates Strategy* | How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Gathering Information from Science Texts | Tabletop Pond Guide |
| Interpreting Visual Representations | Investigating Crayfish |
| Making Sense of Data in Science Texts | Eat and Be Eaten: How an Ecologist Uses Food Webs |
| Teaching Concept Mapping | What Makes Living Things Go? |
| Teaching Scientific Comparison Writing | Ecosystems Around the World |
| Teaching Scientific Description Writing | Visit to a Pond |
| Teaching Text Structure | Ecosystem News |
| Teaching Vocabulary with Science Texts* | Making a Difference |
| Using Roundtable Discussions | Dragonfly Explanations |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| Interpreting Visual Representations | Phase Change at Extremes |
| Teaching About How Scientists Make Inferences | Science You Can’t See |
| Teaching Summary Writing | Made of Matter |
| Using Roundtable Discussions | Break It Down: How Scientists Separate Mixtures |
*Strategies marked with an asterisk are particularly useful for English language learners. Learn more about how to support English language learners here.
Strategy Guides were developed to accompany the science books featured in Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading curriculum. Because of the quality of the books and the extensive information they contain, many teachers purchase the books separately. Strategy Guides include worksheets that can be used to employ that particular strategy with appropriate books, such as the one shown below:
To purchase any of the books, printed strategy guides, or other components from the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading program please use our short response form to provide information regarding your needs. We look forward to working with you.
