Independent Reading Center

Reading materials that support independent reading, brought to you by Reading Is Fundamental.

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Books & Resources

We found the best books and activities about nature so you can really dig into the subject. Happy reading!

Lola Plants a Garden [PreK - K]
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Lola Plants a Garden

Lola is inspired to plant her own flower garden.
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Lola Plants a Garden: Guide for Parents & Families

Printable hands-on activities
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Lola Plants a Garden: Vocabulary Scaffold

Printable guide with 10 challenge words
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Lola Plants a Garden: Word Search

Print and interactive puzzle
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Lola Plants a Garden: Memory Match

Interactive game
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Lola Plants a Garden: Criss Cross

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Lola Plants a Garden: Guide for Educators

Printable guide
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Lola Plants a Garden: Extension Activities for Educators

STEAM-themed, project-based lessons
Out of the Blue [PreK - 1]
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Out of the Blue

Explore the beach for treasures, through pictures only.
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Out of the Blue: Read Aloud Video

Read aloud by Michele Lepe
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Out of the Blue: Guide for Parents & Families

Printable hands-on activities
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Out of the Blue: Wordless Text Activities

Analytical writing exercises
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Out of the Blue: Guide for Educators

Activate student thinking
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Out of the Blue: Extension Activities for Educators

STEAM-themed, project-based lessons
Sunflower House [PreK - 2]
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Sunflower House [PreK - 2]

Large sunflowers provide a house for the children who planted them.
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Sunflower House: Leveled Reading Passages

Set of passages to supplement the book
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Sunflower House: Word Search (Easy)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Sunflower House: Word Search (Medium)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Sunflower House: Word Search (Hard)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Sunflower House: Memory Match (Easy)

Interactive puzzle
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Sunflower House: Memory Match (Medium)

Interactive puzzle
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Sunflower House: Memory Match (Hard)

Interactive puzzle
Grandpa's Garden [PreK - 2]
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Grandpa's Garden

Billy and his grandpa work on a garden.
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Grandpa's Garden: Guide for Parents & Families

Printable hands-on activities
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Grandpa's Garden: Vocabulary Scaffold

Printable guide with 10 challenge words
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Grandpa's Garden: Word Search (Easy)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Word Search (Medium)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Word Search (Hard)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Memory Match (Easy)

Interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Memory Match (Medium)

Interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Memory Match (Hard)

Interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Criss Cross (Easy)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Criss Cross (Medium)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Grandpa's Garden: Guide for Educators

Activate student thinking
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Grandpa's Garden: Extension Activities for Educators

STEAM-themed, project-based lessons
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Grandpa's Garden: Guide for Community Coordinators

For after-school or community settings
Plant Secrets [PreK - 3]
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Plant Secrets

Observe the cycles of four kinds of plants.
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Plant Secrets: Activity Guide

Plant your own garden
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Plant Secrets: Leveled Reading Passage (Easy)

The Legend of Johnny Appleseed
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Plant Secrets: Leveled Reading Passage (Medium)

The Legend of Johnny Appleseed
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Plant Secrets: Leveled Reading Passage (Hard)

The Legend of Johnny Appleseed
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Plant Secrets: Word Search

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Plant Secrets: Criss Cross

Printable and interactive puzzle
Sylvia's Spinach [PreK - 3]
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Sylvia's Spinach

Sylvia does not like spinach!
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Sylvia's Spinach: Guide for Parents & Families

Printable hands-on activities
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Sylvia's Spinach: Vocabulary Scaffold

Printable guide with 10 challenge words
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Sylvia's Spinach: Word Search

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Sylvia's Spinach: Memory Match

Interactive puzzle
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Sylvia's Spinach: Criss Cross

Printable and interactive puzzle
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Sylvia's Spinach: Guide for Educators

Activate student thinking
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Sylvia's Spinach: Extension Activities for Educators

STEAM-themed, project-based lessons
A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds [K - 3]
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds

Fruit holds the seed and keeps it warm and safe.
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Leveled Reading Passages

Peanuts Are Not Nuts
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Word Search (Easy)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Word Search (Medium)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Word Search (Hard)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Memory Match (Easy)

Interactive puzzle
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Memory Match (Medium)

Interactive puzzle
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A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds: Memory Match (Hard)

Interactive puzzle
From Seed to Maple Tree [K - 4]
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From Seed to Maple Tree

The life cycle of a single organism: a maple tree.
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From Seed to Maple Tree: Leveled Reading Passage (Easy)

A Sweet Heist
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From Seed to Maple Tree: Leveled Reading Passage (Medium)

A Sweet Heist
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From Seed to Maple Tree: Leveled Reading Passage (Hard)

A Sweet Heist
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From Seed to Maple Tree: Word Search

Printable and interactive puzzle
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From Seed to Maple Tree: Criss Cross

Printable and interactive puzzle
A Tree Is a Plant [K - 4]
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A Tree Is a Plant

A tree is the biggest plant that grows.
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A Tree Is a Plant: Word List

Printable PDF
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A Tree Is a Plant: Word Search (Easy)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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A Tree Is a Plant: Word Search (Medium)

Printable and interactive puzzle
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A Tree Is a Plant: Memory Match (Easy)

Interactive puzzle
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A Tree Is a Plant: Memory Match (Medium)

Interactive puzzle
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A Tree Is a Plant: Memory Match (Hard)

Interactive puzzle
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales [K - 6]
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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales

Anthology of nature folktales.
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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales: Guide for Parents & Families

Printable hands-on activities
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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales: Guide for Educators

Activate student thinking
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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales: Extension Activities for Educators

STEAM-themed, project-based lessons
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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales: Guide for Community Coordinators

For after-school and community programs