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Program Description
  
Science AZ is a dynamic website offering a
customizable collection of downloadable lessons and
materials in four scientific domains: life, earth,
physical and process science. These resources are
organized into units and individual materials to
supplement your current curriculum. To meet the
varying needs and abilities of students, each unit
is aimed at the grade range at which the topic is
taught in most stateseither K-2, 3-4, or 5-6. The
resources within each unit are provided at three
developmental reading levels: low , middle , and
high . The K-2 units include a fourth level of
science resource for emerging readers. We have a
total of ten reading levels across the three
developmental stages, K-2, 3-4 and 5-6.
Every unit includes: a unit guide, a
unit map,
nonfiction books written at multiple reading levels,
a nonfiction book teaching guide,
quick reads at
multiple reading levels, leveled
discussion question
cards, leveled vocabulary cards, three
word work
activities, three process activities,
process
activity teaching tips, three or four
career files,
graphic organizers, a
nonfiction retelling rubric,
and a unit quiz.

We suggest beginning each unit with the Spark (a
hands-on, fun science experiment or a teacher
demonstration) presented in the Unit Guide, in order
to activate prior knowledge and help students make
personal connections to the topic. Some teachers
might then introduce vocabulary, or dive into the
Nonfiction Books. The Quick Reads go into more
detail about topics mentioned in the Nonfiction
Books, so some teachers use the Quick Reads to
reinforce concepts in the Nonfiction Books. The Unit
Quiz can be used before and after a unit, both as
pre-assessment, and a comprehension check after the
unit. The Process Activities can be used at any
point to let students experience the unit concepts
first-hand, but they may be easiest for students to
understand after they've read the Nonfiction Book.
The resources have been developed to enable you to
customize your teaching, so feel free to incorporate
elements in the order that suits your classroom.
We provide correlations to
Reading A-Z books on
each unit's Supplemental tab.
RAZ-Kids books,
Writing A-Z lessons and
Vocabulary A-Z
can also be used to support Science A-Z units.

Core
Unit Guide
Provides an introduction to unit concepts; a quick,
hands-on activity "spark"; prior knowledge
connections; vocabulary strategies; background and
misconceptions; suggested Internet search terms and
resource sites; extensions and real-world
connections.
Unit Map
An overview of the core resources in the unit.
Nonfiction Books
The nonfiction book addresses core concepts and
provides details that support unit objectives. It is
provided at three reading levels, low , mid , and
high , that convey the same concepts, images, and
vocabulary, but at developmentally appropriate
reading levels.
Nonfiction Book Teaching Guide
Suggests teaching strategies for use before,
during and after reading. Includes a targeted
reading strategy and comprehension skill, leveled
discussion questions, and assessment options. Tips
for differentiated instruction with the three
reading levels of the book are offered.
Concept Books
Introduce emerging readers to topics within the
unit.
Quick Reads
The Quick Reads are magazine-like fact sheets on
specific topics related to the unit content,
provided at three reading levels. They can be
assigned to groups or individuals, and the Brain
Check questions provide discussion, writing and
homework options.
Discussion Question Cards
Discussion questions appear on clippable cards to
accompany the nonfiction book. Each card also
includes the question type, the section of the book
to which it is related, and the reading levels for
which the question is appropriate. They can be used
in small group or whole class discussions, as
homework or writing assignments, or as a
comprehension quick check.
Vocabulary Cards
Unit vocabulary terms are defined on clippable
cards. Each card includes the part of speech and the
levels of reading material in which the term
appears.
Word Work
The Word Work worksheets reinforce instruction of
the unit's vocabulary.
Process Activities
These labs and activities provide hands-on
application of unit concepts, in three types of
activities, projects, explorations, and experiments.
Projects are arts-oriented, and intended to engage
students' research and communication skills.
Explorations involve more manipulation of variables.
Experiments take students through the full
scientific process, including hypotheses, data
analysis, and drawing conclusions, and often involve
more than one variable.
Process Activity Teaching Tips
These tips provide practical suggestions, tips on
obtaining materials, safety precautions, and
possible extensions for the process activities. Also
included are suggested responses for data sheets and
explanations for data analysis questions.
Career Files
Students will read about several career
opportunities related to the unit topic.
Graphic Organizers
Worksheets designed to reinforce reading strategies
and comprehension skills.
Nonfiction Retelling Rubric
Allows quick and easy assessment of comprehension.
Unit Quiz
The unit quiz with answer key includes multiple
choice and open-ended format questions that
reinforce unit concepts. Question types include
literal, inferential, data analysis, and extended
response. The quiz can be used as a pre- and
post-unit assessment tool.
Science Movies
Multimedia clips that support unit concepts and
vocabulary.
Supplemental
Anticipation Set
Before-and-after reading questions engage students'
prior knowledge, and showcase what they've learned.
Reading A-Z Book Connections
A list of Reading A-Z books that support the unit's
concepts and vocabulary.
Graphic Organizers
Worksheets designed to reinforce reading strategies
and comprehension skills.

Over time, Science A-Z will cover
the following units. We will add a unit every six
weeks. Once these units are completed, we may
continue to add more topics.
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Grades K-2 |
Grades 3-4 |
Grades 5-6 |
Animals
Plants
The Senses
Weather
Tools of Science mini-unit
Energy
Living/Nonliving
Earth, Moon, Sun
Materials
Things Move
Things That Do Work
Magnets
Grouping Things
Protecting the Earth |
Sound
Life Cycles
Heat Energy
Storms
Tools of Science mini-unit
The Human Body
Habitats, Environment
Simple Machines
Vertebrates
Solids, Liquids, Gases
Plants
Rocks and Soil
Day, Night, Seasons
Motion
Invertebrates
Solar System
Earth Forces
Health |
Water Cycle
Light Energy
Adaptations and Survival
Inside Living Things
Tools of Science mini-unit
Outside the Solar System
Food and Nutrition
Food Chain
Changing Landforms (Plate
Tectonics/Erosion)
Mixtures, Solutions
Energy Resources
Magnetism and Electricity
Inventions
Using Data
Experiments
Science Debate
Atmosphere and Climate
Family Tree
Health
Endangered Animals |
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