Science A-Z Reading Levels

Make Science Content Accessible to Students

Science Content

Reading and learning about science can often be a complex and challenging journey for students. To make unfamiliar ideas and associated vocabulary more accessible and less frustrating to students, Science A-Z provides books and other resources at multiple reading levels. These leveled resources can help teachers differentiate instruction to best meet their students' needs.

Unit Nonfiction Books and other key reading materials from each science unit within a grade span (K-2, 3-4, and 5-6), are written to three levels of reading difficulty, indicated by dots on each resource: for high, for mid, and for low.

The Science A-Z team evaluates the quantitative and qualitative (objective and subjective) features of each text to determine its complexity. Using sophisticated leveling formulas, including the best-in-class, proprietary Learning A-Z Text Leveling System, ensures that texts are grade appropriate.

Text features taken into account include:
  • average words per sentence
  • average sentences per paragraph
  • percentage of unfamiliar vocabulary
  • number and complexity of visual devices (e.g., diagrams, charts, maps)
  • structural elements of nonfiction text (e.g., table of contents, captions, sidebar features, glossary, index)
  • prerequisite prior knowledge
  • concept difficulty

Reading to Learn

To help students read as the means of developing proficiency with the language and content of science, Science A-Z takes challenging concepts and vocabulary and makes them accessible.

Text resources from Science A-Z are valuable tools for developing reading comprehension skills in students who span a broad range of reading proficiency. These resources are designed to present the science topics and concepts teachers are required to teach in order to satisfy state and national standards.

Science A-Z's three reading levels within each of the three grade spans ensure science content is accessible to all students as they read to learn. Furthermore, Science A-Z's high, mid, and low reading levels within each of the three grade spans correlate to a range of levels found in the Learning A-Z Text Leveling System (see chart below).

Science topic coverage varies according to standards required by different school districts, states, and countries. Because Science A-Z’s resources are provided at multiple reading levels, teachers required to cover standards-based topics can use resources from a higher or lower grade level to teach a given topic.

Level Correlation Charts

In order to assign appropriate science texts to students, refer to the chart below for correlations between Science A-Z reading levels and the Learning A-Z Text Leveling System. Use the additional links to access charts that correlate Science A-Z levels to other systems. Ultimately, teachers should use their professional judgment along with reader and task considerations to determine if an individual text at a given level is appropriate for a student.

Science A-Z levels and Learning A-Z levels
Science A-Z levels and Lexile levels
Science A-Z levels and correlations to Fountas and Pinnell levels

View correlations between Learning A-Z levels and other systems: Learning A-Z Text Leveling System

Science A-Z Learning A-Z Lexile* Fountas & Pinnell
K-2 low E - J 200L - 440L E - J
K-2 mid F - L 250L - 540L F - K
K-2 high J - O 400L - 540L J - M
3-4 low L - S 500L - 790L K - O
3-4 mid O - T 550L - 840L M - P
3-4 high Q - U 600L - 890L N - Q
5-6 low R - V 650L - 940L N - R
5-6 mid R - W 700L - 990L N - S
5-6 high S - X 800L - 1090L O - S

* Lexile® bands are certified through a partnership with MetaMetrics®.