Text Set

Alexa Lavinka
Anchor Text
Textbook: Five Ponds Press. (2021). Exploring
Science All Around Us Level 4 (2nd ed.).
 Fourth Grade
SOL 4.3
Living Systems
The student will investigate and understand that organisms, including humans, interact with
one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key ideas include
a) interrelationships exist in populations,communities, and ecosystems;
b) food webs show the flow of energy within an ecosystem;
c) changes in an organism’s niche and habitat may occur at various stages in its life cycle;
d) classification can be used to identify organisms
Rational
I choose this because it is something I have taught before.
This was a topic that I enjoyed learning in school, but do
not remember a lot of texts being used. I wanted to be able
to find texts that were below, on, and above grade level and
truly be able to support the different reading levels within
a unit. The anchor text is Exploring Science All Around Us:
Level 4 Chapter 2: Living Things. The Automated Readability
Index is 6.5, which is above grade level. This text set will
be useful to fill the gaps for those not reading at that
high level.
Little Activists: Help the Honey
Bees
Below Reading Level: 540L Hansen, G. (2019). Help the Honey Bees. Abdo Kids Jumbo,

an imprint of Abdo Kids.

Social Justice Practices:Activism
“Help the Honey Bees” has a strong focus on activism for
honey bees. The purpose of the book is to help readers
discover ways to advocate for the honey bees from learning
about their environment and purpose. It is useful in
discussing the external factors within an ecosystem and how
they relate as well as spark conversation on what would
happen if bees were removed from their habitat. The book
has a Lexia level of 540L, which is low. However, this book’s
simplicity speaks volume because it still strongly advocates
for the bees.
What is a food chain?
Below Reading Level: 490L Kalman, B. (2013). What is a food chain? Dalmatian

Press.

“What is a food chain?” provides great vocabulary of

the components of the food chain. The book provides
adequate details, explanations, and pictures for each
heading. With a Lexia Level of 490L, it is below grade
level, but this allows more students to be able to read
the content. This book is set up like a chapter book with
the headings, which is beneficial to have students read
the part that aligns with the textbook reading if needed.
What do you find in a rainforest
tree?
Below Reading Level: NC580L Kopp, M. (2016). What do you find in a rainforest tree?

Crabtree.

“What do you find in a rainforest tree?” dives deep into

the ecosystem of the rainforest. There are multiple
books within this series to allow students to find an
ecosystem that interests them. The Lexia level is
NC580L, which is below grade level. The level seems
low for the content within the book. This would provide
great research for an ecosystem project.
Lake and pond food webs in action
Below Reading Level: 520L Fleisher, P. (2014). Lake and pond food webs in action.
Lerner Publications.

“Lake and pond food webs in action” provides insight

into different food webs. It goes into details about each
component and provides great photos that spark
interest. With a Lexia level of 520L, it is below grade
level, however, there is a great amount of content and
vocabulary to review. The book itself focuses on one
environment, but it provides the reader with the
knowledge of looking into each component with any
environment.
Inside Ecosystems and biomes
Below Reading Level: 700 Housel, D. J. (2008). Inside ecosystems and biomes.
Teacher Created Materials.

“Inside ecosystems and biomes” provides great details

and vocabulary for ecosystems. The book includes
photos and maps to show more detail into different
ecosystems. The book provides information on multiple
ecosystems and shows many similarities and
differences. This is at a 700L Lexia level, which is
considered to be below grade level.
Marine Biomes
On Reading Level: 1050L Spilsbury, L., & Spilsbury, R. (2019). Marine biomes.
Wayland.

“Marine biomes” dives deeper into the ocean life. There

is a lot of information on each page. The use of photos
and captions within the book is extremely useful. On
top of diving into what is alive underwater and the
different components of its ecosystem, the book
contains many interesting facts. This book is a 1050L
on the Lexia scale, which is on grade level. This book
would be beneficial to spark interest and provide details
for a project on this specific biome.
After The Kill
On Reading Level: 740 L Lunde, D. P., & Stock, C. (2011). After the kill.
Charlesbridge.

After the Kill” provides a realistic view of the food chain

in East Africa. The book contains facts on each animal
and explains predator, pray, and scavenger. With a
Lexia level of 740L, the book is on grade level. This
book requires a mature class and some discussion
because it does go into detail in the parts of the food
chain. The book does align with and is recommended
by the anchor text textbook.
Aliens from EarTh: when Animals and Plants
Invade OTHER ECOSYSTEMS
On Reading Level: 740L Batten, M., & Doyle, B. (2016). Aliens from earth: When
animals and plants invade other ecosystems.
Peachtree.

“Aliens from earth: When animals and plants invade

other ecosystems” talks about invading species and its
effects on an ecosystem. This provides insights on
possible outcomes when the ecosystem is disrupted
with multiple examples. The Lexia level is 740L, which
is on grade level. This book would serve as a great
read aloud.
GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE: THE
AFRICAN PENGUINS
On Reading Level: 1070L
Social Justice Practices:Activism
Markle, S. (2018). The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving
the African penguins. Millbrook Press.
The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African
Penguins” advocates for the African Penguins. The
photos are very eye catching and overall the book
provides insights on the problematic ecosystem that the
penguins live in. The Lexia reading level is 1070L,
which is on the high end of being on grade level. The
book overall is lengthy, but it would spark great
conversations on how to advocate for the species.
Animals & Sculptures
Above Reading Level:Automated Readability Index: 13.7 Virginia Living Museum. (2021, February 25). Animals
& Sculptures. Virginia Living Museum. Retrieved from
https://thevlm.org/explore/virginia-life/animals/

The Virginia Living Museum provides information on

many Animals & Sculptires. The readings to contain a
lot of species names, which could be difficult for some
students. The reasons Automated Readability Index is
13.7, which is very high. This would be great to use to
research different animals and use it to deepen our
understanding on different parts of an ecosystem.
SOL Pass
Above Reading Level:Automated Readability Index: 10.7
SOL PASS. (n.d.). SOL 4.3 -- ADAPTATIONS,
ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD CHAINS & NICHES. Sol 4.3
ecosystems - standards. Retrieved from
https://www.solpass.org/science4-5/guides/4-
3ecostandards2018.html?section=study-3
SOL provides a condensed study guide that covered
the entire standard. This resource is condensed with a
lot of vocabulary that was covered. The Automated
Readability Index: 10.7, which is high, but this is
because of the concise content.
What is it like where you live?
Above Reading Level:Automated Readability Index: MBGnet. (n.d.). What's it like where you live? MBGnet.
7.2 Retrieved from
https://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm

What's it like where you live? Is an interactive list that

allows the reader to dive deeper into the information on
different ecosystems. The information on the website is
not all posted on one page, which makes it easier to
read. THe Automated Readability Index is 7.2, which is
above grade level. With how the page is laid out, the
concepts are separated in a way that is easy to
process.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Animal & Plants
Above Reading Level:Automated Readability
Index: 10.3
San Diego Zoo. (n.d.). Plants and Animals. San Diego
Zoo Wildlife Alliance Animals and Plants. Retrieved
from https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/

The San Diego Zoo provides information on many

Plants and Animals. The readings to contain a lot of
species names, which could be difficult for some
students. The reasons Automated Readability Index is
10.3, which is very high. This would be great to use to
research different animals and use it to deepen our
understanding on different parts of an ecosystem.
BrainPop- EcoSystems
Nonlinguistic: video BrainPOP. (n.d.). Ecosystems. BrainPOP. Retrieved
from
https://www.brainpop.com/science/ecologyandbehavior/
ecosystems/

The EcoSystem brainpop video provides information in

a visual and auditory way. This nonlinguistic resource is
giving information about what an ecosystem is in an
interesting way.
EcoSystems
Nonlinguistic: video Scholastic. (n.d.). Ecosystems: Studyjams! science.
Scholastic.com. Retrieved from
https://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/scienc
e/ecosystems/ecosystems.htm

Study Jams has a video on Ecosystems that focuses

on some key vocabulary about ecosystems. There is
also a seven question quiz that is an option to review
what was learned or reviewed from the video.
Batten, M., & Doyle, B. (2016). Aliens from earth: When animals and plants invade other ecosystems. Peachtree.

BrainPOP. (n.d.). Ecosystems. BrainPOP. Retrieved from https://www.brainpop.com/science/ecologyandbehavior/ecosystems/

Five Ponds Press. (2021). Exploring Science All Around Us Level 4 (2nd ed.).

Fleisher, P. (2014). Lake and pond food webs in action. Lerner Publications.

Hansen, G. (2019). Help the honey bees. Abdo Kids Jumbo, an imprint of Abdo Kids.

Housel, D. J. (2008). Inside ecosystems and biomes. Teacher Created Materials.

Kalman, B. (2013). What is a food chain? Dalmatian Press.

Kopp, M. (2016). What do you find in a rainforest tree? Crabtree.

Lunde, D. P., & Stock, C. (2011). After the kill. Charlesbridge.

Markle, S. (2018). The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African penguins. Millbrook Press.

MBGnet. (n.d.). What's it like where you live? MBGnet. Retrieved from https://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm

San Diego Zoo. (n.d.). Plants and Animals. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Animals and Plants. Retrieved from https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/

Scholastic. (n.d.). Ecosystems: Studyjams! science. Scholastic.com. Retrieved from https://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/ecosystems.htm

SOL PASS. (n.d.). SOL 4.3 -- ADAPTATIONS, ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD CHAINS & NICHES. Sol 4.3 ecosystems - standards. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from
https://www.solpass.org/science4-5/guides/4-3ecostandards2018.html?section=study-3

Spilsbury, L., & Spilsbury, R. (2019). Marine biomes. Wayland.

Virginia Living Museum. (2021, February 25). Animals & Sculptures. Virginia Living Museum. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://thevlm.org/explore/virginia-life/animals/