Nature Books for 3rd Graders

Welcome to the wide, green plains of Minecraft, where the grass stretches out as far as you can see! Can you hear a horse neigh near the fence, or spot a cow grazing in the shade? Which peaceful mobs live in this sunny neighborhood, and why does a farmer need to balance the herd? This decodable reader practices the ’eigh’ phonogram with words like ’eighty,’ ’neigh,’ ‘weighs,’ and ‘outweigh.’

Phoebe the fish knows her lake is the best lake in the whole wide world - cool green shade, smooth rocks, and every ripple just right. But one morning, something strange bobs on the surface, and rubbish starts drifting past her nose. Who would dump junk in her beautiful home, and can one small fish really make them stop? This decodable reader practices the ‘ph’ sound in words like ‘phenomenal,’ ‘catastrophe,’ ‘megaphone,’ and ‘phantom.’

High on a dry ridge where no rain has fallen for a whole season, an old woman named Nozipho watches the world and waits. When the maize withers and the river shrinks to a trickle, who could possibly know a way to save the village? Could the answer be something everyone has walked past for years? This Bookbot level practices the /f/ sound spelled with ph, using lesson words like ’epiphany’, ‘megaphone’, ’triumph’ and ‘phew’.

Step into the shady world of Minecraft forests, where oak and birch trees pack tight and the floor stays cool and dim. Can Alex keep her wits about her when thick leaves block her view and mobs lurk behind every trunk? Why is wood the most treasured thing in the game, and what happens when too many trees fall? Gather provisions, spot rare dark oaks, and help replant a greener world. This decodable reader practices si making /zh/ in words like ’treasure,’ ‘vision,’ ‘unusual,’ and ‘decision.’

Did you know that octopuses are super smart and can use tools just like monkeys? Explore the amazing world of biology and discover how plants and animals adapt to survive in different places, why some creatures look alike, and how scientists unlock the secrets hidden in our DNA. Get ready to uncover the incredible connections between all living things on Earth!