Integrate Science Text into Reading

Integrating Science and Social Studies into Reading Series #1

I am SO excited to dive into this new blog series all about making the most of the precious teaching time you have in the classroom. Today we will look how to integrate science and social studies text into your whole group or small group reading lessons. Every grade level ELA standards include reading informational text. Why not use informational text that aligns with your science and social studies standards? This allows you to cover science and social studies standards while also practicing important reading skills.

Where can I get science and social studies text?

Use your textbook. Reading textbooks include a large amount of nonfiction text, but not all of connects to your science and social studies standards. I like to use the reading textbook as just another resource to find materials. I use the stories and lessons I want and skip the others. If your school is lucky enough to have quality science and social studies textbooks, they can also be a great source.
Use nonfiction picture books on topic. There are so many great nonfiction books out there now that align with your social studies and science instruction. Teaching about the human body in science? Use books about the human body during reading to teach those informational text skills.
Find little readers. I personally have a hard time finding enough informational text in one place to cover a specific topic. This is why I often create my own fact books. Fact books cover the exact information I need to meet science or social studies standards. They also make a great reference for reading skill practice.
Use an informational passage. Studying about the Civil Rights Movement in social studies? Incorporate a biography about Martin Luther King, Jr. in your reading instruction. Studying landforms? Find a nonfiction text with diagrams to cover those reading standards.

How can I use science and social studies text in whole group or small group instruction?

Science and social studies text is often hard for students due to its content-specific vocabulary. This is why I love to use these texts for close reading throughout the week. One anchor text can be used every day of the week to practice skills like cause/ effect, fact/ opinion, sequencing, using text features, comparing texts on the same topic, etc. These can be taught whole group or practiced in small group instruction. Since students will be interacting with the text so much throughout the week, they will retain that information for your science and social studies lessons so much better!

I challenge you to plan just ONE lesson in your next unit using informational text as the anchor text in your whole or small group lesson. I think you will love this teaching hack as much as I do! Happy teaching!