eSource: Free Teaching Guides
Select a product from the list below to view available teaching guides. Use the tags on left to filter the list.
First Step Nonfiction — Pollination
Emergent readers discover the process of pollination through simple nonfiction text. The books showcase connections between plants and animals as they depend on each other for survival. Main ideas are clearly explained, and science-specific vocabulary is supported by diagrams and photos. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Properties of Matter
This series teaches students about the various ways in which objects can be described and compared. Color photos accompany the simple sentences on each page. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Responsibility in Action
This easy-reading series gives examples of how young people can show responsibility. Simple, straightforward text helps beginning readers understand what a process is and teaches them sequencing vocabulary. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Safety
This series offers early emergent readers an introduction to safety topics and describes precautions they can take to stay safe in various situations. Color photographs of children their own age along with corresponding text encourage students to practice making healthy and safe decisions. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Seasons
Learn how weather, daylight, plants, animals, and people all change their behaviors and activities in each season. A diagram and text in the back of each book explains how the amount of sunlight changes in each season. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Shapes
These simple books for beginning readers introduce students to two-dimensional shapes and the vocabulary to describe these geometric concepts. The repetitive sentence structure familiarize students with sight words while vocabulary is reinforced with interesting full-color images. These… View →
First Step Nonfiction — Simple Machines to the Rescue
This series allows readers to compare simple machines to see which one works best in a particular situation. Each book sets up a problem. The kids test two simple machines and determine a winner. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Simple Tools
Each book in this series explains the uses for a simple tool found in the elementary classroom. With simple sentences and colorful photographs, this series corresponds directly to science standards. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Solid Shapes
Students will see where solid shapes appear in their surroundings, from lunch boxes shaped like rectangular prisms to cylinder-shaped pasta. Direct photo-text correspondence supports beginning readers. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Space
Develop young astronomers by exploring basic space concepts. Images from recognizable perspectives—viewing a night sky, for example—keep readers grounded, while scientific models and images from space expand their horizons. Simple diagrams help introduce readers to concepts… View →
First Step Nonfiction — Sports Are Fun!
Create reading success in students—and inspire a love of fitness and physical activity—with these fun introductions to six common co-curricular activities. Vibrant color photos correspond directly with each page’s simple text to reinforce concepts and vocabulary. View →
First Step Nonfiction — States of Matter
This science series explores the physical properties of solids, liquids, and gases. The texts describe changes in states of matter using simple texts and corresponding color photographs. Meets national science standards. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Then and Now
Historical and modern-day photographs interspersed throughout these books clearly illustrate how aspects of daily life change over time, while simple text shows readers how to compare and contrast ideas. Timelines in the back of each book give readers perspective by listing key… View →
First Step Nonfiction — Tools at Work
Vibrant color photographs and simple sentences introduce students to a variety of tools. Students will learn how these basic tools work while improving their reading skills. This series meets both physical science and reading standards. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Water
This simple series explores the world of water—from what it is and where it’s found to the process of freezing and melting, the water cycle, and how we use water. A simple diagram in the back of each book shows readers how information such as how much of the world’s… View →
First Step Nonfiction — We Are Alike and Different
Discover the similarities in our differences and the differences in our similarities! This series shows readers how people live in their local communities. By focusing on everyday topics, students will be encouraged to compare and contrast their own experiences. View →
First Step Nonfiction — Weather
This breezy series teaches basic weather concepts and builds readers’ observational skills. Additional back matter provides information about the types of clouds, the water cycle, the movement of the sun, how to tell the direction of the wind, and what snowflakes look like. View →
First Step Nonfiction — What Earth is Made Of
Students take a close look at four basic elements of our planet—gases, rocks, soil, and water—in this easy science series. The detailed photos provide opportunities to see, for example, several forms of water in nature or the parts of soil. Amazing trivia, such as the fact… View →
First Step Nonfiction — Where Am I?
Explore geographical concepts of location through this information-rich series. Aerial views and maps supplement other photographs to help readers understand the different ways one can express a location—from one’s home to one’s town, state, country, and continent. Fun facts… View →
First Step Nonfiction — Work People Do
This beginning reader series describes the job duties of familiar occupations. Vibrant color photos correspond directly with each page’s simple text to reinforce concepts and vocabulary. View →
Flight of a Starling
Best friends and sisters Lo and Rita have spent their lives flying through the air on the trapeze under the lights in the big top. The nomadic circus community is a close-knit family, but those bonds are threatened as secrets and lies surface and Lo finds forbidden love with a boy from… View →
Follow Finn
The goblins are on the loose so Finn and his dog race after them. Follow the chase through Follow Finn—a fantastic journey full of fairytale characters and strange creatures, with a puzzle on every page and a new story in every scene. Each image is packed with… View →
Follow That Food Chain
Play the food chain game! This interactive series shows animals in their habitats while illuminating curriculum concepts related to food webs and biomes. The game-like format allows readers to choose a starting animal, then follow a food chain by selecting among options of what each… View →
Food Is CATegorical ™
The Words Are CATegorical® cats are back, and they’re hungry for knowledge . . . about food! Brian P. Cleary provides a playful look at the food groups and physical activity. His zany rhymes and Martin Goneau’s comical cartoon cats introduce key concepts and give a wide… View →