Fresh Water: Guided Reading Level G with Lesson Plan

Book Snapshot
• Title: Fresh Water
• Genre: Nonfiction
• Subject: Life Science (Earth science—water)
• Primary Topic: Fresh water sources, places, and why it matters
• Estimated Guided Reading Level (A–Z): G

What This Book Teaches Best
• How fresh water differs from salty water (fresh water is not salty).
• Where fresh water comes from (rain from clouds; snow melting on mountains).
• Places fresh water is found (rivers, a stream, a pond, deep lakes).
• How water can move fast or stay still depending on where it is (rivers vs. pond).
• Why fresh water is important for living things, including plants taking in water through roots.

Learning Goals
• Students can explain that most water on Earth is salty and fresh water is not salty.
• Students can describe two ways fresh water forms (rain from clouds; snow melting on mountains).
• Students can name places the book shows fresh water (rivers, stream, pond, lakes).
• Students can compare how water moves in different places (rivers move fast; pond water stays still).
• Students can tell why fresh water matters to living things, including plants and trees.

Key Vocabulary From the Text
• salty — tasting like salt.
• rivers — long, moving water that flows across land.
• stream — a small river.
• pond — water that stays in one place.
• roots — parts under the ground that take in water.

Discussion Prompts
• Pre-reading question: Where do you think fresh water comes from, and where might we find it?
• Comprehension questions: What does the book say fresh water is not?
• Comprehension questions: What are two places the book shows fresh water can be found?
• Comprehension questions: Why is fresh water important for living things in the book?

Printing Tips

1. Best Printing Method (Recommended)
   “Booklet” Printing (Best if Available)
   If your printer or PDF viewer supports Booklet Printing, use this.
   Settings to use:
   • Print mode: Booklet
   • Paper size: Letter or A4 (either works)
   • Orientation: Landscape
   • Print on both sides: Yes
   • Flip on: Short edge
   • Scaling: Fit to printable area
   • Booklet subset:
   o First test: Front sides only
   o Then: Back sides only
   This will automatically:
   • Pair pages correctly
   • Put the cover on the outside
   • Align everything for folding
   After printing, fold in half and staple along the spine.

2. If “Booklet” Printing Is NOT Available
   You can still print this correctly with manual duplex printing.
   Step-by-step:

3. Open the PDF.

4. Choose Print.

5. Set:
   o Orientation: Landscape
   o Pages per sheet: 1
   o Print on both sides: Yes
   o Flip on: Short edge

6. Print all pages.
   Because each PDF page already contains two facing book pages, the result will still fold cleanly into a book.