Guided Reading Level F - Planets in Our Solar System

Book Snapshot
• Title: Planets in Our Solar System
• Genre: Nonfiction (informational)
• Subject: Science
• Primary Topic: Basic facts about the Sun, planets, and Moon
• Estimated Guided Reading Level (A–Z): F

What This Book Teaches Best
• Introduces the Sun as a star in the center that gives light and heat to planets.
• Teaches planet order with one key fact per planet (Mercury through Neptune).
• Builds science content vocabulary in context (e.g., craters, surface, giant, unique, reflects).
• Supports comparing planets using simple descriptive details (color, temperature, rings, winds, clouds).
Learning Goals
• Students will identify the Sun’s role in the solar system using details from the text.
• Students will name the planets in order from Mercury to Neptune as presented in the book.
• Students will describe at least three planets using facts stated in the book.
• Students will explain what makes one planet “unique” in the text.
• Students will tell what the Moon does at night, according to the book.

Key Vocabulary From the Text
• craters — deep holes in the ground.
• surface — the outside layer of something.
• giant — very, very big.
• unique — special and not like others.
• reflects — bounces light back.

Discussion Prompts
• Pre-reading question: What do you already know about the Sun, the Moon, and planets?
• Comprehension questions: Which planet does the book say is the smallest? What is Saturn famous for? What does the Moon reflect at night?

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.