Early Elementary
2025-26 School Year
Science
Paisano Tutoring’s Early Elementary Science Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 - 11 a.m.
More than half of our time in science class is spent reading books on various science-related topics and themes. The remainder of the time is spent completing the Elemental Science curriculum lap-booking or writing assignments, or doing hands-on science-related projects. All students have an outdoor garden box in the enclosed garden area at Paisano Tutoring, where they will start seeds for their own summer garden at home. Students also have the option of working on their ongoing Lego STEM project for the last 15 minutes of each class session.
Students Read Aloud to the Group: During each science class session, some books are read aloud to the group by the teacher, while others are read aloud to the group by the students themselves, who take turns reading, with a rotation that changes readers at the end of each page. Paisano Tutoring has multiple copies of each book so that all students can easily see the book and follow along in the text, so as to know when it is their turn to read without needing a cue. At Paisano Tutoring, students learn to read during their kindergarten year, and they are able to participate as a reader in the science class read-aloud rotation as early as 1st grade. As for students in our science class who are kindergarteners or delayed readers, there is no expectation or pressure to read aloud, but rather to just listen attentively and look at the pictures as the books are read.
Benefits of Reading Aloud: This practice of having the students read aloud helps them pay more attention and better retain the information in their memory. In addition, reading aloud to a group of peers fosters fundamental literacy, social, and cognitive skills, including fluency (expression/pacing), comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and confidence. It fosters social-emotional growth through empathy and active listening, while building attention spans, leadership skills, and encouraging interaction with literature.
Paisano Tutoring Library: All of the books on this list are also available for students to check out from the Paisano Tutoring Library, whether they missed the day of class when the book was read or just want to enjoy the book again with their family at home.
Weather Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students covered this unit from mid-August to mid-October 2025.
Weather Unit
We began the “Weather Unit” in mid-August and completed it in mid-October (approximately 16 class sessions, meeting twice a week).
Our weather unit consisted of reading aloud in class the following 50 books and making a “weather lapbook” as presented in the Elemental Science: Science Chunks: Weather Curriculum.
We read approximately three books per class session, which is how we get through 50 books in 16 classes. We do not read them in the order presented on the list, nor do we read multiple books from any one category during one class session. Rather, each week, all of the students choose any book from the unit, and those are the books we read that week. Then the next week, they choose again, until we have read them all. Students pay more attention if they’ve been involved in the book selection, and it is a nice way to have variety.
Here’s the list of the 50 books we read as a class during the weather unit:
Sun and Atmosphere
Celebrate the Earth: Psalm 104 by Dorrie Papademetriou -> 2 copies
Sun by Marion Bauer (Ready to Read, Level 1) -> 3 copies
The Sun by Seymour Simon (with minor edits) -> 1 copy
Day and Night by Robin Nelson -> 2 copies
What Makes Day and Night by Franklyn Branley -> 2 copies
Seasons and Climate
Watching the Seasons by Edana Eckart -> 2 copies
Sunshine Makes the Seasons by Franklyn Branley -> 2 copies
The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
A Tree for All Seasons by Robin Bernard (with minor edits) -> 2 copies
On the Same Day in March: A Tour of the World’s Weather by Marilyn Singer -> 2 copies
Weather and Climate by Barbara Taylor -> 2 copies
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (Caldecott Medal: 1943) -> 3 copies
Weather and Wind
Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today? All About Weather by Trish Rabe -> 2 copies
Weather by Seymour Simon -> 1 copy
Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Wind by Marion Bauer -> 3 copies
Feel the Wind by Arthur Dorros -> 2 copies
The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins -> 2 copies
Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Tornadoes (Blastoff Readers, Level 4) by Anne Wendorff -> 1 copy
Tornado Alert by Franklyn Branley -> 1 copy
Water Cycle and Clouds
Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul -> 1 copy
The Water Cycle by Helen Frost -> 1 copy
The Water Cycle at Work by Rebecca Olien -> 1 copy
Clouds by Anne Rockwell -> 2 copies
Clouds by Marion Bauer -> 3 copies
The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola -> 2 copies (with edits)
Fog and Mist by Elizabeth Miles -> 1 copy
Fog by Helen Frost -> 1 copy
Storms and Rain
Down Comes the Rain by Franklyn Branley -> 2 copies
Rain by Marion Bauer -> 3 copies
The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow (Caldecott Honor: 1953) -> 2 copies
Thundercake by Patricia Polacco -> 2 copies
Rain! by Linda Ashman -> 2 copies (with minor edits)
Rainbow by Marion Bauer -> 3 copies (with minor edits)
Rain Drop Splash by Alvin Tressault (Caldecott Honor: 1947) -> 1 copy
It’s Raining! by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Storms! (National Geographic Readers) by Miriam Goin -> 2 copies
Super Storms by Seymour Simon -> 1 copy
Hurricanes! by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Hurricanes (Blastoff Readers, Level 4) by Kay Manolis -> 1 copy
Weather Forecasting by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
What Will the Weather Be? by Lynda DeWitt -> 2 copies
Snow and Ice
Snow by Marion Bauer -> 3 copies
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner -> 1 copy
Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft -> 2 copies
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Martin (Caldecott Medal: 1999)-> 1 copy
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino -> 2 copies
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Caldecott Medal: 1963) -> 1 copy
The Sleepy Bear and Golden Whispers by T. Anne Mancuso -> 1 copy
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell (Caldecott Medal: 2018) -> 1 copy
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton -> 2 copies
Water as a Solid by Helen Frost -> 1 copy
Mammals Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students covered this unit from mid-October through November 2025.
Mammals Unit
Animal Overview
How Animal Babies Stay Safe by Mary Ann Fraser -> 2 copies
Migration by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
What Color is Camouflage? by Carolyn Otto -> 2 copies
Find Out About Animal Camouflage by Martin Jenkins -> 1 copy
Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints by Millicent Selsam -> 1 copy
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Caldecott Honor: 2004) -> 2 copies
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins -> 2 copies
Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft -> 2 copies
Most Endangered Animals in the World by Tammy Gagne -> 1 copy
Mammal Overview
About Mammals by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Domestic Mammals
Horses by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
American Mammals
Beavers by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Amazing Armadillos by Jennifer McKerley -> 2 copies
Armadillos (Animals Underground) by Emily Sebastian -> 1 copy
Skunks (Animal Prey) by Sandra Markle -> 1 copy
Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats by Ann Earle -> 2 copies
Bats by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
African Mammals
Face to Face with Lions by Beverly and Dereck Joubert -> 2 copies
The Cheetah: Fast as Lightning by Christine and Michel Denis-Huot -> 1 copy
Cheetah Cubs by Ginger Clarke -> 2 copies
Baby Giraffes by Bobbie Kalman -> 1 copy
Giraffes by Jill Anderson -> 1 copy
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pickney (Caldecott Medal: 2010) -> 1 copy
Asian Mammals
Amazing Tigers by Sarah Thomson -> 2 copies
Curious About Orangutans by Gina Shaw -> 1 copy
Orangutan: A Day in the Rainforest Canopy by Rita Goldner -> 1 copy
Australian Mammals
Super Marsupials by Katharine Kenah -> 2 copies
Polar Mammals
Ocean Mammals
All books marked “Smithsonian Oceanic Collection” are new arrivals and were not read during the mammal unit, but have been added to the list so that students know what books are available to check out.
About Marine Mammals by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Baby Whales Drink Milk by Barbara Esbensen -> 3 copies
Amazing Whales by Sarah Thomson -> 2 copies
Face to Face with Whales by Flip and Linda Nicklin -> 1 copy
Whales by Seymour Simon -> 1 copy
Whales by Graham Faiella -> 1 copy
Whales and Dolphins (DK Eye Wonder) by Caroline Bingham -> 2 copies
Amazing Dolphins by Sarah Thomson -> 2 copies
Dolphin Talk: Whistles, Clicks, and Clapping Jaws by Wendy Pfeffer -> 2 copies
Face to Face with Dolphins by Flip and Linda Nicklin -> 1 copy
Smithsonian Oceanic Collection:
Beluga Passage (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Linda Lingemann -> 1 copy
Otter on His Own: The Story of a Sea Otter (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Doe Boyle -> 1 copy
Sea Lion Roars (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by C. Drew Lamm -> 1 copy
Manatee Winter (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Kathleen Zoehfeld -> 1 copy
Birds Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students covered this unit from mid-November through December 2025.
Birds Unit
Birds Overview
Landfowl
Chicks and Chickens by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Waterfowl
Ducks! by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Ducks Don’t Get Wet by Augusta Goldin -> 2 copies
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Caldecott Medal: 1942) -> 3 copies
Raptors
About Raptors by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
Owls by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (Caldecott Medal: 1988) -> 1 copy
The Book of North American Owls by Helen Sattler -> 1 copy (We did not read this one, but looked at the pictures of all the different kinds of North American owls, and we used it as a reference for drawing owls in our lapbooks.)
Seabirds
About Seabirds by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
About Penguins by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham -> 1 copy
The Puffins Are Back! by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
Pelican’s Catch (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Janet Halfmann -> 1 copy
Other Birds
About Hummingbirds by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
About Woodpeckers by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
About Parrots by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Toucans by Victoria Blakemore -> 2 copies
Plants Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students covered this unit in January 2026.
Plants and Gardening Unit
Parts of a Plant
Roots, Stems, and Leaves by Sally Morgan -> 2 copies
Why Do Leaves Change Colors? by Betsy Maestro -> 2 copies
Flowers by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Seeds and How Plants Grow
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
How a Seed Grows by Helene Jordan -> 1 copy
How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro -> 6 copies
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney -> 2 copies
Gardening and Uses of Plants
Plants and People by Sally Morgan -> 1 copy
Farming by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
Apples by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy (minor edits)
Trees & Forests
A Tree is a Plant by Clyde Bulla -> 2 copies
Tell Me, Tree: All about Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Redwoods by Jason Chin -> 1 copy (minor edits)
Worms, Insects, and Spiders Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students covered this unit in February 2026.
Worms, Insects, and Spiders Unit
Worms
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner -> 2 copies
Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer -> 2 copies
Insects
About Insects by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
Bugs and Us by Patricia Murphy -> 1 copy
Big Bugs by Seymour Simon -> 1 copy (minor edits)
Bugs for Lunch by Margery Facklam -> 1 copy
Bugs Are Insects by Anne Rockwell -> 1 copy
From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman -> 2 copies
Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle -> 2 copies
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (Caldecott Honor: 1961) -> 1 copy
The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Honey in a Hive by Anne Rockwell -> 2 copies
The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci -> 1 copy (with minor edits)
Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle -> 2 copies
Ant Cities by Arthur Dorros -> 3 copies
The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci -> 1 copy (with minor edits)
Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawes -> 2 copies
Sam and the Firefly by P. D. Eastman -> 1 copy
Chirping Crickets by Melvin Berger -> 1 copy
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle -> 2 copies
Life Cycle of a Silkworm by Ron Fridell -> 1 copy
Spiders
Spinning Spiders by Melvin Berger -> 3 copies
Spiders by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle -> 2 copies
Amphibians and Reptiles Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students are covering this unit in March 2026.
Amphibians and Reptiles Unit
More books for this unit are on the way!
Habitat
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner -> 2 copies
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman (Caldecott Honor: 2006) -> 1 copy
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming (Caldecott Honor: 1994) -> 2 copies
Marshes and Swamps by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
Amphibians
About Amphibians by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Frogs by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Why are Frogs Wet? by Judy Hawes -> 2 copies (with edits)
From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer -> 2 copies
Reptiles
About Reptiles by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Alligators and Crocodiles by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Who Lives in an Alligator Hole? by Anne Rockwell -> 2 copies
Look Out for Turtles! by Melvin Berger -> 3 copies (with edits)
Sea Turtles by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Snakes are Hunters by Patricia Lauber -> 2 copies
Snakes by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Fish and Sea Creatures Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students are covering this unit in April 2026.
Fish and Sea Creatures Unit
More books for this unit are on the way!
Habitat
About Habitats: Oceans by Cathryn Sill -> 1 copy
Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner -> 2 copies
Life in a Coral Reef by Wendy Pfeffer -> 2 copies
Coral Reefs by Jason Chin -> 1 copy
Coral Reefs by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Coral Reef Food Chains by Bobbie Kalman -> 1 copy
Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea by Gail Gibbons -> 2 copies
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle -> 1 copy (with edits)
Fish
About Fish by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
What’s it Like to Be a Fish by Wendy Pfeffer -> 2 copies
Swimmy by Leo Lionni (Caldecott Honor: 1964) -> 2 copies
Swordfish Returns (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Susan Korman -> 1 copy
Sharks Have Six Senses by John Waters -> 1 copy
Other Sea Creatures
Starfish by Edith Hurd -> 2 copies
An Octopus is Amazing by Patricia Lauber -> 2 copies
Sponges Are Skeletons by Barbara Esbensen -> 3 copies
Hermit Crab’s Home: Safe in a Shell (Smithsonian Oceanic Collection) by Janet Halfmann -> 1 copy
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars by Christiane Tibbitts -> 3 copies
Habitats Unit
2025-26 Paisano Tutoring early elementary students are covering this unit in May 2026.
Habitats Unit
Some of the books listed below in this “Habitats” unit, were read already this school year in conjunction with other animal units. The books that have not been read yet this school year, will be read during May 2026.
Habitats Overview
Desert
About Habitats: Deserts by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Deserts by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
The Adventures of a Little Ringtale by Anna Larsen -> 1 copy
Grasslands
About Habitats: Grasslands by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Forests
About Habitats: Forests by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Redwoods by Jason Chin -> 1 copy (with minor edits)
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Rain Forest by April Sayre -> 1 copy
Wetlands
About Habitats: Wetlands by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Wetland by Sheila Rivera -> 1 copy
Marshes and Swamps by Gail Gibbons -> 1 copy
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner -> 2 copies
Rivers and Streams
About Habitats: Rivers and Streams by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Ocean and Coasts
About Habitats: Oceans by Cathryn Sill -> 3 copies
About Habitats: Seashores by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner -> 2 copies
Coral Reefs by Jason Chin -> 1 copy
Mountains
About Habitats: Mountains by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Tundra
About Habitats: Tundras by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies
Polar Regions
About Habitats: Polar Regions by Cathryn Sill -> 2 copies