Available in Levels K, 1, and 2 to align with the Fundations scope and sequence.
Geodes books provide an authentic reading experience that builds content knowledge about science, history, and the arts, fostering intellectual curiosity.
Geodes’ texts are organized in grade-level appropriate sets.
Each library is organized into topical modules that interest young minds.
Geodes Level K aligns with the scope and sequence of Fundations Level K. Children build on an early understanding of story structure to graduate from wordless picture books and sound search books to duet books, where students practice decoding words, phrases, and simple sentences. Duet books contain child- and adult-read text, and the child-read text is at least 90% decodable as aligned with the scope and sequence of Fundations Units. From the very first book, students begin to build knowledge.
The classroom library is organized into four topical modules: The Five Senses, Once Upon a Farm, America, Then and Now, and The Continents.
The Five Senses: Students explore sensory experiences in South America and in museums around the world.
Once Upon a Farm: Students explore farm life across the United States.
America, Then and Now: Students explore changes over time in American life and culture.
The Continents: Students explore the world through art, geography, animals, landmarks, and traditions.
The Geodes® Level K Classroom Library includes 48 unique titles containing both informational and literary text with multiple copies of each title; grayscale compilations with multiple copies for each child to have one for extra practice or at home; a teacher resource to guide instruction and implementation; and a unique geode rock with a stand highlights that this library set is called Geodes because the books belie the rich and complex knowledge they contain.
Geodes Level 1 aligns with the scope and sequence of Fundations Level 1. The classroom library is organized into four topical modules: A World of Books, Creature Features, Powerful Forces, and Cinderella Stories.
A World of Books: Students explore the power of books shared across time and culture.
Creature Features: Students explore intriguing animal traits and behaviors and are introduced to people who study animals.
Powerful Forces: Students explore how wind affects life on earth and how its energy can be used to generate power.
Cinderella Stories: Students explore countries and cultures through the lens of an enduring tale.
The Geodes® Level 1 Classroom Library includes 64 unique titles containing both informational and literary text with multiple copies of each title; grayscale compilations with multiple copies for each child to have one for extra practice or at home; a teacher resource to guide instruction and implementation; and a unique geode rock with a stand highlights that this library set is called Geodes because the books belie the rich and complex knowledge they contain.
Geodes Level 2 aligns with the scope and sequence of Fundations Level 2. The classroom library is organized into four topical modules: A Season of Change, The American West, Civil Rights Heroes, and Good Eating.
A Season of Change: Students explore the four seasons throughout the world.
The American West: Students explore the American West region and learn about westward expansion.
Civil Right Heroes: Students learn about civil rights heroes and examine their impact on equality and justice in the United States.
Good Eating: Students explore where food comes from and how food fuels our bodies and communities.
The Geodes® Level 2 Classroom Library includes 64 unique titles containing both informational and literary text with multiple copies of each title; grayscale compilations with multiple copies for each child to have one for extra practice or at home; a teacher resource to guide instruction and implementation; and a unique geode rock with a stand highlights that this library set is called Geodes because the books belie the rich and complex knowledge they contain.
Rooted in the belief that children are capable of reading to learn while learning to read, Geodes, published by Great Minds® in association with Wilson Language Training®, are a collection of accessible, knowledge-building books for emerging and developing readers.
Named after the modest-looking rocks that contain countless crystals inside, Geodes hold a surprising amount of interesting, complex, and beautiful qualities inside each book. Students practice applying taught skills and concepts while learning about important ideas in science, history, and the arts.
These texts combine Wilson’s expertise in foundational reading skills instruction and Great Minds’ experience at building students’ content knowledge. Geodes align with both the scope and sequence of Fundations and the module topics in Great Minds’ English language arts curriculum Wit & Wisdom®.
Each of the four modules cover a specific topic, and the sets within a module cover a subtopic.
*While the majority of Geodes are 80% decodable or above, three books in the Level 1 library are intended to be read along with students and are at least 70% decodable. Also, in the K library, the child-read text in Modules 3 and 4 is 90% decodable or higher.
What does the term “readable” mean? Geodes are “readable texts” because, with specific decoding strategies coupled with explicit instruction in vocabulary and content knowledge, they are wonderfully accessible to students with emerging reading skills. While written for emerging and developing readers, the books provide an authentic reading experience that builds content knowledge about science, history, and the arts, fostering intellectual curiosity.
Geodes align to the Fundations Scope and Sequence — they can be used outside of Fundations lessons or incorporated into fluency practice. The foundational skills and concepts included in the Geodes Classroom Libraries align with the corresponding Fundations program level. Geodes are 80% decodable or higher at a designated point in the Fundations scope and sequence. This means that a minimum of 80% of the words contain phonetic elements and trick words that have been explicitly taught up to a specific Fundations Unit; this is indicated on the back of each book. It is recommended that each book be read by the Fundations student after they have completed the Unit identified on the back of the book.
Maintain your 30 minutes of dedicated Fundations® instruction time. Use Geodes for decoding and fluency practice during small-group, whole-group, or independent reading time for appropriate students.
In a Fundations® Tier 2 intervention block, Geodes may be incorporated into the fluency part of the lesson. Students should not move beyond the texts that were designed for the application of skills that the student has been explicitly taught and is currently practicing.
Learn more about using Geodes with Fundations.
Inside Geodes is a teacher resource with Book Notes that correspond to each Geode and include the Fundations alignment, story summary, word lists (with decodable words, trick words, and words that cannot yet be decoded at the specific Fundations Unit), discussion questions, and journal ideas.