Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, as it is essential for a happy, successful life. The decodable books for UFLI Lesson 127 explore three number prefixes: uni- meaning one, bi- meaning two and tri- meaning three. Children read words like unicorn, uniform, bicycle, biplane, tricycle and triangle. Some titles are free to read online.
Free
Anansi and the Universe
Anansi has a plan so big it makes his eight eyes shine: he will gather every scrap of wisdom in the universe and seal it inside one big pot, so everyone must come to him for answers. He ties the pot to his belly and climbs, but it swings, bangs, and sends him sliding right back down. Will Anansi ever get his precious pot to the top of the tree? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ‘universe’, ‘unison’, ’triple’.
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You Will Never Guess
Paul loves to draw, but he never draws the ordinary way. Every time, he shows off his sketch one shape at a time and dares you to guess what it is before he’s done, and so far nobody has ever gotten it right. Today he starts with a circle, then a trio of smaller shapes, and grins, daring you to guess. Can you figure it out before the final line makes it all click? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ‘unicorn’, ’triangle’, ’trio’, ‘uniform’.
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The Sky Stole the Sun
Tess hates the gray, smoggy sky over her town. When sunlight breaks through on a hilltop, she decides to build a plane and fly straight to its source. Her first attempt falls apart in midair. Can Tess build something strong enough to reach the sun for good? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ‘biplane’, ’trio’, ‘uniform’, ‘bicycle’, ‘unite’.
Can Do Hid the Gold
Jill arrives in town with nothing but a cow, a pickax, and a frown. Raiders took every bit of her gold. When she finds Dr. Can Do’s glowing house, he promises a hiding spot so secret and deep that no raider could ever find it. Can he really pull off a plan this bold? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’triple’, ’trio’, ‘uniform’, ’tripled’, ‘unison’.
Hippo and the Big Splash
Hippo rules the great river bend, sending every small animal away with one huge splash. “This is my river,” she yells, and no one dares argue. But quiet Tortoise has been watching for three days, and he knows something about hippos that Hippo herself has forgotten. Can a slow, steady tortoise outwit a river queen before sunrise? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ’triple’, ‘united’, ‘bicycle’, ’tripled’.
The Baboons Move In
A trio of animals tries everything to stop Gudo’s greedy troop of baboons from hogging the fruit tree, but big rocks and big tries can’t scare them off. Then a small hare with a bag of dust and a plan strolls up, ready to try what no one else dared. Can something this tiny really outsmart twelve baboons at once? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ‘unite’, ’triple’, ’trick’.
Back Off My Hot Chocolate!
A boy just wants a rainy afternoon with hot chocolate, a good book, and quiet. But Bull, Cat, and their muddy, puddle-loving friends have very different plans. Will the boy ever get a single warm sip before his hot chocolate disappears? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ‘unison’, ’triple’, ‘united’.
Those Sneaky Letters!
Tim’s homework is letters, and he’s sure those letters don’t like him. B and D look exactly the same, no matter how hard he tries. When Sam shows him an old family trick for catching sneaky letters, will Tim finally get them all right? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ‘unison’, ’triangle’, ’trio’, ’tricks’, ‘biggest’.
Mkhulu and the Lion
Mkhulu the jackal is small, thin, and always hungry, but he’s never once gone without a meal, thanks to his sharp wits. When a huge lion named Shaka blocks the path to the waterhole, licking his lips, Mkhulu must think fast or become dinner. Can a small mind outsmart a lion three times his size? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ’triple’, ‘universe’, ‘uniform’, ‘unison’.
Fog on the Lake
Opio is ten and sure he can paddle the family canoe alone across his own quiet universe of water. Then one misty morning, the fog rolls in thick, the shore disappears, and he can’t tell which way is home anymore. Can he find his way back before he runs out of time? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trip’, ‘bit’, ’trick’, ‘biceps’, ‘unison’.
The Need for Seed
Zom is determined to become the greatest farmer the universe has ever seen, planting rows of carrots, wheat, and beetroot by torchlight in his brand-new garden. But something keeps getting in and trampling his seeds before they can grow. First it’s a bold chicken, then a trio of wild horses, then even more animals crowding his yard. Can Zom ever figure out what’s going wrong? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ’tripods’, ’triple’, ‘uniform’.
Nobody Saw That!
A mischievous mage sneaks out under the stars to test a brand-new spell, filling the sky with sparks before anyone can catch him. But someone does catch him, and now she has a much bigger plan involving fireworks, a fountain, and a secret name for the whole village. Can he keep quiet long enough for the surprise to work? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ’triple’, ‘uniform’, ‘unify’, ‘unity’.
Way Too Much Fish
Steve and Alex catch way too much fish on their little wooden boat, but leave the leftover pile to rot instead of storing it properly. When Steve builds a huge fire and Alex sneaks the rest into a cave, the stink starts drawing animals from every direction. Will their two separate plans clean up the mess, or make it so much worse? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’trio’, ’triple’, ‘unison’, ’tripled’, ‘united’.
What Could Go Wrong?
Ned is bored. So bored he’s already ridden his bicycle and his unicycle, and nothing left in the universe seems exciting enough. Then he climbs the tallest tree he can find, leans out way too far, and comes crashing down with his arms, legs, and triceps aching. What will he try next to chase the thrill he’s after? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ’tripled’, ‘universe’, ’triple’, ‘biceps’, ‘unicycle’.
No Pals on the Path
A tiger just wants peace and quiet in her forest, no noisy friends, no messy company. But every time she tries to sneak up on a snack, someone spots her first. Will she ever get the meal she is hungry for? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 127: uni-, bi-, tri), this book practices words like ‘universe’, ‘unison’, ‘united’, ’tried’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the prefixes uni-, bi- and tri- mean?
These prefixes tell you how many: uni- means one, bi- means two and tri- means three. A unicycle has one wheel, a bicycle has two and a tricycle has three, which makes this a very easy set to picture. In the books for UFLI Lesson 127, children also meet uniform, unite, biplane, biceps, tripod, triangle and triplet.
How do you know if a word part is a prefix or a suffix?
A prefix comes at the start of a word and usually changes its meaning, as when the prefix bi- and cycle make bicycle. A suffix comes at the end and often changes the kind of word, as when -ness turns kind into kindness. So the simplest test is position: at the front it is a prefix, and at the end it is a suffix.
What other number prefixes can children learn?
Once uni-, bi- and tri- feel easy, children enjoy spotting more number prefixes in everyday words. Quad- means four, as in quadruple, oct- means eight, as in octopus and octagon, dec- means ten, as in decade, and cent- means a hundred, as in century and centipede. Many of these turn up in number work and science, so they are worth pointing out.
How do number prefixes help children read longer words?
Spotting a known prefix breaks a long word into manageable parts, so triangle becomes tri plus angle and biplane becomes bi plus plane. Jeanne Chall described how, in the later primary years, children shift from learning to read to reading to learn, when texts bring in many new subject words like these. Our guide to decoding and morphology has more ideas for prefixes and suffixes.
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