Fictional Stories in Science
Using Fictional Stories as a Pathway to Science Content
Featured Book: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Illustrator: Mary Grandpré
I was about to write the book summary, when I paused and thought there was no need. 🙂 However if you are unfamiliar with “Harry Potter” please feel free to contact me – I would love to discuss all things Potter.
Why, then, is this a featured book? This past summer I had the joyful opportunity to visit the Harry Potter Theme Park within Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, so this book series was, of course, on my mind and still is. On the plane ride to Orlando, I kept thinking about all of my friends who were not “into” all that magic or fantasy or sci-fi, but loved all the new technology we enjoy and use on a daily basis. As I sat during my 3-hour flight reading a book on my Nook, I could not help but think about how the experience was, well…magical.
How many of us have wanted a bag that could hold everything, like the wizard, Merlin, had in “Sword and the Stone” or that Hermione had in the last book? And here I was sitting reading a self-lit book that was part of a library of books on a device that weighed less than one hardcover book. It was magic in today’s reality.
The wonderment also caused me to think about science, technology, engineering, inventions, the power of imagination, and how it is being displayed in these magical stories by talented writers. So many of our students who love to build, create and explore worlds through writing are also displaying such a strong science identity. Perhaps there is no direct science standard I can attach to the Harry Potter series, but there just might be something in this magical world that will spark the powerful question in a student’s mind: “I wonder if…”
Science Topics
- Chemistry connections to potions class (and there are many online sites that have lab connections to Harry Potter)
- Inventions, inventors and the history of inventions
- Problem solving and investigation
Literacy Connections
- Writing across multiple genres
- Descriptive writing
- Character building
- Setting
Sociocultural Connections
- Characters that overcome personal and societal hurdles and how they process through those hurdles, together and apart.
- Strong female character, Hermione
- Pushing back on power and privilege
Fictional Stories in Science 