Fictional Stories in Science
Using Fictional Stories as a Pathway to Science Content
Featured Book: “Gotta Go! Gotta Go!”
This book was among the books I gathered for our first grade PBL project about the monarch butterfly and what we can do to keep it from the extinct list. It would often go overlooked by me, and by students, compared to the books in the pile, it was quite small. It is probably just 6 x 7, but the bright yellow cover and cute title helped it to surface, and I am so glad it did. It tells the “gotta go to Mexico” tale of a new caterpillar full of determination. Engaging in conversations with other animals throughout the journey, the instinctive destination of Mexico went from fuel to contentment when the arrival day came. It a light way it introduces children to this unique butterfly and its life cycle. A great read aloud at any point of a butterfly or monarch unit, but especially at the beginning to gain student background knowledge, misconceptions, and build interest.
Broad Science Connections
- Butterflies
- Life Cycle
- Migration
- Animal Instincts
Broad Literacy Connections
- Dialogue
- Visual Storyline
- Sequence
- Point of View
Broad Sociocultural Connections
- The monarch doesn’t recognize country borders. Both places are home.
Fictional Stories in Science 