Fictional Stories in Science
Using Fictional Stories as a Pathway to Science Content
Tuesday Morning Reads for February 6, 2018
I was about to take a purposeful look through shelf #4 of the “B” section of the picture books…when I remembered that I needed to grab some books for our upcoming Olympic unit in 2nd grade. This stop by the reference desk caused my eye to glance over to the new books section…a space I have been giving a break for a bit. To my delight, there were so many new books purchased!! 🙂 Here are the finds from just one shelf:
Ok, so they aren’t all science related picture books. 🙂 But I thought these had some good science connections…ok, some more than others:
- Ava and the Rainbow (Who Stayed) by Ged Adamson: Ok, maybe I should start with this one, because it isn’t so science connected…minus the rainbow. It truly is a “rare and precious sight”, but there is a reason for it…which this story could lead to…a conversation about rainbows (perhaps some misconceptions) and a mini-lesson. This would also be a good book to have in your collection for those indoor recesses due to rain, for this exact reason. 🙂
- When Sophie Thinks She Can’t by Molly Bang (a teacher!): I am including this on the list, because I feel the science practices overlap with having a growth mindset, which overlap with problem solving, which overlap with the scientific method. So basically…win-win-win-win! I especially loved how the author used the tangrams as the puzzle. Such a classroom related event…and a frustrating one at that. I have struggled creating the rabbit, swan, etc. It is a process that takes some time, effort, and tries.
- All the Way Home by Debi Gliori: Ok, there was one main reason I am including this on the list (because it isn’t too much of a science themed book)…because after finishing a unit on winter animals with my kindergarteners…I am pretty sure they still think that penguins live in the North Pole with the polar bears. Hmmm…the first couple of pages might really help. In addition, you get such a cute story, along with the potential discussion about the care of the eggs–it might surprise them to learn who hunts and who protects the egg during this time.
- You Can’t Win Them All, Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister: Love Rainbow Fish! 🙂 While there is a lesson for us all in this story…especially as we continue to strive for collaboration…the science feature I most see in this book is the ocean habitat, and the potential for some connections to camouflage and predator and prey. But, the big take-away, at least for me, (going back to collaboration–which science is truly all about) is the story of courage…the courage to swallow pride and listen to a friend, and to go back and admit you made a mistake.
- Falling Water by Marc Harshman & Anna Egan Smucker. Art by LeUyen Pham: I loved the quote, from Frank Lloyd Wright’s autobiography, before the story even started…”No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it.” I found that to be inspirational and so beautiful…not to mention a paradigm shift. That alone should be why you should check out this book. 🙂 And when you do, you will also read a story of process, creativity, imagination, and, of course, architecture. Imagine if we all built using “with” instead of “on”, in a way that both are enhanced.
- Through with the Zoo by Jacob Grant: Sometimes what we think we want, we really don’t want, and what we need is right in front of us. I loved this zoo tale told by an overwhelmed goat at the petting zoo. I thought is would be great, for not only the social-emotional piece for all grades–especially preK-2, but especially for our kindergarten students who go to the zoo every year and study animals. It doesn’t offer the science lens we are after, but does start a conversation about the need for space. Same goes for our 2nd grade PBL unit about whether or not there should be zoos. 🙂
Fictional Stories in Science 