Fictional Stories in Science
Using Fictional Stories as a Pathway to Science Content
NOV8…INNOVATE!
How do you plan on celebrating NOV8/INNOVATE day, as part of National STEM/STEAM month? Me…I am still trying to figure out those last minute details, but here’s what I have figured out:
At my middle school, we are going to try something new. We are inviting parents (or a family member) to come to innovate with their son or daughter during the time that they have science class.
Click HERE for the link to see the entire PDF (which also includes a Spanish translation).
This means that students will only be missing the period they have science…but in many ways, not really missing science, because they will be engaging in some of the science practices during their innovate time.
For all my fellow visual learners, here is what I am picturing: parents will come to the office, check-in, and come down to the media center (library). This is where I will be with helpful TA’s and call slips. Once there, I will send for their son/daughter/nephew/niece/etc. to come down to the media center. Once together they will engage in an innovation challenge.
Now…the question is…what is that challenge???
This is what I am still contemplating. So far I have 3 ideas:
ONE: Start with a picture book!
I could start by reading (but not finishing) this story and then have family teams brainstorm and design what their “magnificent thing” would be.
To read more about this book from a past blog post, please click HERE.
TWO: Have character cards that family teams can work together to problem solve by using the design process. I have to do some digging to relocate the ones I have created in the past, but an example would be:
“Meet Sally. Sally is a middle school teacher. She works at a school that has students use technology and paper based tools to learn…however, Sally’s student desks are only large enough for a few supplies. Students are constantly struggling to organize their tools so that they either fit or are easily accessible. This includes their pencil, marker, etc. With no pencil groove on the desk, the pencils are easily pushed aside and rolling on the floor. Could you help Sally, by designing a pencil/marker solution for her student desks, that doesn’t take up any precious desktop space?”
THREE: Theme Challenge
Similar to a 3D printing challenge I have had in the past, I could give family teams a theme…like: Transportation. Together they would need to brainstorm a community based transportation problem, and design a possible solution.
Hmmmm…three good choices, right?
TBA on which I select and how it goes.
Happy Innovating!
–Kalynda
Fictional Stories in Science 
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