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Home : 2002 : July : 16

Science from Literature
By Lori 2

Gee,

That's a toughie, but I'll see if I can help. I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for and I can't think of all three grade levels off the top of my head for one topic, but maybe a bit of brainstorming will
get some more ideas flowing for you. I also, am unsure of the meanings of your terms primary (k-3 -- ?), Middle (3-5?), Intermediate (6-8 ?). IF you could clarify those grade levels, it might help.

Sound:
Maybe -- Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka -- would work??
Following the music theme for sound -- Lentil by Robert McCloskey talks about learning to play

the harmonica and how it sounds better at times -- you could experiment with covering the holes, too and show how it doesn't make a sound -- or use a whistle

If you can use the Magic School Bus Books there is one about sound.

Aerodynamics:

The Glorious Flight by Alice Provenson or maybe Floating Home by David Getz (might also be used for forces since it talks about G-force)

Flight by Robert Burleigh might also be one for aerodynamics

If you can use the Magic School Bus Books there is one about flight.

Air:

Hot Air Henry is a great one. Also, The Big Ballon Race by Eleanor Coerr is an easy reader.

Maybe -- Around the World in Eighty Days?? for the older kids

Amber on the Mountain by Tony Johnston talks about the air on the mountain being so clear it made you giddy -- perhaps you could use to teach air getting thinner at high altitudes

Heat:

Could you use a book with cooking in it to teach about heat and how it changes things? See some of my notes under chemistry?

Energy--

Maybe Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Burton for Steam Power?

You could follow up with Steamboat! The Story of Captain Blanche Leathers by Judith Gilland for the slightly older students

Across America on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy talks about steam powered trains and lots more good stuff.

A book with a windmill in it could be used to teach about wind power -- For older children -- The Wheel on the School takes place in the Netherlands and is a great story. For younger children The Boy Who Held Back the Sea by Thomas Locker is beautiful and could also be used to talk about the force of water against a dike. (Water Pressure)

Chemistry:

Bartholomew and the OObleck by Dr. Seuss and make the cornstarch and water recipe or the flubber polymer with the borax

If you can use the Magic School Bus books there is one with a video on the chemistry of baking a cake

Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco talks about gathering all the ingredients for a cake and baking it -- again the chemistry of baking -- ite even includes the recipe for the thunder cake

You could also use this with baking bread -- like a pizza crust and use Pizza Pat, an easy reader or for older kids -- The Pizza Mystery by Gertrude Warner (A Boxcar Children Book)

Matter:

In Frog and Toad All Year, the ice cream story could be used to talk about the changing states of matter from ice cream to melted gloop ;-)

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Martin could be used to explore the different states of water and the difference between ice and snow

In Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary -- In one chapter, Ramona mistakenly breaks a raw egg on her head thinking it was hard-boiled -- states of matter, result of heat energy, chemical changes -- could be used for lots of your topics.

Forces:

Mr. Gumpy's Moter Car by John Burningham could be used to talk about friction and traction

Throwing Smoke by Bruce Brooks -- a baseball novel -- the forces involved in pitching the different baseball pitches (older students)

The Great Gray Bridge and the Little Red Lighthouse -- talk about the forces involved in building a bridge -- try building bridges from a variety of materials

The Boy Who Held Back the Sea by Thomas Locker – force of water – water pressure

I am not sure if any of the science in Kokopelli's Flute by Will Hobbs would fit in any of your categories, but it is one of my favorite science reads. It also has a bit of magic in it so you have practice in separating fact from fiction, but you learn more about a pack rat's life and habitat than you ever cared to know!

Another book that might work for 2nd or 3rd grade and would give you several topics to explore is The Case of teh Stinky Science Project -- A Jigsaw Jones Mystery by James Preller.

There is also a series of books called the Kinetic City Super Crew series which are novels that explore scientific priciples. Some titles are The Case of the Meteorite Meance, Forest Slump and the Case of the Pilfered Pine Needles, and Bowled Over: The Case of the Gravity Goof-up. Which has made me think of Henny Penny for primary Gravity -- Remember the Sky is Falling???

Maybe that's a start and someone will think of some more. I will keep thinking, too. Good luck, I am working on my master's also and while I have enjoyed most of the work, some of it is a bit tedious. Anyway, hope this helps.

Lori