Jo-Anne Lake in Literature and Science Breakthroughs: Connecting Language and Science Skills in the Elementary Classroom discusses the many benefits of using children's literature within science teaching. Some of the benefits she discusses follow:
- Science concepts are introduced/reinforced through words and illustrations;
- Creativity and imagination are promoted through the stories;
- Cross-curricular connections are made;
- Children's literature may be more up-to-date than textbooks;
- Concepts within science are connected;
- Students develop a variety of perspectives related to one topic;
- Scientific and reading skills are reinforced and linked: observing, classifying, seriating, communicating, inferring, predicting, interpreting; and
- Children participate in multi-sensory experiences.
I foresee using children's literature at several points during my own classroom. If the book has great illustrations and diagrams, the students may benefit from the book at the beginning of the lesson. Conversely, if the book has abstract diagrams and mostly two dimensional pictures and words, the book may be a good reinforcement and would be better to use later in the lesson.
Although we learn through developmental learning theory that concrete experiences should be incorporated into a lesson prior to abstract experiences (such as reading a book), we often talk in methods classes about providing students background knowledge by reading a story. I'm a bit confused . . . in the science classroom should I never start a lesson with a book or other piece of text?
For more information about how to select texts, see pages 19-22.
I love that you focused on this!! I love using books in the classroom because you can undoubtedly find a book that teaches exactly what you want it to (and also a few other life skills at the same time) and kids LOVE when you use trade books in the classroom!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question: I like to read a book at the very beginning of my lesson that introduces what you will cover that day and then ask the students questions about the book and ask them to make connections to their own life. Doing this activates prior knowledge in a fun way that "hooks" the students into your lesson.
It is a really great concept! Books help children understand a lot more then people give them credit for. I look forward to using this in my classroom someday!
ReplyDeleteKelsey,
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong incorporating reading with your science instruction. For that matter, you can never go wrong incorporating reading with any type of instruction. In the case of ELL's this is a good way to add to their language aquisition skills. The more time they spend reading, writing, and conversing the better off they'll be. And your point about cross-curricular learning is a good one. Some ELL's will never perform at the same academic level as traditional students. But by incorporating cross-curricular learning you may help them in areas other than science.