Literature and Science
Literature to Support Elementary Science
Selected Bibliography
|Book |Category |Suggested Activities |
|General Division I and II |
|Ruurs, Margriet. 2004, 9781552852644. Pacific Alphabet, A. |Alphabet |Modeling writing in any science topic |
|Schaefer, Lola M. 2001, 9780688170394. This is the Rain. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Describe water cycle, Modeling writing in any science topic, |
| | |Acquiring vocabulary |
|Taylor, Cora. 2005, 9780439957793. Out on the Prairie: A Canadian Counting Book. |Counting |Modeling writing. |
|General Division II |
|dePaola, Tomie. 1978, reprint 1977, 9780823405336. Popcorn Book, The. |Picture Book |Modeling writing |
|Bang, Molly. 2004, 9780439489614. My Light |Non-fiction picture |Identify connections between electricity, weather, ecology, plant growth |
| |book | |
|dePaola, Tomie. 9780823402915. Quicksand Book, The. |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary, Activating background knowledge |
|Saffer, Barbara. 2001. ABC Science Riddles. |Riddles |Modeling writing in any science topic, Answering riddles, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| |Poetry |Activating background knowledge |
|Schaefer, Lola M. 2001, 9780688170394. This is the Rain. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Describe water cycle, Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Wishinsky, Frieda. 2002, 9781894379328. What's The Matter With Albert? A Story of Albert Einstein |Biography |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, List characteristics of a scientist |
|Scieszka, Jon and Lane Smith. 2004, 9780670910571. Science Verse. |Poetry |Modeling writing, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Creating Colour |
|Ehlert, Lois. 1997, 9780694010677. Color Zoo. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify the colours |
|Jonas, Ann. 1989, 9780688059903. Color Dance, |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify the colours |
|Munsch, Robert. 1992, 9781550372557. Purple, Green, and Yellow. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify the colours |
|Spanyol, Jessica. 2003, 9780763620233. Carlo Likes Colors. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify the colours |
|Van Laan, Nancy. 1991. Rainbow Crow. |Picture Book |Identify the colours, Explain what happened to them, Summarizing |
|Walsh, Ellen Stoll. 1995, reprinted 2007, 9780152560256. Mouse Paint. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Summarizing, How to make colours. Still the best book on making |
| | |colours. |
|Seasonal Changes |
|Andrews, Jan. 1987, 9780888990433. Very Last First Time. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Look for criteria |
|Bernard, Robin. 2001, 9780792266747. Tree For All Seasons, A. |Picture Book |Identify characteristics of each of the seasons |
|Brett, Jan. 1998, reprint 2009, 9780399252969. Mitten, The: A Ukrainian Folktale |Picture Book |Characteristics of winter, Identify how animals survive in winter |
|Bruchac, Joseph et al. 1997, 9780698115842. Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back: A Native American |Picture Book |Observations, Seasonal changes |
|Year of Moons. | | |
|Ehlert, Lois. 2001, 9780152000745. Snowballs. |Picture Book |Predict the amount of water for each snowman when it melts |
|Munsch, Robert. 1992, 9780920236864. 50 Below Zero. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Summarizing |
|Munsch, Robert. 1992, 9781550373066. Thomas’ Snowsuit. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify winter clothing, Compare with summer clothing, |
| | |Summarizing |
|Na, Il Sung, 2013, 9780307977908. Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons |Picture Book |Compare the seasons, describe how some animals prepare for the seasonal changes |
|Steig, William. 2005, 9781416902065. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. |Picture Book |Look for seasonal descriptions and characteristics |
|Building Things |
|Sturges, Philemon et al. 2002. Bridges are to Cross. |Picture Book |Identifying and illustrating types of bridges, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Senses |
|Brown, Margaret Wise. 1949, reprint 1989, 1999, 9780060207205. Important Book, The. |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Developing fluency |
|Steig, William. 2005, 9781416902065. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. |Picture Book |Look for examples of using our senses |
|Needs of Animals and Plants |
|Aardema, Verna. 2001, 9780803708099. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. |Folk Tale |Fact vs. fiction |
|Carle, Eric. 2001, 9780689842443. The Tiny Seed. |Picture Book |KWL, Look for criteria |
|Ehlert, Lois. 1990, 9780152325800. Growing Vegetable Soup. |Picture Book |Documenting what plants need |
|Ehlert, Lois. 1991, 9780152661977. Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf. |Picture Book |Observing plant life cycle |
|Gag, Wanda. 2006, 9780142407080. Millions of Cats. |Picture Book |Record needs of cats, Summarizing, Developing fluency |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2003. Chicks & Chickens |Picture Book |Identifying needs |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2002, 9780316309035. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. |Picture Book |Identifying needs |
|Godkin, Celia. 2014, 978-1-927485-61-3. Skydiver: Saving the Fastest Bird in the World |Picture Book |Understand some of the threats facing birds. |
|Hoberman, Mary Ann. 2004, 9780152026318. Whose Garden Is It? |Picture Book |Identifying needs of all the creatures dependent upon the garden. |
|McCloskey, Robert. 1941, reprint 2011, 9780670451494. Make Way for Ducklings. |Picture Book |Comparing and contrasting needs, Activating background knowledge |
|Taylor, Cora. 2005, 9780439957793. Out on the Prairie: A Canadian Counting Book. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Look for criteria, Math integration, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| | |Activating background knowledge |
|Exploration of Liquids |
|Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. 1998, 9780395861622. Snowflake Bentley. |Biography |Observation skills, Record keeping, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Buoyancy and Boats |
|Allen, Pamela. 1980. Mr. Archimedes’ Bath |Humorous Picture Book |Read aloud, Asking questions, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Adler, David. 2013, 9780823428625. Things That Float and Things That Don’t |Picture Book |Try some of these! |
|dePaola, Tomie. 9780823402915. Quicksand Book, The. |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Magnetism |
|Waboose, Jan Bourdeau, 2000. Sky Sisters. |Picture Book |Identify results of Earth’s magnetic field |
|Hot and Cold Temperature |
|Davis, Aubrey. 2001, 9781550746693. The Enormous Potato |Picture Book |Introduce unit by reading aloud |
|Munsch, Robert. 1992, 9780920236864. 50 Below Zero. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Summarizing, Activating background knowledge |
|Schnur, Steven. 2002. Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary |
| |Alphabet | |
|Small and Crawling and Flying Animals |
|Acorn, John. 2000. Bugs of Alberta. |Field Guide |Identify bugs |
|Acorn, John. Butterflies of Alberta. |Field Guide |Identify butterflies |
|Arlon, Penelope. Birds. 2014, 978-0-545-66773-9. |Non-fiction |Characterize birds. |
|Allchin, Rosalind. Frog Princess, The |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify needs of frogs |
|Bardoe, Cheryl, 2014, 9781580895545. Behold the Beautiful Dung Beetle |Picture Book |Identify role of dung beetle in ecosystems |
|Cannon, Janell. 1996. Stellaluna. |Picture Book |Fact vs. Fiction, Look for criteria |
|Carle, Eric. 1977. The Grouchy Ladybug. New York: Thomas Crowell. |Picture Book |KWL, Math integration (time) |
|Carle, Eric. 1995. The Very Busy Spider. |Picture Book |KWL |
|Carle, Eric. 1994. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. |Picture Book |KWL, Summarizing, Graph favourite Eric Carle insects (see activity) |
|Carle, Eric. 1999. The Very Lonely Firefly. |Picture Book |KWL |
|Carle, Eric. 1997. The Very Quiet Cricket. |Picture Book |KWL, Look for other insect noise makers |
|Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a Worm. |Picture Book |Model journal writing |
|Dahl, Roald. 1996. James and the Giant Peach. |Novel |KWL, Look for criteria, Matrix, Web, Use a Field Guide, Make a Field Guide, Find |
| | |information books about ants, Observe insects in their natural environments |
|Davies, Nicola. 2014, 9780763673154. Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes |Picture Book |These small animals are really small! What are their roles in the world? |
|Delano, Marfé. 2014, Explore My World: Butterflies, 9781426317002 and Explore My World: Frogs, |Non-fiction |Identify needs of frogs and butterflies. |
|9781426316975. | | |
|Elliott, David. 2014, 9780763653248. On the Wing. |Poetry |Clever and funny poetry about various birds from all over. Great for enjoyment and a|
| | |look at the diversity of birds. |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Caterpillars to Butterflies. 2008, 9780778739555. |Non-fiction |Excellent format, diagrams, a must have for life cycles. Look for many other books |
| | |by Bobbie Kalman as well. |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Frogs and Other Amphibians. 2005, 0778721590. |Non-fiction |Summarizing, Identify characteristics of various amphibians. |
|Kurki, Kim. 2014, 9781579129699. National Wildlife Federation’s World of Birds: A Beginner’s Guide|Non-fiction |Identify varieties of birds, characterize birds, make a field guide |
|McGFinty, Alice B. & Dwight Kuhn. Decomposers in the Food Chain. (The Library of Food Chains and |Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Food Webs Series). | | |
|DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Spider and the Fly, (Based on the Cautionary Tale by Mary Howitt). |Picture Book |Read aloud, KWL, Summarizing, Identify characteristics of spider life cycle, Fact |
| | |vs. fiction, Compare spider with Charlotte |
|Fisher, Chris et al. 1998. Birds of Alberta. |Field Guide |Identify birds |
|Gerstein, Mordicai. Sparrow Jack. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Identify needs of sparrows |
|Gibbons, Gail. 1999, 9780823414574. Bats. |Non-fiction |Describe bat characteristics |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2003, 9780823417001. Chicks & Chickens. |Non-fiction |Identifying bird characteristics, life cycle |
|Gibbons, Gail. 1994, 9780823410811. Spiders. |Non-fiction |Describe spider characteristics. How are they different from insects? |
|Hartson, Tamara. Squirrels of the West. |Field Guide |Identify squirrels, chipmunks, etc. |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 1998. What are Food Chains and Webs? Science of Living Things Series. Appealing |Non-fiction |Draw a food chain, Draw a food web, Compare food chains and food webs. |
|and accessible format, great photos. Crabtree. 0865058768. | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Food Chains and You. Food Chains Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Research |
|photos. 0-7787-1988-X | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Desert Food Chains. Food Chains Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Research |
|photos. 0-7787-1990-1 | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Forest Food Chains. Food Chains Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Research |
|photos. 0-7787-1989-8 | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Meadow Food Chains. Food Chains Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Research |
|photos. 0-7787-1991-X | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of an Earthworm. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0666-4 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Mosquito. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0665-6 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Llewellyn, Claire. Starting Life: Duck |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Llewellyn, Claire. Starting Life: Frog |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Oppenheim, Joanne F. Have You Seen Birds? |Non-fiction |Read for enjoyment, Art integration |
|Parker, Steve. 2014, 978-1-60992-502-4, Penguin: the Life and Times of a Young Penguin |Non-fiction |Compare and contrast penguins with other birds |
|Pfeffer, Wendy. Wiggling Worms at Work. |Non-fiction |Identify how worms help plants. |
|Riggs, Kate. 2013, 9781608182169. Frog (Grow with Me) |Non-fiction |Document the life cycle of a frog |
|Spinelli, Eileen. Sophie’s Masterpiece. 1998. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Compare Sophie’s weaving to the weaving of real spiders. |
|Tait, Noel. 2008, 9781416938682. Insects and Spiders. |Non-fiction |Enjoy the photos! |
|Van Allsburg, Chris. 1988. Two Bad Ants. |Picture Book |Fact vs. fiction |
|White, E.B. 1952. Charlotte’s Web. |Novel |Read for enjoyment, Identify characteristics of spider life cycle, Fact vs. fiction,|
| | |Read aloud |
|Building With a Variety of Materials, Testing Materials and Designs |
|Gibbons, Gail. 1990, 9780823412327. How a House is Built. |Picture Book |Identify materials and construction methods |
|Horvath, James. 2013, 9780062189677. Build, Dogs, Build. Also, Dig, Dogs, Dig |Picture Book |Identify materials and construction methods |
|Sturges, Philomon et al. 2000. Bridges are to Cross. |Picture Book |KWL, Look for criteria, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Taback, Simms. This is the House That Jack Built. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Everyday Structures From A To Z. 0865053871 |Alphabet book |Identify materials and construction methods |
|Baxter, Nicola. Bridges, 0531154467 |Non-fiction |Identify materials and construction methods, Try some experiments and puzzles |
|Sutton, Sally. Construction. 2014, 978-0-7636-7325-3 |Picture Book |Identify materials and construction methods |
|Animal Life Cycles |
|Arnosky, Jim. 2002. All About Frogs. |Non-fiction |Flow chart of frog life cycle, Acquiring vocabulary, Cause/effect chart |
|Arlon, Penelope. Birds. 2014, 978-0-545-66773-9. |Non-fiction |Give examples of the life cycles of birds. |
|Carle, Eric. 1994. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. |Picture Book |Flow chart of butterfly life cycle |
|Ehlert, Lois. 2001. Waiting for Wings. |Picture Book |Look for criteria |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2003. Chicks & Chickens |Picture Book |Identifying bird characteristics, life cycle |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2012, 9780823423682. Ladybugs. |Picture Book |Describe the lifecycle of the ladybug |
|Gray, Susan. 2011, 9781432949839. Life Cycle of Insects |Non-fiction |Describe three different types of insect life cycles |
|Hickman, Pamela. 1997. A New Butterfly: A First Look at Metamorphosis Series. Kids Can. |Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Web, Acquiring vocabulary |
|1-55074-202-7. (). | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 1998. What is a Life Cycle. Science of Living Things Series. Appealing and |Non-fiction |Describe and compare life cycles of various living things. |
|accessible format, great photos. Crabtree. 0865058741 | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 2005. Insect Life Cycles. Appealing and accessible format, great photos. |Non-fiction | |
|0778723437 | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Metamorphosis: Changing Bodies. 2005, 0778722732. Appealing and accessible format,|Non-fiction |Describe life cycles of two creatures and explain how they are different. |
|great photos. Covers two kinds of change, has very complete sections on butterflies and frogs, and| | |
|includes ladybugs, dragonflies, grasshoppers. A must have! | | |
| | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 2002. Life Cycle of a Butterfly. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|format, great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0650-8 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 2002. Life Cycle of a Frog. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0651-6. | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. 2002. Life Cycle of a Sea Horse. Crabtree. 0-7787-0663-X. The Life Cycle Series. |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|Appealing and accessible format, great photos. | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Honeybee. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0664-8 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Beetle. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0662-1 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of an Earthworm. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0666-4 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Mosquito. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0665-6 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kent, Jack. 1995. Caterpillar and the Polliwog. Very funny. |Picture Book |Read aloud to initiate unit, Look for criteria, Summarizing, Identify |
| | |characteristics of frog and butterfly life cycles Venn diagram to compare with |
| | |Tadpole’s Promise. |
|Llewellyn, Claire. Starting Life: Duck |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Document features of the duck life cycle, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| | |Summarizing |
|Llewellyn, Claire. Starting Life: Frog |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Document features of the frog life cycle, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| | |Summarizing |
|Oppel, Kenneth. 1999. Silverwing. |Novel |Read aloud, document features of the bat life cycle, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| | |Summarizing |
|Pfeffer, Wendy. Wiggling Worms at Work. |Non-fiction Picture |Identify life cycle characteristics. |
| |Book | |
|Scrace, Carolyn. Egg to Bird (Cycles of Life Series). |Non-fiction |Flow chart of owl life cycle |
|White, E.B. 1952. Charlotte’s Web. |Novel |Look for criteria, Matrix, Summarizing |
|Willis, Jeanne. Tadpole’s Promise |Picture Book |Read aloud to initiate unit, Look for criteria, Summarizing, Identify |
| | |characteristics of frog and butterfly life cycles, Venn diagram to compare with |
| | |Caterpillar and the Polliwog. |
|Rocks and Minerals |
|Baylor, Byrd. 1974. Everybody Needs a Rock. New York: Charles Scribner, |Picture Book |Develop criteria for a detailed observation of a rock, choose one rock and describe |
| | |its characteristics so that someone else could identify and select it from an array |
| | |of rocks, Explore rocks through all the senses as in the book |
|Symes, R.F. 2001. Eyewitness: Rocks and Minerals. Eyewitness Books |Non-fiction |Graphic organizers, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Hurst, Carol Otis. Rocks in His Head. |Picture Book, Biography|List activities of a rock hound |
|Morganelli, Adrianna. Minerals |Non-fiction |Research |
|Hearing and Sound |
|Lemieux, Michele. 1998. What’s That Noise? Kids Can Press, Toronto. |Picture Book |Identify sounds |
|MacDonald, Ross. Achoo! Bang! Crash! The Noisy Alphabet. |Alphabet Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Walter, Mildred Pitts. 1980. Ty’s One Man Band. Scholastic. |Picture Book |Web of instruments in a band |
|Waste and Our World |
|Bouchard, David. 2001, 0-9693485-3-3. The Elders are Watching. |Poetry |Web, Decision web, Develop plan to protect environment, Select an area out of doors |
| | |(e.g., ravine) to clean up, Summarizing |
|Cherry, Lynne. 1990. The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. |Picture Book |Discussion about conservation |
|Cherry, Lynne. River Ran Wild. 2002, 0-15-216372-7 |Picture Book |Discussion about environmental protection |
|Yezerski, Thomas. Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story. 2011, 9780374349134. |Picture Book |Discussion about environmental protection |
|Cooney, Barbara. 1994, 0140505393. Miss Rumphius. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Summarizing, Activating background knowledge, Importance of |
| | |decisions |
|Gagne, Tammy. (Save the Earth) 2014. Recycle Every Day, 9781607535201. Save Energy Every Day, |Non-fiction |Discuss ways of conserving every day. Keep a record. |
|9781607535188. Take Care Of The Earth, 9781607535218. Schuh, Mari, Save Water Every Day, | | |
|978160753519 | | |
|Godkin, Celia. Wolf Island |Picture Book |Matrix of the environment |
|Jackson, Ellen. Earth Mother. 2005, 978-0802789921 |Picture Book |Share experiences of the beauty of the world |
|Peet, Bill. 1991. The Wump World. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Summarizing |
|Wilson, Janet. 2010, 9781897187845. Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet |Picture Book |Discuss ways of hwelping to save the earth |
|Building Devices and Vehicles That Move |
|Fowler, Allan. Simple Machines. |Non-fiction |Identify how simple machines are used |
|Dodds, Dayle Ann. 2004. Henry’s Amazing Machine. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Geisert, Arthur. Giant Ball of String, The. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Activating background knowledge, Visualizing, Find all the |
| | |examples of wheel and levers |
|Mccaulay, David. 1999. New Way Things Work, The. |Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Matrix, Look for importance, Acquiring vocabulary, Visualizing |
|Richards, Jon. Work and Simple Machines. |Non-fiction |Identify how simple machines are used |
|Weitzman, David. 2002. MODEL T: How Henry Ford Built a Legend. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Summarizing, Visualizing |
| |Biography | |
|Wheels and Levers |
|Banting, Erinn. 2013, 9781621274292. Wheels and Axles (AV2 Media Enhanced.) |Non-fiction |How were wheels and axles developed? How do they work? |
|Gibbons, Gail. Bicycle Book. |Picture Book |Look for examples of wheels and levers |
|Geisert, Arthur. 2002. 9780618132218. Giant Ball of String. |Picture Book |Identify different kinds of simple machines in the story, Read for enjoyment |
|Howse, Jennifer. 2009, 9781605960319. Levers (with Media Link) |Non-fiction |Describe the three types of levers. |
|Mccaulay, David. 1999. New Way Things Work, The. |Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Matrix, Look for importance, Acquiring vocabulary, Visualizing |
|Steig, William. 1989. Dr. De Soto. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Look for criteria, Summarizing |
|Plant Growth and Changes |
|Aston, Dianna. 2007, 9780811855204. A Seed is Sleepy. |Non-fiction |Describe various ways seeds travel. Characterize seeds. |
|Bull, Jane. 2003, Gardening Book, The. |Non-fiction |Plan gardening activities |
|Cherry, Lynne. How Groundhog’s Garden Grew |Picture Book |Observing plant life cycle, Read for enjoyment, Identify garden vegetables |
|Cooney, Barbara. 1994. Miss Rumphius. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Ehlert, Lois. 1992, 9780152626105. Planting a Rainbow. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Fowler, Allan. From Seed to Plant. |Non-fiction |Characterize plant life cycles |
|Gibbons, Gail. 1993. From Seed to Plant. |Non-fiction |Characterize plant life cycles |
|Hengel, Katherine. Garden to Table: A Kid's Guide to Planting, Growing, and Preparing Food. 2014, |Non-fiction |Try some of these plant growing activities |
|978-1-938063-43-5 | | |
|Hoberman, Mary Ann. Whose Garden Is It? |Picture Book |Identify how all the creatures depend upon the garden. |
|Hickman, Pamela. Seed Grows: My First Look at a Plant’s Life Cycle. |Non-fiction |Characterize plant life cycles |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Flower. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, great |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0667-2. | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Karas, G. Brian. As an Oak Tree Grows: A Slice of History. 2014, 9780399252334. From 1775 to the |Picture Book | |
|present, the landscape around the lone oak tree goes through significant changes. | | |
|Kavanaugh, James. Nature Alberta: An Illustrated Guide to Common Plants and Animals. |Field Guide |Identify plants located in Alberta |
|Kershaw. 2003. Alberta Wayside Wildflowers.1551053500. |Field Guide |Find and identify wildflowers. |
|Lottridge, Celia Barker. 1997. One Watermelon Seed. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Math integration — multiplication, Activating background |
| | |knowledge, Visualizing |
|Nolen, Jerdine. 2002. Plantzilla. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Pascoe, Elaine et al. How and Why Seeds Travel. |Non-fiction |Identify how seeds travel |
|Petricic, Dusan. The Enormous Potato |Picture Book |Observing plant life cycle, Read for enjoyment |
|Pfeffer, Wendy. From Seed to Pumpkin. Pumpkin life cycle in easy reading, story form. |Picture Book |Observing plant life cycle, Read for enjoyment |
|Robbins, Ken. Seeds. |Non-fiction |Observing seeds in all their wondrous variety, Identifying seed distribution |
| | |strategies. |
|Schaefer, Lola M. Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once a Flower Bloomed |Picture Book |Observing plant life cycle, Read for enjoyment |
|Schmidt, Sarah, ed. 2014, 9781889538884. Kid’s Guide to Exploring Nature |Non-fiction |Describe and discuss seasonal plant changes |
|Wellington, Monica. Zinnia’s Flower Garden, 2005. |Picture Book |Learn how to plant and grow some garden plants. |
|Light and Shadows |
|Lawrence, Ellen. 2014, 9781627240932. Light. (Green World Clean World) |Non-fiction |Try some of the experiments and describe what they show |
|Toye, William. 1985. How Summer Came to Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press. |Folk Tale |Fact vs. fiction |
| Toye, William. 1979. The Fire Stealer. Toronto: Oxford University Press. |Folk Tale |Fact vs. fiction |
|Weather Watch |
|Aardema, Verna. 1981. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. New York: Dial Press. |Folk tale |Fact vs. fiction |
|Arlon, Penelope. 2013, 9780545505161. Weather |Non-fiction |Describe several different kinds of extreme weather |
|Barrett, Judi. 1978. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. New York: Macmillan. (republished) |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Bentley, W. A. and Humphreys, W. J. Snow Crystals. |Picture Book |Observe and compare hundreds of snow crystals, create snowflakes for art activity |
|DePaola, Tomie. The Cloud Book. |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2009, 9780823422333. Hurricanes! Also 2009, 9780823422166, Tornadoes! |Non-fiction |What are some of the problems associated with hurricanes? |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2014, 9780823429240. It’s Raining! |Non-fiction |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Observation skills |
|Greenaway, Theresa. Water Cycle, The. |Non-fiction |Characterize the water cycle |
|Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley. |Biography |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Observation skills, Record keeping, Acquiring |
| | |vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Michaels, Pat. W is for Wind: A Weather Alphabet |Alphabet Book |Use as a model for creating a new weather alphabet book |
|Peppas, Lynn. Severe Storm and Blizzard Alert! (Disaster alert! Series) 2004, 0778715736. Includes|Non-fiction |Use for research, Describe various forms of severe weather and safety precautions |
|storm science, storm safety and famous storms. Large, excellent photos and appealing format. | |for each. |
|Riddles, Libby. Storm Run (The Story of the First Woman to Win the Iditarod Sled Dog Race). |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Look for criteria, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary |
| |Biography | |
|Scavuzzo, Wendy. Tornado Alert! (Disaster alert! Series) 2004, 0778715744. Includes the science of|Non-fiction |Use for research, Describe the creation of a tornado, discuss tornado safety. |
|tornadoes, tornado safety, and famous tornadoes. Large, excellent photos and appealing format. | | |
|Schaefer, Lola M. This Is the Rain. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Describe water cycle, Modeling writing, Acquiring vocabulary, |
| | |Observations |
|Wetland Ecosystems |
|Beatty, Richard. 2010, 9781432941833. Wetlands. |Non-fiction |Describe some of the diversity of wetlands |
|Gibbons, Gail. 1998, 9780823413478. Marshes and Swamps. |Non-fiction |Characterize wetlands, compare mashes and swamps |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2013, 9780823424122. Beavers |Non-fiction |What role do beavers play in wetlands? |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Life Cycle of a Mosquito. Life Cycle Series. Appealing and accessible format, |Non-fiction |Identify characteristics of life cycle by web or key word chart, Acquiring |
|great photos. Crabtree. 0-7787-0665-6 | |vocabulary, Activating background knowledge, Research |
|Kalman, Bobbie. What are Food Chains & Webs? |Non-fiction |Characterize wetlands |
|Kalman, Bobbie. What are the Wetlands? |Non-fiction |Characterize food chains |
|Nadeau, Isaac & Dwight Kuhn. Food Chains in a Pond Habitat. 2002. PowerKids Press, (The Library of|Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Matrix, Look for importance, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Food Chains and Food Webs Series). | | |
|Napoli, Donna Jo, Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as De Fawg Pin |Novel |Read for enjoyment |
|Purslow, Frances. 2010, 9781616900038. Water Cycle (AV2 Media Enhanced.) |Non-fiction |Describe the water cycle |
|Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. |Picture Book |Conservation of natural environments, Activating background knowledge |
|Silverman, Buffy. 2013, 9781410946010. Wetlands |Non-fiction |Describe some of the troubles facing wetlands |
|Sis, Peter. The Tree of Life, A book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin: Naturalist, Geologist &|Picture Book, Biography|Understand some of the principles of evolution and natural selection and the man who|
|Thinker, 2003 | |first understood these processes |
|Wallace, Holly. Life Processes: Food Chains and Webs. |Non-fiction |Characterize food chains |
|Yoeman, John. Heron and the Crane. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Yezerski, Thomas. Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story. 2011, 9780374349134. A great companion |Picture Book |Discussion about threats to wetlands and wetland recovery strategies |
|to River Ran Wild. | | |
|Mechanisms Using Electricity, Electricity and Magnetism |
|Barasch, Lynne. Radio Rescue |Biography |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Mccaulay, David. The New Way Things Work. |Non-fiction |Look for criteria, Matrix, Look for importance, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Monroe, Ronald. 2012, 9780778720799. What is Electricity? |Non-fiction |Identify some different forms of electricity. |
|Schanzer, Rosalyn. How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning. |Biography |Appeal to boys, List inventions, Identify experiments/activities with electricity |
|Waboose, Jan Bourdeau, SkySisters |Picture Book |Characteristics of northern lights |
|Classroom Chemistry |
|dePaola, Tomie. 1982. Strega Nona. |Picture Book |Find all the chemical changes in the story, Observing yeast, Fact vs. fiction,|
| | |Summarizing |
|Murray, Peter. 1998. Curiosity: The Story of Marie Curie. |Picture Book |Importance of scientific investigation |
|Sky Science |
|Bourgeois, P. 1995. The Moon. |Picture Book |Characterize the Moon |
|Bruchac, Joseph et al. Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back: A Native American Year of Moons. |Picture Book |Observations, Seasonal changes |
|Carle, Eric. Draw Me a Star. |Picture Book |Retelling personal experiences—stars |
|Gibbons, Gail. 2008, 9780823421565. Planets. (3rd ed.) |Non-fiction |Identify planets |
|Galat, Joan Marie. Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories in the Stars. |Picture Book, |Observing constellations, reading the stories associated with the stars and |
| |Non-fiction |constellations, Discover links to Greek mythology |
|Galat, Joan Marie. Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories in the Planets. |Picture Book, |Observing constellations, reading the stories associated with the planets |
| |Non-fiction | |
|Galat, Joan Marie. Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories in the Moon. |Picture Book, |Observing constellations, reading the stories associated with the moon |
| |Non-fiction | |
|Leedy, Loreen. Postcards from Pluto: A Tour of the Solar System |Picture Book |Modeling writing, Observing patterns, Detecting fact or fiction |
|Livingston, Myra Cohn. 1988. Space Songs. New York: Holiday House. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Modeling writing |
| |Poetry | |
|Mitton, Jacqueline. Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets. |Picture Book |Identify planets, Discover links to Greek mythology |
|Scagell, Robin. Children’s Night Sky Atlas |Non-fiction, Reference |Identify constellations, Observing the night sky |
|Storm, Dunlop. 2004. Practical Astronomy |Non-fiction, Reference |Finding information and quick facts. |
|Karas, G. Brian On Earth. 2005, 039924025X |Non-fiction |Understanding how seasons, day and night, equator, etc. work. |
|Pfeffer, Wendy Shortest Day: Celebrating The Winter Solstice. 0525469680 |Non-fiction |What does the winter solstice mean for people? |
|Flight, Air and Aerodynamics |
| | | |
|Barnard, Nicholas. 2012, 9780500650011. Flight School: How to Fly a Plane Step by Step |Non-fiction |Discuss the passion for flight, Appeal to boys |
|Busby, Peter. First to Fly: How Wilbur and Orville Wright Invented the Airplane. |Biography |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Coerr. Eleanor. 1981. The Big Balloon Race. New York: Harper and Row. |Picture Book |Math integration (measurement), Interview a balloonist, Design an experiment |
| | |using helium and air to fill balloons |
|Cooney, Caroline B. Flight #116 Is Down |Novel |Read for enjoyment, Examine impact of flight on our lives, Appeal to boys |
|dePaola, Tomie. The Cloud Book. |Picture Book |Look for criteria, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Drummond, Allan. The Flyers. 2003, 0374324107 |Picture Book | |
|Freedman, Russell. The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane. |Picture Book |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary |
| |Biography | |
|Graham, Ian. The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of Flight |Picture Book |Look for importance, Appeal to boys, Acquiring vocabulary, Science of flight, |
| |Biography | |
|Hardesty, Von. 2011, 9781442432772. Flight |Non-fiction |Describe and compare different ways of achieving flight |
|Lasky, Kathryn. Humphrey, Albert, and the Flying Machine. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment, Appeal to boys, research Bernoulli’s principle |
|Mellett, Peter. 2013, 9781843228691. Flight: With 18 Projects and More Than 240 Pictures |Non-fiction |Describe and compare different ways of achieving flight |
|Provenson, Alice and Martin. 1983. The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel With Louis Bleriot, July |Picture Book |Look for importance, Appeal to boys |
|25, 1909. New York: Puffin Books. |Biography | |
|Wiesner, David. Tuesday. |Picture Book |Read for enjoyment |
|Wunderli, Stephen. The Blue Between the Clouds. |Novel |Discuss the passion for flight |
|Yep, Laurence. 1975. Dragonwings. |Novel–Historical |Early attempts at the development of flying machines |
| |Fiction | |
|Trees and Forests |
|Kershaw, Linda. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. |Field Guide |Plant identification and food tasting |
|Browne, Anthony. 1998. Voices in the Park. |Picture Book |Parallel differing perspectives in the book with choices people make regarding|
| | |forest use |
|Arnosky, Jim. 2008, 9781402739859. Wild Tracks!: A Guide to Nature's Footprints |Picture Book |Identify animal tracks |
|Aspen-Baxter, Linda. 2006, 9781590364468. Rainforests |Non-fiction |Compare rainforests with the boreal forests |
|Cherry, Lynne. The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. |Picture Book |Discussion about conservation, Explore issue of cutting trees vs. not cutting |
| | |trees |
|Cherry, Lynn. Shaman's Apprentice. 2001, 0152024867 |Picture Book |Discussion about conservation, Explore issue of preservation of rain forests |
|Drake, Jane et al. 2003. Cool Woods: A Trip Around the World’s Boreal Forest |Non-fiction |Use for research, Acquiring vocabulary, Conservation of natural environment, |
| | |identify issues |
|Ganeri, Anita. Forests. |Non-fiction |Use for research |
|Gibbons, Gail. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. |Picture Book |Identifying needs |
|Godkin, Celia. Wolf Island. |Picture Book |Describe interdependencies, Make a food web, Cause/effect chart, Summarizing, |
| | |Activating background knowledge |
|Johnson, Derek, et al. Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Aspen Parkland. |Field Guide |Identify leaf and branch types, Matrix, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Kalman, Bobbie. Forest Food Chains. Food Chains Series. Appealing and accessible format, great photos.|Non-fiction |Research |
|0-7787-1989-8 | | |
|Kalman, Bobbie, Life Cycle of a Tree, The. Crabtree. 0-7787-0659-1 (The Life Cycle Series). |Non-fiction |Use for research, use to help create a diagram of tree life cycle |
|Bossenmaier, Eugene E. Mushrooms of the Boreal Forest. |Field Guide |Identify mushrooms |
|Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. |Novel |Survival in the wilderness, Acquiring vocabulary, Summarizing |
|Peppas, Lynn. Wildfire Alert! (Disaster alert! series) 2004, 0778715744. A good section on forests and|Non-fiction |Use for research, Use to help create a diagram of the life cycle of a forest, |
|fires, types of fires in forests, weather, and benefits of forest fires. Large, excellent photos and | |Describe how fires help forests. |
|interesting format. | | |
|Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. |Picture Book |Conservation of natural environment, Summarizing |
|Sheldon, Ian. Animal Tracks of Alberta. |Field Guide |Identify animal tracks |
|Thornhill, Jan. A Tree in a Forest. |Picture Book |Observe patterns, Find consumers, producers and decomposers, Describe |
| | |interdependencies, Summarizing |
|Wilkinson, Kathleen. Trees and Shrubs of Alberta. |Field Guide |Look for criteria, Matrix, Acquiring vocabulary |
|Evidence and Investigations |
|Bishop, Nic. Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs: An Expedition to Madagascar. |Picture Book |Look for criteria |
|Lane, Brian. Eyewitness Staff, DK Publishing. Eyewitness: Crime and Detection. |Non-fiction |Identify methods used to solve crimes |
|Klise, Kate. 2001. Trial by Journal. |Novel |Examples of evidence and investigations |
|McClintock, Norah. Body, Crime, Suspect: How a Murder Investigation Really Works |Novel Format |Describe how a murder investigation really works, Identify technologies, |
| | |Identify strategies |
|Mellett, Peter. 1999. Solving a Crime. |Novel |Examples of evidence and investigations |
|Rollins, Barbara. 2004, 9780736824194. Fingerprint Evidence. The perfect fingerprint resource! |Non-fiction |Describe fingerprint features, how fingerprint evidence is gathered, and how |
| | |it is used. |
|Yolen, Jane et al. The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History |Picture Book |Try to solve this true mystery from history with the clues provided. |
Using Literature in Teaching Science
Advantages:
• Widespread availability
• Easily integrated into thematic curricula
• Generally more up to date
• More focused and provide an in-depth look at science concepts
• More interesting and less confusing for students than textbooks
• Story lines help students remember concepts better
• Contain colourful pictures and graphics
• Present a more human side of science than do textbooks
• Evoke both efferent (factual) and aesthetic response (emotional)
What Do We Look For In Non-Fiction?
Using children’s literature in teaching science is in accord with a constructivist view that holds that learners actively construct their own meaning when new information is linked to prior knowledge (Duschl, 1990).
Criteria:
• Large, clear, high quality colour illustrations, including both photos and drawings
• Drawings include graphs, diagrams, tables and other structures that plot information and show relationships
• Illustrations match and support the text
• Captions support the material
• Index
• Table of Contents
• Glossary
• Authority and currency evident in sources used in content development (e.g., sources and authorities listed)
• Text appropriate as to size, font type, placement, amount per page
• Headings and sub-headings used frequently throughout the text
• Content suitable for age of student
• Content appropriate for the intended unit of study
• Content organized in “chunks” of related material
• Print broken up by illustrations, boxes, sidebars, etc., so as to avoid long, intimidating sections of text.
• Appealing format
• Canadian or Albertan content where appropriate
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