Outstanding Science Trade Books for Middle School Students - Part 2
Release Date: 03/26/2024
Reading in Science
K12Science
Recently, I had the pleasure of reading the November-December 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. Within this issue, I encountered the “From the Editor’s Desk” section, authored by Patty McGinnis. Her article, titled “Reading in the Science Classroom,” provided insightful information on the science of reading. Reading plays a pivotal role in all disciplines, and science is no exception. If you are seeking reading-based strategies to incorporate into your classroom, The California Academy of Sciences offers several...
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Food Scientist
K12Science
Recently, I had the pleasure of reading the September-October 2024 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. Within this issue, I came across the “Career of the Month” section, authored by Luba Vangelova. Her article, titled “Amy DeJong, Food Scientist,” provided insightful information on the field of food science. Food science is an applied science that merges chemistry, engineering, and microbiology to develop safe, palatable, and nutritious food products. Amy DeJong, a process development engineer, is employed by Mars...
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Addressing Science Misconceptions
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science and Children, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Science 101” section, written by Matthew Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled: “Q: How Can I Address Science Misconceptions Using Phenomena-Driven Instruction?” A phenomena might just be the best way to address misconception because research has shown that misconceptions are very persistent, and merely teaching the correct information doesn’t automatically remove the misconception.
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Fall Colors
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science and Children, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Poetry of Science” section, written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. She wrote an article entitled: “Changes in the Leaves.” Included in the article was a poem entitled, “Saving the Best for Last,” written by David L. Harrison. Leaves change color in the fall because the amounts of chemical pigments inside the leaves change. The intensity and timing of fall colors can be affected by weather, both in...
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Fieldwork Fridays
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Interdisciplinary Ideas” section, written by Katie Coppens. She wrote an article entitled: “Fieldwork Fridays: Connecting Scientific Learning to Nature.” Each Friday, in what are referred to as “Fieldwork Fridays,” the author brings her students outside to apply what they learned that week in class to the environment around them.
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Comets
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” section, written by Bob Riddle. He wrote an article entitled: “Chasing Giant Ice Balls.” Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ices. They range in size from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the Sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. This...
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Elephant ID
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” section, written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled: “Snapshot Safari: Elephant Edition.” Elephant ID is an online project that leverages Zooniverse’s people-powered research platform to address behavior and conservation questions related to the African savanna elephant, a species facing pressing challenges, including habitat loss. To learn more, visit the project website at:
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Social-Emotional Learning
K12Science
I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Editorial” section, written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled: “Social-Emotional Learning in the Science Classroom.” Perhaps nowhere else in education is social-emotional (SEL) more crucial than in the middle school science classroom, a place where students are expected to collaborate, communicate, and participate respectfully in the practice of argumentation. For more information about SEL...
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Learning Styles
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science and Children, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the “Science 101” section, written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote a Q and A article entitled: “Q: If Students Have Different Learning Styles, What Kinds of Science Activities Are Best for Reaching All Students?” For a more well-rounded educational experience, teachers can use “multimodal” teaching. Examples include visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. But that does not mean that students have specific...
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Astrophotography
K12Science
I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers. In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” section. In the section was an article entitled, “Capturing Photons,” written by Bob Riddle. One way to make astronomy more accessible and engaging to students is to introduce them to astrophotography. The most direct way is probably with the student’s own smartphone.
info_outlineI was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school science teachers.
In this issue, I read the section on the “Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” The selections are a collaboration of the National Science Teaching Association and the Children’s Book Council.
In part 2 of this podcast series, I share seven more books that were selected for middle-school students. The books are:
“A Star Explodes: The Story of Supernova 1054” by James Gladstone
“Old Enough to Make a Difference: Be Inspired by Real-Life Children Building a More Sustainable Future” by Rebecca Hul
“Becoming Bionic” by Heather Camlot
“Extra Life (Young Readers Adaptation) by Steven Johnson
“Hidden Systems” by Dan Nott
“Sisters in Science” by Linda Elovitz Marshall
“The Woman in the Moon” by Richard Maurer