STEM themed books for this assignment. When students read great fiction, and then are inspired to do further research and participate in a challenge or design project based on that book, they are more engaged. This allows students to think in new ways, and represents a 21st century mindset. I chose books that would appeal to both boys and girls with a variety of plots in different genres. There are a variety of messages within these books, many of which connect to a growth mindset and the idea of perseverance.
Intended audience: 5th grade
Book #1
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Title: The Fourteenth Goldfish
Author: Jennifer L. Holm
Lexile Level: 550L
Guided Reading Level: Z
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8
ISBN: 978-0-375-87064-4
Genre: fiction
Subject Tags: grandfathers, juvenile fiction, scientists, family life, friendship, science, coming of age
Page Count: 195 (including an author’s note & recommended resources for continuing the conversation)
How this book fits with the theme: This book would be a great part of a STEM themed book collection because it encourages kids to think outside of the box and examine their understanding of the world. It would encourage students to do further research about famous scientists and consider things that they could invent to improve life. The preface to the story is a quote: You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself. -Galileo Galilei. This book would be great to help students develop a belief that they can achieve anything if they work hard and believe in the possible.
Book trailer: Random House publishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91FeXVF-56E
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Book #2
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Title: Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Scienceu
Author: Jeanne Atkins
Lexile Level: 970L
Guided Reading Level: n/a
Grade Range: 5-8
ISBN: 9781481465656
Genre: fiction (written in verse)
Subject Tags: juvenile fiction, childhood and youth, naturalists- fiction, paleontologists, women scientists, scientists, astronomers,
Page Count: 208 (including author’s note, “reading beyond these pages” and a bibliography of the author’s resources. I find this to be inspiring!)
Awards & Honors: BCCB 2016 Blue Ribbons, Nonfiction, Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2017, Historical Fiction, and The Golden Kite Awards, 2017 Honor, Middle Grade Fiction
How this book fits with the theme: This book begins with a quote: “We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry” - Maria Mitchell, astronomer. This book, written in verse, tells the stories of three young girls who wondered about the world and changed it. is a great way to get kids interested in science through fiction, or to pair with non-fiction. If they are not a kid who often reads non-fiction or struggles to find books they enjoy, this might inspire them to deepen their understanding.
*Note there is some religion mentioned in this book
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Book #3
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Title: Nick and Tesla’s High Voltage Danger Lab (Series: Nick and Tesla: Volume 1)
A MYSTERY WITH ELECTROMAGNETS, BURGLAR ALARMS, AND OTHER GADGETS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF
Author: “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
Illustrator: Scott Garrett
Lexile Level: 680L
Guided Reading Level: S
Grade Range: 4-6 (potentially 3- strong reader and/or 8- reluctant reader)
ISBN: Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-59474-648-2 e-Book ISBN: 978-1-59474-662-8
Genre: mystery, adventure, instructional (how-to),
mixed media (cartoon style illustrations to provide directions)
Subject Tags: Juvenile fiction. Brothers and sisters, inventions, utensils
Page Count: 237
How this book fits with the theme: The title alone explains why this book fits in this category, but reading the book makes it even better. 11-year old siblings, Nick and Tesla, engage readers in unlocking their mystery while introducing a variety of projects (with detailed instructions). Common sense media gives this book an A+ for educational value and writes: “Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab is full of science facts, all integrated into the plot and explained in ways that will be clear and fascinating to kids. Readers will learn about electricity, pressure, magnetism, chemistry, and earth science, and they'll see exactly how to build the gizmos that Nick and Tesla create.”
Teacher Resource: The teacher’s guide to this book (and the rest of the series) provides excellent questions, vocabulary, summaries, and topics for research. http://www.quirkbooks.com/book/nick-and-tesla%E2%80%99s-high-voltage-danger-lab#
Notes: Students should be reminded not to do any of these projects without adult supervision
*This is the first in a series of 6 books.
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Additional Titles to include in collection:
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Books in a series:
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Book talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqqB9uodZyQ
Book 1: The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
“ Scientists never give up. They keep trying because the believe in the possible.” This is what one of the characters says on page 47. Do you believe in the possible? Even if you are not sure of your answer to that question, if you like science, or stories about kids your age who are learning about the world and have an interesting family life; this book is for you. Ellie, the main character, is an 11 year old girl who has never liked change, and really misses her life before middle school, especially her 13 deceased goldfish.. When she starts middle school, everything changes. She describes middle school as “ one of those highway restrooms in the middle of nowhere. It’s dirty and smelly, and it’s crowded with strange people.” She also says that “In middle school there are so many new kids. Some seem like they’re from other planets.” (p 31-32). In this case, one of those new kids is a boy who wears a ring like her grandfather wore. He claims to be her grandfather who has found the fountain of youth. This is confusing to Ellie, someone who has never liked change. Not only does she wish she could go back to 5th grade where everything was normal, she now questions science and everything she knows. She feels, as s she says on page 168, “like Galileo”, her “vision of the universe suddenly upended”. Ellie’s grandfather tells her that “All scientists are a little bit mad” and that “average people just give up at the obstacles we face everyday. Scientists fail again and again and again. Sometimes for our whole lives. But we don’t give up, because we want to solve the puzzle.” (pg 47). I loved this book. The relationship between Ellie and her grandfather (in teenage form) is very special, and she learns a lot about history and life from him. This book is quirky and funny, and it made me want research the famous thinkers like Galileo, and the other things that Ellie’s grandfather talks about, and I am sure you will want to do this also. Do you want to know who the 14th goldfish is? Read this book, and maybe you will want to find out what is possible if you believe.
Book 2: Finding Wonders by Jeannine Atkins
Do you believe that there is more to the world than what we are told and what exists now? This book is written in poems and tells the stories of three women who changed science and the world, all because they wondered. The first is Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) who grew up in Germany, learned to paint from her step father, and had a fascination with butterflies. Because she is a girl, she is not allowed to do many things, but learns finds that “Rules that once seemed solid as the windowsill now wobble. Maria looks past what she was told and claims what moves before her eyes. Seen is more certain than words” (pg 28). Maria says, “mama, you allowed me to stretch the rules that you believe matter. Papa taught me about paints. No daughter could want more” ( 49). Maria is told that “women don’t cross the ocean, at least not unless married to merchants or missionaries” “but nothing will stop her now” (55). Maria challenged all she was told and like the caterpillar she studies, becomes a butterfly. The second woman is Mary Anning (1799-1847) who studied patterns in stones and learned about animals that lived long ago. She learns that “names and knowledge change, the way the turning world brings color or deep shadows, without a sound even as soft as the twist of a key” (117). The last woman is Maria (pronounced Ma-Rye- ah) Mitchell (1818-1889) who patiently observed the world, and “taught herself mathematics to further an understanding of the night sky” (125). She believes that the sky is beautiful and “loves how the darkness goes on and on, like wonder, in a sky thick with secrets and stars” (162). In this book, three women learn to trust their own eyes and wonder about the world. Each of them has their own story, but they all overcame challenges based on the time period in which they lived, as well as the fact that they were women. Before reading this book, I had never really known much, if anything, about these women, but now I want to know more. I know you will love reading this book and, like me, want to know more.
Book 3: Nick and Tesla's High Voltage Danger Lab: (book 1)
by “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
Warning: This book contains mystery, adventure, and explosie projects you can build yourself. How could you not want to read a book about two kids, 11- year old Nick and Tesla, who fight crime with science in a mystery and use everyday objects to build contraptions. Nick and Tesla are sent to move in with Newton Galileo Holt, a.k.a., uncle Newt. a brilliant inventor who engineers top-secret gadgets for a classified government agency. Uncle Newt tells the kids that his laboratory is their laboratory. He says, ¨don't touch this, DEFINITELY don't touch that, this will melt a hole through the floor, and this will cause an explosion if you let these two mix. Otherwise, GO NUTS!¨- what adult says that to kids? Nick and Tesla are followed by a strange black SUV, see strange things in windows, go to places they are definitely not supposed to be, and meet some new friends along the way. I absolutely adored this story, especially because it teaches problem solving and grit, which are really important skills in life. “ Nick and Tesla are kids, but they're able to get the upper hand on grown-up bad guys because of their scientific know-how and creativity. Knowledge is power.” (Common sense media) You know you want to read these book- go! Do not wait one minute!
References:
Applegate, Katherine, et al. The One and Only Ivan. Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.
ATKINS, JEANNINE. FINDING WONDERS: Three Girls Who Changed Science. ATHENEUM CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 2017.
Benjamin, Ali. The Thing about Jellyfish. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
Grabenstein, Chris. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. (Mr. Lemonceollo's Library #1). Yearling, an Imprint of Random House Children's Books, 2014.
Grabenstein, Chris. Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race. Random House, 2017.
Grabenstein, Chris. Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics. Random House Children's, 2016.
Hawking, Lucy, et al. George and the Big Bang. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013.
Hawking, Lucy, et al. George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011.
Hawking, Lucy, et al. George's Secret Key to the Universe. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009.
Hawking, Lucy, et al. George's Secret Key to the Universe. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009.
Holm, Jennifer L. The Fourteenth Goldfish. A Yearling Book, 2016.
Hopkinson, Deborah. The Great Trouble: a Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel.
A Yearling Book, 2015.
Kelly, Jacqueline. The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate. Henry Holt and Company, 2015.
Kelly, Jacqueline. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Henry Holt and Co., 2009.
Klages, Ellen. The Green Glass Sea. Puffin Books, 2008.
Klages, Ellen. White Sands, Red Menace. Puffin Books, an Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2010.
“Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab.” Quirk Books : Publishers & Seekers of All Things Awesome, 5 \
Nov. 2013, www.quirkbooks.com/book/nick-and-tesla%E2%80%99s-high-voltage-danger-lab#.
Pflugfelder, Bob, et al. Nick and Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle. Random House Inc, 2014.
Pflugfelder, Bob, et al. Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab. Quirk Books, 2013.
Pflugfelder, Bob, et al. Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown: a Mystery with Sun-Powered Gadgets You Can Make
Yourself. Quirk Books, 2016.
Pflugfelder, Bob, et al. Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular: a Mystery with Animatronics, Alien Makeup,
Camera Gear, and Other Movie Magic You Can Make Yourself. Quirk Books, 2015.
Pflugfelder, Bob, et al. Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove a Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-
Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself. Quirk Books, 2014.
RandomBooks. “The Fourteenth Goldfish | Book Trailer.” YouTube, YouTube, 31 July 2014,
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=91FeXVF-56E>.
Schultz, Barbara. “Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar
Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself: Nick and Tesla, Book 1 - Book Review.” Common
Sense Media: Ratings, Reviews, and Advice, Common Sense Media, 1 Nov. 2013, www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/nick-and-teslas-high-voltage-danger-lab-a-mystery-with-electromagnets-burglar-alarms.
Teagan, Erin. The Friendship Experiment. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.
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