Middle school novels about science and the environment

Novels about Science and the Environment

Assembled by Ann McCann, Tanana Middle School Library, Fairbanks, Alaska from contributions by middle school teachers on the MIDDLE-L listserve.

Try the Ecological Mysteries by Jean Craighead George. I have used: The
Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo and Who Really Killed Cock Robin? with 7th and
8th. They enjoyed them and the novels gave rise to wonderful labs,
environmental awareness and some great role playing of town meetings etc.
Have Fun! Deb
Deborah Bambino dbambino@philsch.k12.pa.us
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We have used The Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George which focuses on
the Everglades [wetlands] and the conflict a young girl [middle school age]
feels between the modern developments and the traditions of her people, the
Seminoles. It is one of my favorite books and we have used it as a link
between science and language arts for several years.

In fact, JC George has several books, all with themes focusing on the
environment, for different ages and reading levels. I think you can find
something for everyone from her.

With the Jason Project, we have used Jules Verne novels for the past two
years. When the focus was on Iceland, Yellowstone, and the heat within the
earth, we read Journey to the Center of the Earth. This year's focus on
Ocean of Here and Beyond had us reading Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the
Sea. Both books can be found in the original translation and a variety of
edited versions for different reading levels.

Susan Hurstcalderone calderone@sysnet.net
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Ann, if science fiction counts, "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card is
wonderful. Kids really, really like it! Deals with computers and their
future possibilities.
Barbara D. Martin
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Foe science Fiction I would recommend "The Giver". It is kind of
Orwellian ala "Farenheit(sp?) 451". It prompts some great discussions
on utopia and what would a perfect society be like. Also, one could
spinf off discussions on how the engineering of the society came about,
etc.

Barbara Ross c/o Irving Park Middle School
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Kate Brown sent some web pages she's found helful:

http://ehr.aaas.org/ehr/6_0_0.html -- this is the American Association for the
Advancement of Science's site -- so many great titles for all the science disciplines.

http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/nsta98.html -- Outstanding Science
Trade Books for Children -- this is the National Science Teacher's
Association's site -- again, lots and lots of great titles, divided by
discipline.

http://smithsonianmag.com/ -- Explore Art, Science & History -- this is the
Smithsonian's list of recommended titles for
children. Looks at science in a different light than the other two.
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I have heard that "The Cay" can be implemented into the science
curriculum very easily.

Kim Hill
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The Cay is wonderful for science. We have been teaching The Cay for 8
years. It is one of my most favorite books. It has weather,
oceanography, war, plant life, sea life. Well, you must read it. It is
great for history, science, language arts, math, reading and thinking
skills. As you can tell I love it. My kids love it. It is difficult
for them in the first two chapters but then it catches and keeps their
interest. The dialect usually has to be read to them for them to get
the full impact of the story. But read aloud is an important part of
our reading program. Some other science novels are Z for Zachariah,
After the Bomb, The Talking Earth. The Talking Earth is about the
Everglades and its preservation. This is a very contemporary issue. It
is very descriptive, gives students excellent examples of elaborative
techniques in writing but is a little too slow paced for some of the
students. Hope this helps.

Mary Beth Morris
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There's a book out by Frank Shaffer based on environmental novels and
activities for middle school students. It's around $15 and is well worth it.
I did a unit on the environment and applied for a Wal-Mart grant. The grant
paid for quite a few of the books. The books used go from picture books to
novels (although low level), but the activities are great and the students
really enjoyed the project. Some of the novels included: Who killed cock
robin? The missing gator of gumbo Limbo, One Day in a tropical rain forest.
Hope this helps. Helen Beesley.

Actually the grant was quite easy. Contact your local Wal-mart store and ask
about grants for teaching about the environment. I believe they give 300-400
dollars per school. I just had to write up what I wanted to do and send them
a short report. It was easy. Helen B.
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Changes in Latitudes by Will Hobbs

This story is about the plight of sea turtles in third world countries
parelleled with the crises of an endangered family- from the viewpoint
of a young teenage boy. My team uses this novel as a focal point for an
interdisciplinary unit including descriptive and persuasive writing,
latitude and longitude, country reports, role playing and sociodrama.

Carol LeCrone
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While I enjoyed "Changes in Latitude" by Hobbs, people should be aware that
it contains some fairly heavy themes like an extramarital affair on the
mother's part and the death of a child.

Deborah Bambino
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