Self-selected members of the MiddleWeb Discussion List are joining
together to explore the Reading Workshop and other ideas about supporting
young adolescent readers. Juli Kendall, a reading teacher/coach in Long
Beach, California, is helping moderate the discussion. Juli is also keeping
a weekly journal of her own Reading Workshop initiative. Find out more about
our project at our Reading Workshop homepage.
You'll find Juli's background article here.
Links to many of the tools created by Juli and her colleagues are embedded
in these journals. Most often, when you click on them, a PDF file will begin
to download. You'll find a list of the downloads here.
Table of Contents
1. Some authors for reading aloud to the whole class
2. Other award winning science authors
3. NSTA Outstanding Science Tradebooks for Children, K-8 from 1996
to 2001
4. Books for journaling and writing in science
5. Leveled non fiction series/chapter books from Guiding Readers and
Writers
6. Other leveled series books
7. Recommendations from our Middleweb listserv colleagues
--Websites
--Books with science themes
8. The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (NCTE)
1. Some authors for reading aloud to the whole class
Robert Bateman and Rick Archebold
Safari
Jean Craighead George (ecological themes; lots of other titles)
Julie of the Wolves trilogy (Julie of the Wolves, Julie and
Julie's Wolf Pack)
My Side of the Mountain trilogy (My Side of the Mountain, On the
Far Side of the Mountain and Frightful's Mountain)
Leslie Dendy
Tracks, Scats, and Signs (Young Naturalist Field Guides)
John Himmelman
A Pill Bug's Life, Nature Upclose Series
Todd and Betsy Lewin
Elephant Quest and Gorilla Walk
Etta Kaner
Animal Defenses: How Animals Protect Themselves
Donna Jackson
The Bone Detectives
Patricia Lauber
Hurricanes: the World's Mightiest Storms
Sy Montgomery
The Snake Scientist
Gary Paulsen
Hatchet, Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats, and Winterdance:
The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
Patricia Relf
A Dinosaur Named Sue: the Story of the Colossal Fossil: the World's Most
Complete T. Rex
Jane Yolen
Welcome to the Ice House
2. Other award winning science authors
Seymour Simon
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Robert Snedden
Jim Arnosky
Twig C. George
Walter Wick
3. NSTA Outstanding Science Tradebooks for Children, K-8 from 1996 to
2001
www.nsta.org/ostbco1
NSTA p; The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is an organization
of science education professionals and has as its purpose the stimulation,
improvement, and coordination of science teaching and learning. Single copies
of this list are available for $2.00 with a stamped (3 oz.) self-addressed
6" x 9" envelope from CBC at 12 West 37th St., 2nd fl, New York,
NY 10018. 3-19 copies, $1.50 each; 20 or more copies, 75¢ each. Payment
must accompany order. The list for each year is separate and costs $2 a
piece.
4. Journaling and writing in science
Journals
A Desert Scrapbook p; Sonora Desert, An Island Scrapbook, and
A Rainforest Scrapbook by Virginia Wright-Frierson
Safari by Robert Bateman and Rick Archebold
Elephant Quest and Gorilla Walk by Ted Lewin and Betsy Lewin
Writing Workshop in science
(Anchor texts for informational writing)
The Moon Book, The International Space Station Book, Bats,
etc. by Gail Gibbons
5. Leveled Non Fiction Series Books from Guiding Readers and Writers
Author/Series Example of titles
Ready Readers by Modern Curriculum -- All About Bats
Discovery World by Rigby -- Amazing Eggs
Wonder World by Wright Group -- Cells
Early Connections by Benchmark Education -- Clouds
Little Readers by Houghton Mifflin -- Dogs at Work
Book Bank by Wright Group -- Cats of the Night
Foundations by Wright Group -- The Guide Dog
Pebble Books by Grolier, Capstone -- Stems
Wooley/Pigdin by Mondo Publishing -- Birds of Prey
Wildcats by Wright Group -- In the Rain Forest
Jean Craighead George books by Harper Trophy -- One Day in the Woods,
Look to the North: Wolf Pup Diary
Books by Capstone Press
Wonders of Our World by Crabtree -- Hurricanes & Tornadoes
A First Book by Franklin Watts -- Sand on the Move: Story of Dunes
6. Other leveled series books
Wildlife of North America by Capstone Press -- The Bald Eagle
Life Cycles Set by Newbridge -- The World of Ants
Nature's Diversity Set by Newbridge -- Rocks and Soil
Eyewitness Readers, DK Publishing Inc. -- Shark Attack!
Let's Read and Find Out by Harper Trophy -- Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll
Wild Weather by Scholastic -- Hurricanes
Scholastic Question and Answer Series -- Do Stars Have Points?
7. Recommendations from our Middleweb listserv colleagues
Websites for science books
1. From Jeanne:
Try looking at http://www.enc.org, the
Title I Eisenhower National science and math clearinghouse. If you go down
the left side of the home page, you'll find a button for math and science
literature that is really comprehensive. It also has excellent activities,
etc. for teachers. NASA (http://www.grc.nasa.gov/Doc/OtherNASA.html)
also has some great stuff for teachers.
I also use children's magazines, especially National Geographic kids and
education sections (http://www.nationalgeographic.com)
and the Childen's National Geographic magazine and the Smithsonian's Kid's
Castle (http://www.kidscastle.si.edu).
If you like these, they also provide links to other sites. I have more if
anyone is interested. My job is helping my region's schools access best
practices and research, so I try to keep up (as much as possible, anyway)
with the best sites for teachers.
2. From Kathy:
Search It! Science : The Books
You Need at Lightning Speed (Online) by Wendy Saul This listing is for the
Multiple User License of Search It! Science. You may also purchase the Six-Week
Individual License, or the Annual Individual License.
Finally, a multimedia literature-searching tool that enables users to match
their scientific interests or curricular needs with children's trade books
. . . see a book's cover . . . read a content summary . . .search for additional
titles on the same subject or a related topic-all at "lightning speed."
The Search It! Science database of more than three thousand highly recommended
science titles enables teachers, librarians, and students to develop bibliographies
in seconds. Want a list of thirty-five titles on the environment for fourth
graders with a wide range of reading levels? You'll find it. Looking for
biographies of African-American scientists that include photographs? Here
they are. What about a good science-related read aloud? That's here too.
By combining literary, scientific, graphic, and issue-oriented elements,
K-8 teachers, students, and librarians can expand or shrink their list of
recommended titles. Search It! Science was actually built to mimic the real-life
search strategies of users with access to an up-to-date collection of scientifically
accurate, diverse, well-written books. Search It! Science's user-friendly,
powerful interface makes it easy to connect with topics that intrigue. The
appealing graphics encourage both browsing and targeted searches. Want another
book like this one? By this author? In this series? On this topic? Search
It! Science's fully text-searchable annotations, full-color cover images,
summarized reviews from five professional sources, and author information
truly simplify the book identification and ordering process. Accessible
through searchit.heinemann.com, Search It! Science will be updated regularly.
6week individual license $10
a year individual license $65
Book2Web- check this out at http://www.book2web.com
http://www.wrightgroup.com
Books with science themes:
From Kathy:
Another resource I just remembered but it is expensive is from Heinemann.
One of their writers, probably Wendy Saul, has put together a database of
science tradebooks. You can get access to it by taking one of their online
course which I was going to this fall but of course didn't. I will research
and see exactly what it is. I also go something recently from the Wright
group that not only does the science tradebook but each book has an extension
on the Internet. I am going to look into that as I want to get my kids using
more technology in my teaching.
From Mary Anne:
Looking quick at the list Juli posted sparked a memory (making connections
to text!)-- This month's Arrow book club has several Jean Craighead George
pieces at Very reasonable prices--the three Take a Walk in ... are only
$5.95 for all three books. The My Side of the Mountain series is there too.
From Kathy:
I ordered some leveled non fiction science texts from Newbridge Publishers.
I got some on the Big Dig and Antarctica. There are many choices. it is
a great catalog. If I can find it I will send the 800 number.
Also consider Rigby or the Wright catalogs. they do mostly younger stuff
but some of their materials are appropriate for grades 5/6 anyway.
From Deb:
I'm away from home right now, but when I get back, I will check my shelf
for titles. You might look at a Fountas Pinnell book, Guided Reading
in Grades 3-6. They have an extensive list of books in the back and
they give reading levels.
From Mary Anne:
Science nonfiction is interesting. My kids love the Eyewitness Books and
the Usborne series of Junior Science topics. These books have tons of pictures
and interesting snippets of facts. They are not traditional text.
If you are doing environmental science and are looking for fiction/fact
I love the eco-mysteries by Jean Craighead George. Who Really Killed Cock
Robin, The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo Swamp are just two, but she has
written several more.
Dale Seymour also has a great series out on science topics. I can't remember
the name of the series, but we purchased Thrill Ride and Gold Medal for
our 7th grade. The student text is a series of articles on real life science
topics that center around a problem. Gold Medal is a gymnast getting ready
for the Olympics. Everything from how altitude affects the body to bone
density. Thrill Ride starts with gravity and microgravity and acceleration
and deceleration, potential and kinetic energy--you get the idea!
From Linda:
We use When the Plague Struck with our Middle Ages unit. It starts
with the Black Death and looks a various diseases through history and ends
with AIDS.
Linda
From Naomi:
Our kids have always loved the books by Seymour Simon. He has books on a
variety of science topics that are clearly written, beautifully illustrated
and perfect for our middle school students.
Naomi
8. The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
"Recognizing that 'the world of children's literature contains a variety
of genres, all of which have appeal to the diverse interests of children,
as well as potential for classroom teaching,' the National Council of Teachers
of English (NCTE) established the Orbis Pictus Award for promoting and recognizing
excellence in nonfiction books for children. The name, Orbis Pictus, commemorates
the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus--The World in Pictures
(1657), considered to be the first book planned specifically for children.
The award is presented for books published in the previous year: i.e., the
2001 award honors books published in 2000. The entire list of winners from
the award's inception in 1990 is provided here. For more information, visit
the NCTE Web site." (http://www.ncte.org).
2001
Honor Books:
Wild and Swampy: Exploring with Jim Arnosky by Jim Arnosky (HarperCollins
Juvenile Books)
2000
Honor Books:
Mapping the World by Sylvia A. Johnson (Atheneum)
The Snake Scientist by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Nic Bishop
(Houghton Mifflin)
The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest by Steve Jenkins (Houghton
Mifflin)
1999
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story
of Schackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong (Crown)
Honor Books:
Black Whiteness: Admiral Byrd Alone in the Antarctic by Robert Burleigh,
illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop (Antheneum)
Fossil Feud: The Rivalry of the First American Dinosaur Hunters by
Thom Holmes (Messner)
Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest by Steve Jenkins (Houghton)
1998
An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly by Laurence
Pringle, Paintings by Bob Marstall (Orchard Books)
Honor Books:
A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder by Walter Wick (Scholastic)
[ENC-010721]
A Tree is Growing by Arthur Dorros, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
(Scholastic) [ENC-010812]
1997
Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley (Morrow) [ENC-016367]
1996
The Great Fire by Jim Murphy (Scholastic)
Honor Books:
Dolphin Man: Exploring the World of Dolphins by Laurence Pringle
(Simon & Schuster)
1995
Safari Beneath the Sea: The Wonder of the North Pacific Coast by
Diane Swanson (Little, Brown) [ENC-007483]
Honor Books:
Wildlife Rescue: The Work of Dr. Kathleen Ramsay by Jennifer Owings
Dewey (Boyds Mills) [ENC-016079]
1994
Honor Books:
To the Top of the World: Adventures with Arctic Wolves by Jim Brandenburg
(Simon & Schuster)
Making Sense: Animal Perception and Communication by Bruce Brooks
(Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
1993
Honor Books:
Come Back, Salmon by Molly Cone (Little, Brown) [ENC-007495]
1992
Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh by Robert Burleigh and
Mike Wimmer (Putnam)
1991
Honor Books:
Arctic Memories by Normee Ekoomiak (Henry Holt)
Seeing the Earth from Space by Patricia Lauber (Grolier)
1990
Honor Books:
The News About Dinosaurs by Patricia Lauber (Simon & Schuster)
Read Juli's next journal entry
Read Juli's previous journal entry
Read Juli's backgrounder about her work
Back to Juli's journal index
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