Today, I’m continuing the series
of posts I’m writing with educator Marlene Correia. As you can see, the third
item on the 5
Reasons to Share Expository
Nonfiction with Students infographic focuses on using nonfiction books to build
student knowledge about a broad range of topics from astronomy and geography to
art history and recreational activities.
Think
about that student in your class who is fascinated by and seems to know everything
about dinosaurs. How did he/she become a mini-expert? How did he/she learn their
long, complex scientific names and other key vocabulary terms? How does he/she
keep track of when and where they lived, what they ate, and all their unique
body features? In other words, how did that child build his/her content
knowledge?
about that student in your class who is fascinated by and seems to know everything
about dinosaurs. How did he/she become a mini-expert? How did he/she learn their
long, complex scientific names and other key vocabulary terms? How does he/she
keep track of when and where they lived, what they ate, and all their unique
body features? In other words, how did that child build his/her content
knowledge?
Chances
are it wasn’t by reading a textbook cover to cover. The child most likely built
knowledge over time by interacting with the information in a variety of ways—viewing
dinosaur videos, studying and drawing pictures of dinosaurs, talking incessantly
about dinosaurs to anyone who would listen. And, undoubtedly, by reading dozens
of dinosaur-themed expository nonfiction children’s book
are it wasn’t by reading a textbook cover to cover. The child most likely built
knowledge over time by interacting with the information in a variety of ways—viewing
dinosaur videos, studying and drawing pictures of dinosaurs, talking incessantly
about dinosaurs to anyone who would listen. And, undoubtedly, by reading dozens
of dinosaur-themed expository nonfiction children’s book
Finely-crafted
children’s books with an expository writing style can enrich content-area learning
by motivating and engaging a broad range of students. They feature rich, precise
language, high-quality visuals, and dynamic design that introduce and reinforce
ideas and information in a clear, lively, age appropriate way.
children’s books with an expository writing style can enrich content-area learning
by motivating and engaging a broad range of students. They feature rich, precise
language, high-quality visuals, and dynamic design that introduce and reinforce
ideas and information in a clear, lively, age appropriate way.
By
delighting as well as informing, they prepare students for later encounters
with textbooks and other educational materials with terse, lifeless text. These
books also assist students in learning technical and specialized vocabulary in
an authentic and inviting context—and that sure beats looking up the definitions!
delighting as well as informing, they prepare students for later encounters
with textbooks and other educational materials with terse, lifeless text. These
books also assist students in learning technical and specialized vocabulary in
an authentic and inviting context—and that sure beats looking up the definitions!
While
many teachers currently use expository nonfiction children’s books at the
beginning of lessons, they also work well as a central component of the
instruction, especially for teaching life science. There are three reasons:
many teachers currently use expository nonfiction children’s books at the
beginning of lessons, they also work well as a central component of the
instruction, especially for teaching life science. There are three reasons:
—There
are many excellent expository children’s books about life science concepts.
They can bring the world of plants, animals, ecosystems, and natural processes to
life for children.
are many excellent expository children’s books about life science concepts.
They can bring the world of plants, animals, ecosystems, and natural processes to
life for children.
—Hands-on
lessons that involve direct observations and firsthand experience of life
science concepts often aren’t feasible, effective, safe, or environmentally
sound.
lessons that involve direct observations and firsthand experience of life
science concepts often aren’t feasible, effective, safe, or environmentally
sound.
—As
children read, they can extract key details from the text and organize this “data”
in tables, charts, diagrams, and other visual representations. This process
provides an authentic way of practicing a skill that’s critical in both ELA and
science.
children read, they can extract key details from the text and organize this “data”
in tables, charts, diagrams, and other visual representations. This process
provides an authentic way of practicing a skill that’s critical in both ELA and
science.
Because science instruction requires teaching skills as
well as ideas and information, it’s important to realize that most children
can’t build a solid understanding of key science concepts simply by reading a
book. They need more support. Students learn best by participating in a broad
range of experiences that introduce and reinforce scientific ideas. And so the
most successful science lessons involve pairing high quality children’s books
with authentic, engaging minds-on activities and investigations.
well as ideas and information, it’s important to realize that most children
can’t build a solid understanding of key science concepts simply by reading a
book. They need more support. Students learn best by participating in a broad
range of experiences that introduce and reinforce scientific ideas. And so the
most successful science lessons involve pairing high quality children’s books
with authentic, engaging minds-on activities and investigations.
Some elementary teachers feel confident developing
these kinds of lessons, but if you’d like some guidance, you may want to take a
look at Perfect
Pairs: Using Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books to Teach Life Science, K-2 and Perfect
Pairs: Using Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books to Teach Life Science, Grades
3-5, which I co-wrote with veteran educator Nancy Chelsey. These
books offer dozens of lessons that align with the Common Core ELA standards as
well as the Next Generation Science Standards.
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Topics
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