Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction [Paperback]

Richard Raham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2004 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

The literature of science fiction packs up the facts and discoveries of science and runs off to futures filled with both wonders and warnings. Kids love to take the journeys it offers for the thrill of the ride, but they can learn as they travel, too. This book will provide you with: an overview of the past 500 years of scientific thought and the literature of science fiction which it inspired; suggestions for finding and adapting the kind of science fiction that will work best for your classroom; detailed ideas and resources for teaching concepts in the physical, earth, space, and life sciences, as well in history and mathematics; and suggested activities for a variety of grade levels. Appendices provide: science references to help you keep the facts and the fictions straight; national science content standards; and detailed lesson plans for an earth science unit where students travel the depths of time and create their own time travelers' diaries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, surely you catch more children with science fiction. Gary Raham gets right to the heart of what makes science fun, opening new and old worlds to fresh discovery. I wish there'd been books like this when I was a cub!"-Wil McCarthy, Science Fiction Writer

Book Description

Strap yourself in and teach todays lessons with insights from some exciting futures as envisioned by the best classic and contemporary authors.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited (August 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563089394
• ISBN-13: 978-1563089398
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love to help connect kids to science through story. I've written 14 books, several video scripts, and award-winning articles for Highlights for Children, Cricket, Read, and other magazines, as well as some short SF stories. I use The Deep Time Diaries and Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction, to create middle school enrichment material in English and science with the help of master teacher, Vicky Jordan. I illustrate much of my own work and also create natural history and biomedical illustrations for a variety of clients. I enjoy writing adult science columns for The North Forty News and Colorado Gardener magazine, as well as "Kid's Quarry" columns for Trilobite Tales, the official newsletter of the Western Interior Paleontological Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching science with fiction., September 12, 2006

By 

Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction (Paperback)

Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction by Gary Raham is a book full of basic lesson plans for teachers on how to use science fiction in different ways in different grades. There is an overview of 500 years of science fiction, detailed ideas for teaching physical, earth, space, and life sciences, and tons of fun activities. Fun activities that should also make students think.

Teachers should find it perfect for them. Other readers might find it a tad boring but it has great reference lists if you want to find good science fiction novels or good books on science.