Giving students opportunities to read like scientists has the potential to move their thinking and understanding of scientific concepts in monumental ways. Each chapter presented in this volume provides readers with approaches and activities for pairing a young adult novel with specific science concepts. Chapters include instructional activities for before, during, and after reading as well as extension activities that move beyond the text. Through the reading and study of the spotlighted young adult novels in this volume, students are guided to a deeper understanding of science while increasing their literacy practices.
INTRODUCTION
Paula Greathouse, Melanie Hundley and Stephanie Wendt
CHAPTER 1: Thirsty for Science: Exploring Water Systems, Water Conservation,
and Drought through Dry
Michael DiCicco and Chris Cook
CHAPTER 2: Climate Change is A Hot Mess: The Human Impact on Earth Systems
Shelly Shaffer and Kathryn Baldwin
CHAPTER 3: Countering Plant Apathy: Using Kenneth Bloom as a Motivating
Tool for Teaching Plant Science to Students
Katharine Covino and Erin Rehrig
CHAPTER 4: Making Botany Magical: Teaching about Plants with This Poison
Heart
Julie Baker, Shawn Krosnick and Kelly Moore
CHAPTER 5: Exploring Nature and the Nature of Scientific Inquiry: Reading The
Evolution of
Calpurnia Tate
Amy Palmeri, Emily Pendergrass and Heather Johnson
CHAPTER 6: Past and Future Plagues as Windows into the Present: Reading A
Death-Struck Year to Teach About Diseases and Immunity
David Nurenberg and Ben Lawhorn
CHAPTER 7: Reading Ringside, 1925: Text Support for Teaching Evolution
Frances Hamilton and Dana Skelley
CHAPTER 8: Studying Genetics and Ethics through Young Adult Literature: How
The Gardener Can Harvest Student Engagement in Biology
Janine J. Darragh, Ashley S. Boyd and Kristina L. Podelnyk
CHAPTER 9: Hungry for More: Exploring, Experimenting, and Engineering with
The Hunger Games
Leslie Suters and Kristen Pennycuff Trent
ABOUT THE EDITORS
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
Paula Greathouse, Ph.D., is an associate professor of secondary English Education at Tennessee Tech where she teaches English methods and literacy courses. She was a secondary English and Reading teacher for sixteen years.
Melanie Hundley, Ph. D., is Professor in the Practice of English Education at Vanderbilt
University where she teaches digital and multimodal composition, young adult literature, and
literacy courses. She was a secondary English teacher for many years.
Stephanie Wendt, Ed.D., is an associate professor of Teacher Education at Tennessee Tech where she teaches science methods to preservice teachers. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Science Teachers Association and is an active member of the National Science Teaching Association.