Science

Science is a content area that deals with things in nature, environment, and much more. According to the Iowa Common Core the subjects included in science are earth and space, life science, physical science, and science as inquiry. One criterion that is important when choosing science texts for the classroom is that they are accessible and accurate. Science is constantly changing so we want to make sure that we are providing texts that have accurate information. Another thing I look for when choosing texts are the text features. Some science concepts can be confusing, so I would want to make sure that the text features are adding to the text and helping with the comprehension of the concept. A table of contents, glossary and index would also be beneficial in these texts so that students can easily access the information that they are looking for. We can use these books in our classrooms to get away from the textbook to help engage our students in what they are learning. For science I chose books that would provide students with background knowledge of a concept that they would need prior to diving too far into a unit.

I See Myself

Cobb, V., & Gorton, J. (2002). I see myself. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

This book has a lexile level of AD500L.  It would be at the third grade independent reading level and it could be used between first and third grade for interest reading. The theme of this book is reflections. Students can learn how and when they see their reflection. This book connects to a lot of things in a student’s everyday life. They are always seeing reflections of themselves, but now they will understand how that works. The text in this book goes in all different shapes. This makes the text interesting to look at. The text also engages the reader by posing questions to the reader and getting them involved. The pictures in the book are very character like, but are helpful for comprehension of the text. The text is large so it is easy for students to read. Students may struggle with some of the vocabulary in this text. The text includes some science terms that students may not know. Other than that, students would need little help understanding the text.

Erosion

Winner, C. (1999). Erosion. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.

This book has a lexile level of 860L. It would be a seventh grade independent reading level and it could be used between fifth and eighth for interest reading. The theme of this book is erosion. Students can learn about the forces of erosion as caused by glaciers, water, and wind. They can learn how they affect the earth’s surface, and how their destructive effects can be prevented. This book makes a connection to the students lives when it talks about how we can prevent erosion. Since this book is for an upper level, some students may struggle with the vocabulary of the book. It is advanced science vocabulary. The book does offer a glossary for students to look up some of the words. Other than vocabulary, students would need little help in understanding the text.