Science Verse

Science Verse

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Copyright 2004

Penguin Group

Scientific - Biological - Organic - Poetic - Fascinating 

Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Reading Level

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.8

Lexile Measure: N/A

DRA: 40

Guided Reading: Q

Genre: Comedy, Humor, Poetry and Rhymes

Delivery: Whole Group

Summary:

The story of a boy who was cursed to listen to the poetry of science in everything.

Electronic Resources:

Youtube: Crash Course Kids (multiple videos on concentrations of science.)

Vocabulary:

1. Evaporation: water that is absorbed into the air.

2. Fructose: sugar.

3. Hypothesis: assumption/theory to be tested.

4. Nucleus: the central part of a living cell.

5. Amoeba: a single celled organism.

6. Metamorphosis: a change of physical form.

ELA Teaching Suggestions

Comprehension

Before Reading:

-Inform students that you are going to be reading a book about the different areas of science.

-Have students brainstorm that different concentrations of science and write their ideas on the board.

Ex.

1.    Space

2.    Biology

3.    Matter

4.    Skeletal/Body System

5.    Bugs

6.    Food Chain

7.    Dinosaurs

8.    Evolution

9.    The Water Cycle

During:

-While reading, if a section that a student has said comes up go through and identify words/processes that they do not know or are having difficulty comprehending. ->Write words on the board under the sections.

After Reading:

-After finishing the book assign a small group of students a section and have them research the topic.

Ex.

Group A: Johnny, Amy, Ally, Trevor and Jenna are assigned “Dinosaurs” and they must look up and identify: Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus, Carnivores. How the dinosaurs were whipped out, the different periods.

-Then after researching student groups will present to rest of class their findings.

-Each group must have a small handout that they create in word that will be printed out so each student in the class will have a scientific resource.

Writing Activity:

-Students will create their own "science verse" on one of the subjects within the book. 
Poem Guidelines 
-Poem must be at least 5 lines long. 
-Must contain content from the particular subject you are focusing on. 
Ex. (Personal) 
Rain drops, Rain drops fall on my head. 
That's a part of the water cycle Amy said. 
How does it go? I wondered so...
Oh dear Billy, you don't know?
It goes: Precipitation, 
Evaporation
Transpiration, 
Condensation 
and then we start again.