Science Teacher looking for help on Sci-Fi class

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Literature Teachers Chatboard

Science Teacher looking for help on Sci-Fi class

by DRR

Jul 27, 2010

Good morning all,

I am an 8th grade teacher and my school has added "academic enrichment" courses for all teachers. I will be teaching a class on science fiction. I am a huge sci-fi fan and am excited about the class, but I have a lot to figure out. So, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for my situations...

What are some good books for this age? The first thing that came to mind is Ender's Game, plus maybe some Ray Bradbury or Asomov. Any one have any suggestions for books that would be good for this age?

My other big issue is obtaining books. My school has very little funds (like most schools) and not a lot to start with for me. As I think about this, I would like to have students cover at least three novels over the course (plus various short stories, movies, tv episodes, etc.). What would be ideal for me would be to start with everyone reading the same novel, then have everyone read a different novel from the same author, and then have every...See More

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MC Bradbury, Asimov, Card, all excellent authors, so my compliments to your good taste! However, my first thought on reading your question was the classic "A Wrinkle In Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Second thought, "The Ear, The Eye, And The Arm" by Nancy Farmer. Third, a great new book I read recently, "The True Meaning Of Smek Day" by Adam Rex. And th...See MoreBradbury, Asimov, Card, all excellent authors, so my compliments to your good taste! However, my first thought on reading your question was the classic "A Wrinkle In Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Second thought, "The Ear, The Eye, And The Arm" by Nancy Farmer. Third, a great new book I read recently, "The True Meaning Of Smek Day" by Adam Rex. And there are so many more! Don't forget to use that fantastic free resource, the public library. A children's librarian should be able to help you discover great science fiction books appropriate for use in public schools. Also, while I am not familiar with your local demographic, your children's librarian will be! Sometimes the public library can also help you with gathering enough books for a class, so ask! Please, please, encourage your students to obtain library cards and use them!

Something you might consider would be reading the first book aloud. There are many great reasons for doing so, all contained in a classic book all teachers and parents should read, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease. Yeah, you can check it out at your public library! The second half of the book has all kinds of resources for you, plus the author has a great website and you could e-mail him with your questions.

I hope you fully appreciate the wonderful opportunity you have been given to introduce young people to the infinite worlds of possibility contained in books! This is a great chance to make a real difference in the lives of your students. Kids who read for pleasure exercise their imagination muscles and increase their ability to think critically. Scientists must be able to think clearly and critically, but they must also be able to make the leap to new ideas and discoveries by being able to imagine the possibilities! Oh, yeah, it's very possible that you are going to have a lot of fun with this! Best Wishes! MC

On 7/27/10, DRR wrote: > Good morning all, > > I am an 8th grade teacher and my school has added "academic > enrichment" courses for all teachers. I will be teaching a > class on science fiction. I am a huge sci-fi fan and am > excited about the class, but I have a lot to figure out. > So, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for my > situations... > > What are some good books for this age? The first thing that > came to mind is Ender's Game, plus maybe some Ray Bradbury > or Asomov. Any one have any suggestions for books that > would be good for this age? > > My other big issue is obtaining books. My school has very > little funds (like most schools) and not a lot to start > with for me. As I think about this, I would like to have > students cover at least three novels over the course (plus > various short stories, movies, tv episodes, etc.). What > would be ideal for me would be to start with everyone > reading the same novel, then have everyone read a different > novel from the same author, and then have everyone read a > different novel from different authors. Do you have a > source for obtaining class sets of novels that is not too > expensive? In terms of building up a library for students, > there are some local used book stores that have $1.00 used > paperback books, but I couldn't realistically read all of > them before giving them to students and I would be worried > that I would give out something that has some inappropriate > content. Any ideas on how to obtain a decent supply of > age-appropriate books? > > Any other thoughts/suggestions? > > Thanks!

Aug 2, 2010

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Teri I'd consider "The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm" more fantasy than science fiction. Don't forget the classic War of the Worlds.

Best place to find the classics cheap is dover publications dot com. Titles range from $1.00 up.

On 8/02/10, MC wrote: > Bradbury, Asimov, Card, all excellent authors, so my > compliments to your good ...See MoreI'd consider "The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm" more fantasy than science fiction. Don't forget the classic War of the Worlds.

Best place to find the classics cheap is dover publications dot com. Titles range from $1.00 up.

On 8/02/10, MC wrote: > Bradbury, Asimov, Card, all excellent authors, so my > compliments to your good taste! However, my first thought on > reading your question was the classic "A Wrinkle In Time" by > Madeleine L'Engle. Second thought, "The Ear, The Eye, And > The Arm" by Nancy Farmer. Third, a great new book I read > recently, "The True Meaning Of Smek Day" by Adam Rex. And > there are so many more! Don't forget to use that fantastic > free resource, the public library. A children's librarian > should be able to help you discover great science fiction > books appropriate for use in public schools. Also, while I > am not familiar with your local demographic, your children's > librarian will be! Sometimes the public library can also help > you with gathering enough books for a class, so ask! Please, > please, encourage your students to obtain library cards and > use them! > > Something you might consider would be reading the first book > aloud. There are many great reasons for doing so, all > contained in a classic book all teachers and parents should > read, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease. Yeah, you > can check it out at your public library! The second half of > the book has all kinds of resources for you, plus the author > has a great website and you could e-mail him with your > questions. > > I hope you fully appreciate the wonderful opportunity you have > been given to introduce young people to the infinite worlds > of possibility contained in books! This is a great chance to > make a real difference in the lives of your students. Kids > who read for pleasure exercise their imagination muscles and > increase their ability to think critically. Scientists must > be able to think clearly and critically, but they must also > be able to make the leap to new ideas and discoveries by being > able to imagine the possibilities! Oh, yeah, it's very > possible that you are going to have a lot of fun with this! > Best Wishes! MC > > On 7/27/10, DRR wrote: >> Good morning all, >> >> I am an 8th grade teacher and my school has added "academic >> enrichment" courses for all teachers. I will be teaching a >> class on science fiction. I am a huge sci-fi fan and am >> excited about the class, but I have a lot to figure out. >> So, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for my >> situations... >> >> What are some good books for this age? The first thing that >> came to mind is Ender's Game, plus maybe some Ray Bradbury >> or Asomov. Any one have any suggestions for books that >> would be good for this age? >> >> My other big issue is obtaining books. My school has very >> little funds (like most schools) and not a lot to start >> with for me. As I think about this, I would like to have >> students cover at least three novels over the course (plus >> various short stories, movies, tv episodes, etc.). What >> would be ideal for me would be to start with everyone >> reading the same novel, then have everyone read a different >> novel from the same author, and then have everyone read a >> different novel from different authors. Do you have a >> source for obtaining class sets of novels that is not too >> expensive? In terms of building up a library for students, >> there are some local used book stores that have $1.00 used >> paperback books, but I couldn't realistically read all of >> them before giving them to students and I would be worried >> that I would give out something that has some inappropriate >> content. Any ideas on how to obtain a decent supply of >> age-appropriate books? >> >> Any other thoughts/suggestions? >> >> Thanks!

Aug 2, 2010

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