Exploring Science through Young Adult Literature

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.

Exploring Science through Young Adult Literature is a unique collection of possibilities for promoting scientific literacy in the classroom by incorporating a variety of contemporary young adult (YA) literature. Through a variety of examples and instructional activities, the authors provide much-needed support to science teachers who are unfamiliar with YA literature and how to use it within their science instruction. This book also serves as an invaluable reminder of the importance of relating scientific concepts to adolescent learners and their world., In an age where social media conspiracy theories and alternate facts threaten the understanding of the most basic scientific knowledge, Greathouse, Hundley, and Wendt's collection provides both English language arts and science teachers with concrete pedagogy to counteract the rising wave of disinformation in society. With an impressive array of chapters that pair popular young adult titles with topics such as extreme weather, botany, plagues, and evolution, Exploring Science through Young Adult Literature is an indispensable resource for teachers interested in going beyond textbooks and engaging students with exciting instruction that shows why science matters.

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.