Literature and Science Breakthroughs: Connecting Language and Science Skills in the Elementary Classroom

Dave Hutchinson is assistant superintendent of the School District of
Mystery Lake in Thompson, Manitoba.

Across Canada, provincial curricula have undergone significant reform.
Of particular note is the trend toward collaborative planning with
students, student inquiry-based methodology, and interdisciplinary
instruction. More specifically, early-years language-arts curricula have
tended to centre pedagogically on the integrated (holistic) development
of reading, writing, speaking, and listening and include a significant
response to literature focus. Intended as a planning support for
elementary educators, this book underscores all of the above.
“Children,” writes Jo-Anne Lake, “engage in and learn best when
activities and literature are matched to their stage of development.
Teachers using children’s literature as an approach to teaching
science are comfortable in knowing that they can teach science
effectively without a rigorous scientific background. In making the
transition from science textbook to children’s literature, the
selection of the best science books is critical.”

Using a set of universal science strands (Life Systems, Matter and
Materials, Energy and Control, Structures and Mechanics, and Earth and
Space Systems) as a foundation, Lake builds a solid theoretical
rationale for integrating children’s literature into the early-years
science classroom. More importantly, she offers a host of practical
strategies for teaching literacy through science—and vice versa. The
book includes planning webs, sample lessons and units, bibliographies of
relevant resources, and recommended assessment/evaluation techniques.

This is an excellent resource for elementary educators, student
teachers, and teacher educators interested in implementing meaningful
interdisciplinary curricula intended to support both the development of
critical core science competencies and a balanced, holistic approach to
language development.