Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Brain Juice: Science, Fresh Squeezed!

As a student who has a reading history haunted by poetry I was actually quite excited to find a poetry collection that made interdisciplinary connections.  Carrol Diggory Shields, the concoctor of this collection did an excellent job of making tough science subjects interesting and fun through the use of rhyme and rhythm.  Some poems actually include instructions to include live music while performing.  This collection can be used well in multiple facets from the science classroom to the music room.

The poems use technical scientific language, but are written cleverly and poetically, which allows for a lesson in science as well as poetry.  The collection covers multiple subject areas including Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, and the Life Sciences.  Due to the scientific nature of this book, it is most useful for upper level students.  However, poems can be read aloud to primary students.  For example, there is a poem titles Roy G. Biv, which covers the colors of the spectrum.  This poem would be a great to read aloud to kindergarten students. 

There are many uses to this poem collection.  There are also similar collections that teach English and American History.  These collections would make great use in any classroom.

"Red and orange and yellow.
Streaks of green and shades of blue
Indigo and violet, too."

3 comments:

  1. What a great sounding book! The title alone makes you curious as to what it is about.......you should use this book as one of your literature connections for science.I especially love the poem you included about the colors in the spectrum, what an inovative way to get students to remember this! Thanks Ben!!

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  2. How awesome!! A whole poetry book on the oozing, squeezing, and bubbling of science. That's sure to get a student's foot in the door who might not be big on reading but loves science. I'll have to check out the collections for other subjects as well.

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  3. I will have to check this out! I read a poetry book called Spectatular Science, but I wasn't very impressed with it. Thanks for the good recommendation!!

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