I teach 6,7,and 8th grade Science. I love books and really want to include some novels into the curriculum or even just as something I have the kids do.
The lang. arts teacher reads The Giver and A Wrinkle In Time with them, so I need some more ideas. Anyone use anything good that I could use?
How about Flowers for Algernon? I absolutely love that book. I haven't used it as a teaching unit, but I think it would be great. Probably better for 8th grade since there's some questionable material in it and it deals with moral issues and medical research & experiments, etc. I think there's also a movie version of it made called Charlie, after the main character. There was even something in the news recently about a surgical procedure that was performed that reversed mental deficiencies somehow, which is similar to the story line of Flowers for Algernon.
I agree with Flowers for Algernon. When I taught middle school my kids absolutely LOVED it (and the movie, Charlie), and there are a lot of science issues you can explore with it. You could really get into the whole genetics/birth defects stuff and even stem cell research.
My daughter, who hates reading, liked the Replica books about computerized kids. They are short and very easy to read. There's about 20 or so in the series.
Flatland by Edwin Abbot - This is more for math teachers, maybe, but it's a fantastic book. It tells the story of A Square and how he learns about the third dimension. It's short, its funny and it educates. Highly recommended.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Most people think of censorship issues when they think of this book, but it also deals with issues relating to the impact of technology on our lives.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly - A bit much for 6th or 7th grade perhaps, but a great exploration of the ethics of science.
October Sky by Homer Hickam - I personally haven't read it, but it's a title you might consider.
In my district, Fahrenheit, is taught at the high school as one of the core novels. As a matter of fact, Ray Bradbury is usually featured in most freshman and/or sophomore level textbooks. If you want to teach it, you might want to make sure they don't teach it, too. High school teachers can get mighty upset when middle school teachers use the same novels. I'm not always sure *why*, but I know it can cause some problems.
I read a book a couple of years ago that I absolutely loved--Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam. It's like The Island of Dr Moreau for teens. I had my school buy it, and the kids loved it, too. I even had a couple old students come back and ask if we read it this year because they liked it so much.
October Sky (also known as Rocket Boys) is taught in our school. Kids really get turned on by it as much as Harry Potter! They carry it everywhere they go. The author has a website with lots of help such as lesson plans. Google Homer Hickam for his site and look for the students and educators buttons.
