1. By Iryna Stephenson
INTEGRATING LITERACY INTO
CONTENT AREAS: USING FICTION
BOOKS TO TEACH SCIENCE

2. Why focuson reading in ascienceclassand
viseversa?
 The CCR Anchor Standards in Reading
 Integration of science and reading curriculums will:
- allow students to strengthen skills that they obtain in
one content area, and then practice in another.
- introduce students to fictional science/encourage them
to read
- give science concepts real life application/prove that
ideas can be brought to life through science
- help students become critical thinkers and succeed in
today’s society and their further education.
- help students enrich their academic vocabulary

3. The CCR Anchor Standards in Reading
Key Ideas and Details
 R.CCR.1: Read closely to determine what the text says
explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific
textual evidence when writing or speaking to support
conclusions drawn from the text.
 R.CCR.2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and
analyze their development; summarize the key
supporting details and ideas.
 R.CCR.3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and
ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

4. The CCR Anchor Standards in Reading
Craft and Structure
 R.CCR.4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used
in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative
meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or
tone.
 R.CCR.5: Analyze the structure of texts, including how
specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a
section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
 R.CCR.6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the
content and style of a text.

5. The CCR Anchor Standards in Reading
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
 R.CCR.7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in
diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively,
as well as in words.
 R.CCR.8: Delineate and evaluate the argument and
specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as
well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
 R.CCR.9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar
themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the
approaches the authors take.

6. The CCR Anchor Standards in Reading
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
 R.CCR.10: Read and comprehend complex literary
and informational texts independently and proficiently.

7. Integratedcurriculumallowsstudentstostrengthentheir
skills bypracticing them in morethanoneclass.
- “My notebook progressed nicely, each page filled with many Questions, an
occasional Answer, and clumsy illustrations of various plants and animals.”
Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly, p. 63
Aligns with 6th, 7th grade science and language arts curriculum (prewrite, draft)
- “If the light really did go green,” Alex continued, “or even yellowish, then the
blackout cloud is designed to block blue and red spectrum, which are the ones
that allow for plant life. The solar panels will take any spectrum. So if only
yellow gets through, that’s okay. They can still run.”
“Monument 14” by Emmy Laybourne, p. 75
Aligns with 8th grade science curriculum, introduces concepts of photosynthesis,
solar technology, light spectrum, contains academic vocabulary.

8. Integratedcurriculumallowsstudentstostrengthentheir
skills bypracticing them in morethanoneclass.
You’ve basically two layers of skin.
The outer layer is very thin.
The epidermis is its name,
Your largest organ, so they claim.
The surface of this layer is dead.
And though you cannot see it shed,
It does, while brand-new cells are fed
From just beneath your skin.
Poem “Skin” from the book “The Blood-Hungry Spleen” by Allan Wolf
Aligns with Reading and 7th grade Science curriculums

9. Integrated curriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A fascinating post-apocalyptic,
sci-fi non-fiction novel about a group
of children surviving one of the
biggest disasters in the history
of mankind.
Appropriate for high school students
Both boys and girls
Contains scenes of violence, use of
alcohol, sex

10. Integratedcurriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A highly educational non-fiction novel about a
young girl discovering her own personality
through studying science and observing the
nature around her.
Elementary, middle school, high school
students
Girls are targeted the most
School-appropriate, no concerns

11. Integratedcurriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A collection of poems related to science. Some
of the topics covered in the book: body parts,
muscular, excretory, reproduction, circulatory
systems, etc
The book will be appealing to both boys and
girls of elementary-middle school age.
No concerns

12. Integrated curriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
An exciting graphic novel about Leonid’s adventures on his journey to the
center of the earth.
Even though the main character is a boy, girls will enjoy reading this book
too.
No concerns; the book offers a large selection of academic vocabulary
terms, introduces multiple science concepts.

13. Integratedcurriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A collection of poems about inventors: Johann
Gutenberg, Elijah McCoy, Ts’ai Lun, etc.
Appropriate for both boys and girls
Upper elementary /Middle school/High School
No concerns

14. Integrated curriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A biographic graphic novel about a great
scientist, a Nobel Prize Winner Richard
Feynman.
Appropriate for high school boys and girls
No concerns

15. Integratedcurriculum introducesstudentsto
fictional scienceand encourages them to read.
A thrilling mystery science non-fiction story
about a young science who dedicates most of
his time to genetic engineering research. He is
very excited about his first job, and specially an
opportunity to work for an outstanding
scientist ….. Until he discovers a secret.
Will be interesting to high school boys and
girls

16. Integrated Curriculum Adds Elementof Reality
tothe Content, Creates OpportunitiesforHands-
on Activities
- Video: “Top 10 Sci-Fi facts: Ideas that came true”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPyCsADAZoI
- School of Change: Sci-Fi musical
http://jennetthomas.wordpress.com/
- Building a Space Ship: source of power
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/sci-fi-
science/videos/season-1.htm
- A Super Hero Suite/Become a Superhero
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/sci-fi-
science/videos/season-1.htm
- What Can We Learn from the Sci-Fi classroom?
http://www.suburbanlion.com/?p=560

17. Integrated Curriculum Helps Studentsto
Become Critical Thinkersand Leads to Success
- “Science Fiction and Scientific Literacy” by Julie E
Czerneda
http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-
07/tst0602_38.pdf
- “Why Scientists Should Read Science-Fiction” by
Hannah Waters
http://www.geekosystem.com/why-scientists-
should-read-science-fiction/
- Encouraging Literacy Through Speculative Fiction
http://www.readingforfuture.com/

18. IntegratedCurriculumEncouragesStudentstoEnrichTheirAcademicVocabulary
“Leo-GeoandhisMiraculousJourneyThroughtheCenterof theEarth”
byJonChad
WORD PAGE MEANING SENTENCE NATIVE
LANGUAGE
Comprised 5 To consist of; be
made up of
The mantle consists of both
liquid and solid rock…….
Состоять из
Metamorphic 6 Rock
transformed by
heat or pressure
I am seeing all sorts of rocks
transformed by heat or
pressure…..
Метаморфический
Earth’s crust 6 The outer layer
of the Earth
The outer layer of the Earth is
very old.
Земная кора
Harness 9 Gain control
over
Some countries like New
Zealand and Iceland gain
control over the awesome
power of lava…….
Контролировать,
использовать
Deter 14 Stop, prevent
from happening
Nothing can stop my
progress.
Предотвратить,
остановить

19. Easy Strategies forTeachers to use:
1) Prediction
2) Work with new vocabulary
3) Questioning
4) Summarization
5) Activating background knowledge
6) Previewing and skimming
7) Visualization
8) Use of graphic tools
9) Idea generation/prewriting/note taking
10) Organization

20. Scoop.it!
http://www.scoop.it/t/using-fiction-books-
in-the-science-classroom

21. Free Audio Books
1) http://podiobooks.com/
2) http://www.openculture.com/ (free
movies/courses/language lessons/YA books)
3) http://librivox.org/
4) http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/ (does not
allow to download/books in foreign languages)
5) http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/ (some
books are free)

22. Access this PowerPoint Presentation Online
Login Info:
http://www.slideshare.net/
User name: irynastephenson@yahoo.com
Password: YAliterature2013

23. References
1) “Teaching the core. A non-freaked out approach to the CCSS”
http://www.teachingthecore.com/ccr-anchor-standards-in-reading/
2) “How does using an integrated curriculum promote critical thinking and engagement in
middle school student learning?” A MA research project by Meghan Kaskey-Roush
http://www.cehs.ohio.edu/resources/documents/roush.pdf
3) “What is integrated curriculum?” by Susan M. Drake and Rebecca C. Burns
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/103011/chapters/what-is-integrated-
curriculum%C2%A2.aspx
4) “Why integrate?: A case for collating the curriculum” by Elena Aguilar
http://www.edutopia.org/integrated-authentic
5) Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly
6) “Monument 14” by Emmy Laybourne
7) “The Blood-Hungry Spleen” by Allan Wolf
8) “Double Helix” by Nancy Werlin
9)”Eureka! Poems About Inventors” by Joyce Sidman
10) “Leo-Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth” by Jon Chad

24. References
11) Suburban Lion’s Blog
http://www.suburbanlion.com/?p=560
12) Video: “Top 10 Sci-Fi facts: Ideas that came true”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPyCsADAZoI
13) School of Change: Sci-Fi musical
http://jennetthomas.wordpress.com/
14) Building a Space Ship: source of power
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/sci-fi-science/videos/season-1.htm
15) A Super Hero Suite
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/sci-fi-science/videos/season-1.htm
16) “Science Fiction and Scientific Literacy” by Julie E Czerneda
http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-07/tst0602_38.pdf
17) “Why Scientists Should Read Science-Fiction” by Hannah Waters
http://www.geekosystem.com/why-scientists-should-read-science-fiction/
18) Encouraging Literacy Through Speculative Fiction
http://www.readingforfuture.com/
19) http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/miller/miller023.shtml
20) http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol8/806-video.aspx