Using Children's Trade Books To Teach Science: Boon or Boondoggle?.

Because of the increased influence of the whole language approach at the elementary and middle school levels and the increased emphasis on enriching instruction through reading across the curriculum, one alternative approach to teaching science v.i.ich has received some attention from science and science education organizations is the use of children's literature, both fiction and non-fiction. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of children's literature, specifically fantasy, realistic fiction, and informational science trade books in the development of children's ideas in science. The initial sample included over 300 children's trade books for grades K-4 used in classes in children's literature. Content analysis techniques were adapted for use in identifying descriptive information to explore the science concepts presented in these samples of children's literature and to identify the presence of common misconceptions which might contribute to the development or perpetuation of such ideas. It was concluded that both correct and incorrect science concepts are communicated both explicitly or implicitly in each of the three categories: science trade books, fantasy, and realistic fiction and common misconceptions or alternate conceptions are found in each of the three categories. Contains 18 references. (JRH) ********************************************************************* Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Using Children's Trade Books to Teach Science: Boon or Boondoggle? HMISSION 10 RI'PPOPLICE IASSEMINATI: THIS MAT F. HIAL I iAS C.;RAN TED Ili rl,l1CA11()P.IAt ( F(111 II ,111'(' Diana C. Rice