7 STEM Books to Use With Novel Effect

 7 STEM Books to Use With Novel Effect

I remember coming home from a conference a year or so ago and introducing my young sons to this “new app”, Novel Effect.  We added the app to my phone and looked for a story to try. They immediately picked Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, a childhood favorite. The boys loved hearing the beachy vibe and the waves in the background. They were amazed at the sounds of the coconuts and the effects when the alphabet letters climbed up and eventually falling down from the tree.

The app truly enhanced our reading experience at home, prompting me to share it with the students in the schools that I serve. With my passion for STEM education, I especially love the books in the STEAM category within the Novel Effect app.

This post will share seven of my favorite read aloud selections that can be used with the app. In addition, I share some possible “after reading” activities that extend student thinking and give learners the chance to engage in hands-on learning connected to great literature. 

 Mae Among the Stars by Rosa Ahmed

This is an inspirational story of an amazing woman in STEM. Mae Jemison dreamed about being an astronaut. Her teacher tried to deter her from pursuing this dream, but Mae didn’t give up. With great determination, Mae continues to work towards achieving her dream. She gets support from her parents, pushing her to reach her dream of seeing Earth from space.

After reading:

●       Design and construct their own spacecraft including movement, lights, or sounds

●       Build a model of outer space using recyclables

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca

When Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become a well-respected voice in science. She was a determined visual thinker transforming her ideas into inventions. Temple felt in tune with animals, helping her invent improvements for farms around the globe. Her unique perspective and innovative thinking are shared in this story.

After reading:

●       Brainstorm ways you might help different kinds of animals

●       Prototype an invention from an idea that you came up with

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

This is a story of a girl and the important lesson that she learns from her grandmother. Students will reflect on the importance of water in their lives. The Ojibwe people tell the story of a black snake that will one day destroy their land and poison their water. The girl discovers that this “black snake” has already come in the form of an oil pipeline through their land. She takes action to protect their water supply.  Becoming a water protector means doing whatever it takes for the sake of the environment and the people, plants, and animals of the Earth.

After reading:

●       Create a digital poster telling about the importance of water

●       Build a model showing a important source of water where you live

The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield

As a child Chris loved rockets and pretending he was a brave astronaut. He didn’t feel so brave though, because was afraid of the dark. After watching the moon landing on TV, he knew that he had to become an astronaut one day. Chris goes on to be the first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in outer space. He flew in two Space Shuttle missions and also served as commander of the International Space Station.

After reading:

●       Construct a rocket and a mechanism to launch it

●       Design an invention to help kids who are afraid of the dark

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk

Pearl and her robot want to build a sandcastle before summer vacation is over. They decide to do it using code. Breaking the problem into smaller steps, Pearl uses conditionals and loops to tell Pascal what to do. They find that building a sandcastle isn’t as easy as it sounds when lots of things get in their way.

After reading:

●       Build a robot that can move through a maze (or use your favorite robot like ozobots or Dot and Dash)

●       Try some unplugged coding activities

Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers

This book is meant to serve as a guide to life on Earth. The author created it for his son as a lesson for how we should take care of our world. Whether on land, in the oceans, or in outer space, it is our responsibility to care for the plants and animals that live here. With a focus on kindness, this is a great book for kids of all ages.

After reading:

●       Encourage your students to take action. Make a short video to tell others about taking care of the Earth.

●       Design a new planet. What would it look like? What special features would it have?

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. The unique illustrations of both under water and sky will interest young learners. With minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing, we can see different creatures who make up this rich ecosystem. 

After reading:

●       Research and create a model of a different type of ecosystem

●       Design divided illustrations (like in the book) where you can see over/under or inside/outside of different things 

From coding to space travel to sustainability and the environment, there are so many great STEM topics to share. Novel Effect has a library of books that keeps on growing! They have books connected to all subject areas and many different themes, perfect for the elementary classroom. 

Pairing great books with STEM activities is a part of what I call “remaking” our literacy practices. This approach offers hands-on strategies to connect with children’s literature, helping students to engage more in reading, writing, and vocabulary, but also activating their creative thinking. For more ideas like these, check out the book Remaking Literacy: Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning.