Teaching Science Fact With Science Fiction

by Raham, Gary

• ISBN13: 9781563089398
• ISBN10: 1563089394
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-17
• Publisher: Teacher Ideas Pr

Summary

The literature of science fiction packs up the facts and discoveries of science and runs off to futures filled with both wonders and warnings. Kids love to take the journeys it offers for the thrill of the ride, but they can learn as they travel, too. This book will provide you with: an overview of the past 500 years of scientific thought and the literature of science fiction which it inspired; suggestions for finding and adapting the kind of science fiction that will work best for your classroom; detailed ideas and resources for teaching concepts in the physical, earth, space, and life sciences, as well in history and mathematics; and suggested activities for a variety of grade levels. Appendices provide: science references to help you keep the facts and the fictions straight; national science content standards; and detailed lesson plans for an earth science unit where students travel the depths of time and create their own time travelers' diaries.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	xiii
Using Fiction to Turn Kids On to Science	1	(8)
Telling a Good Story	3	(1)
Trying Out Alternate Futures	3	(1)
Inspiration to Create the Future You Want	4	(1)
Generating Those Science-Based Epiphanies	5	(1)
Is Science Fiction ``Heathen'' Literature?	6	(3)
The Origins of Science and Science Fiction: Serendipity and Genius	9	(10)
Greek Rationalism	10	(1)
Copernicus and a New Set of Standards	10	(2)
Newton's Grand Synthesis	12	(2)
Applying Reason: A New World View	14	(5)
1850--1950: A Century of Mystery, Awe, and Power	19	(12)
Darwin's Grand Synthesis and Deep Time	19	(4)
An Expanding Universe and Distorted Space-Time	23	(1)
Science, Technology, and Human Affairs	24	(7)
1950--2000: A Half-Century of Space Travel, Computers, and Biorevolutions	31	(16)
Exploring the Boundless Frontier	32	(3)
Creating the Interactive Machine	35	(1)
The Secrets of Life	36	(2)
The Humanizing of Science Fiction	38	(2)
Media Science Fiction and Pop Culture	40	(7)
What Kind of Science Fiction Is Right for You?	47	(10)
A Classic Radio Broadcast: War of the Worlds	47	(1)
The Television Generation	48	(2)
Cinema Science Fiction	50	(3)
Literary SF in the Short Form	53	(1)
Science Fiction on the Web	54	(3)
SF Resources and Lesson Plans: The Physical Sciences	57	(12)
The Newtonian Universe	57	(4)
Black Holes, Quantum Uncertainties, and Distorted Space-Time	61	(3)
Additional Resources	64	(5)
SF Resources and Lesson Plans: Earth and Space Sciences	69	(12)
Earth, Life, and Deep Time	69	(5)
Short Fiction Set in Deep Time	74	(1)
Aliens in Deep Space and Planet-Building	75	(6)
SF Resources and Lesson Plans: The Life Sciences	81	(12)
Of Spice and Sandworms	81	(3)
Artificial Life on Trial	84	(3)
In Search of ET	87	(6)
SF Resources across Space-Time and the Curriculum	93	(12)
Alternate History/Parallel Worlds and Time Travel	93	(3)
History as a Template for the Future	96	(2)
SF and Mathematics	98	(7)
Appendix 1: Resources for Keeping the Facts and the Fiction Straight	105	(9)
Guidebooks from Media-Savvy Scientists	105	(1)
Raiding Writers' Resources	106	(1)
Popular Science Books	107	(4)
A Sampling of Science Resources for Younger Students and/or Reluctant Readers	111	(1)
Expert Resources	112	(2)
Appendix 2: Categories of National Science Content Standards	114	(1)
Appendix 3: List of Activities and Suggested Grade Levels	115	(2)
Appendix 4: Curriculum Developed around The Deep Time Diaries, Written and Illustrated by the Author	117	(12)
``Yikes! Where Do I Start?''	127	(2)
Index	129	(12)
About the Author	141