A huge chunk of language development takes place before kids become confident readers. Even then, early readers don’t have the sufficient background knowledge to decipher the complex language, which makes shared storytelling extremely important.
The biggest gift you can give your child and your students is to share reading. Nothing can replace the gift of time, especially the gift of critical and complex thinking.
The benefits of storytelling are countless, from plot analysis to sequencing, cause, and effect, to critical thinking, and most important problem-solving. Through stories, children learn that obstacles can be both tangible and intangible, and problems can be solved in more than one good way and that there are also many not-so-good ways… There is no one right answer and learning multiple perspectives improves kids’ social and emotional skills. This results in better classroom management, improved impulse control, and improved school experience for everyone.
As kids relate to the characters in stories, they increase their capacity to understand themselves and the world around them better.
Storytelling builds skills across content areas. My personal favorite is science teaching storytelling. The end goal of infusing science into language instruction is not to grow the next robotics professional, far from that. There are many more interesting areas of science that students encounter all around wherever they live.
Favorite Science Picture Books Lesson Plans:
- “I’M A HARE SO THERE!” by Rowan-Zoch is perfect for teaching about animal classification, sorting, comparing, and contrasting
2. Worm Weather by Jean Taft – great for teaching about earthworms, their role in the ecosystem, soil quality, and food production
3. Knight Owl by Denise is the latest favorite children’s read, perfect for teaching about owls, their physical and behavioral adaptations, and their lifecycle.
4. Chase the Moon Tiny Turtle by Jordan Earth is ideal for teaching about sea turtle hatchlings, their environment, nesting grounds, shore predators, and adaptations.
5. Carl and the Meaning of Life by Freedman story combine the philosophical question of life’s purpose with the study of worms and their important role in soil quality and human food sources.
6. The Very Lonely Firefly is another all-time kids’ favorite. We use this story to put up a theatre play, learn about fireflies and build reading comprehension skills.
7. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is read across the country during Earth’s Day. This story not only teaches the importance of trees but the interconnectivity between nature, animals, and humans. Sharable any time of the year.
8. Papa, Get the Moon For Me is another beloved picture book by Eric Carle and is great for teaching moon phases and observational skills.
9. And the list can’t be complete without “The Giving Tree” by Silverstein. This story about giving and taking is ideal for teaching about unconditional love and responsible use of our natural resources.
Reading picture books with science content is an adventure that teaches plot development, reflection, retelling, sequencing, background knowledge, analysis, and numerous other skills that translate into strong writing, comprehension, social, and problem solving skills.
Keep Reading!
Mrs. Lena, M.Ed.
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