Students as Scientists Recommended Book List
Picture books that complement the Students as Scientists: Nature-Based Inquiry K-5th grade unit.
Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist
Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist gives students a chance to see the science process in action. Scampers is not an ordinary mouse and loves to ask questions, experiment, and discover answers! You can use this story throughout the curriculum as your own students go through the science process.
Ada is a second grader that questions everything around her. In Ada Twist, Scientist, she explores the outdoors and demonstrates the science process to answer questions about her observations. This text complements the unit by challenging students to think about what it means to be a scientist and to understand the science process.
Cece Loves Science tells the story of a curious girl who conducts an experiment to see if dogs eat vegetables. This book guides young scientists through Cece’s process of investigation, data collection, and analysis. This fun book provides a perfect example of the science process for students.
What Is a Scientist? uses simple language and colored photographs that show children completing the science process. It shows how young scientists can ask questions, make observations, take notes, conduct experiments, and more!
Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be AWESOME SCIENTISTS
Born Curious shares the biographies of 20 groundbreaking women in science dating back to 1842. Each scientist has their own profile with their research focuses, major achievements, quotes, and fun facts. This text emphasizes the diverse backgrounds of scientists and shows how these women overcame challenges like sexism, racism, illness, and disabilities. This book is perfect for inspiring students to stay curious.
What Do Scientists Do All Day?
What Do Scientists Do All Day? is an illustrated book that showcases over 100 scientists. This book allows young scientists to learn about the different jobs in science and the range of work.
Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions
Whoosh! tells the story of inventor Lonnie Johnson who created the Super Soaker, an accidental invention. This book shares the details of Lonnie Johnson’s career as an engineer and NASA employee.
A Boy and A Jaguar is a picture book about Alan Rabinowitz who stuttered as a child except when he spoke to animals. Alan found power communicating with animals and advocates for wildlife conservation. This book is perfect for young animal lovers, especially those with atypical language development.
The Looking Book is a fun, rhyming book that encourages young learners to look at the world around them! Challenge kids to see the wonders of the world and what the outdoors has to offer. This book promotes exploration which will get young kids excited about asking questions about the world!
Never Stop Wondering is an ode to science and asking questions! The book’s main message is to keep curiosity alive. This book will challenge students to be inquisitive which will help them in asking scientific questions and engaging in inquiry.
Notable Notebooks: Scientists and Their Writings
Notable Notebooks discusses how real life scientists from Galileo to Jane Goodall used science notebooks. The book also includes steps to help budding scientists create their own science notebooks.
Wonder Walkers tells the story of two kids whose curiosity sparks their imagination. They ask questions about the world around them just like many young learners!
I Wonder tells the story of Eve, who faces a range of mysteries about the world, such as gravity and life cycles. The book inspires curiosity and wonder, which can fuel young scientists!
Scientists Ask Questions is a great way to introduce young scientists to science questioning. The book features questions and hands-on experiments to do with kids!
The Museum of Everything is a picture book that inspires imagination, creativity, and curiosity. Encourage young learners to explore the world around them with this book.
I Use Science Tools teaches young learners about scientific instruments and how they can be used. This book makes learning fun and challenges young learners to use these tools.
The Great Graph Contest makes visualizing data simple and fun! Young learners can use this book to learn more about bar graphs, pie charts, Venn diagrams, and more!
Tally O’Malley is a combination of stories and illustrations to help teach math. The book contains activities to promote math comprehension in their own lives. Kids can use the new learned math concepts, such as tallying, to collect and interpret data.