Enhancing Understanding Through Science-Themed Picture Books

The visual storytelling within science-themed picture books can help bridge the gap between scientific concepts and students' understanding. The nonfiction picture books Grand Canyon by Jason Chin and Life Story by Virginia Lee Burton, and the fiction picture book There's a Hair in my Dirt! by Gary Larson, are all modeled with different teaching strategies of how to embed them into a unit to enhance students' understanding of geology and ecology. Examples include making a model inspired by the now-and-then text structure in a book, writing outline-style notes while reading a book, and having a discussion where students apply their scientific understanding to the events of a book. The approachable style and ability to convey information visually makes science-themed picture books an ideal learning tool for students of all ages.