Sharathon Activity Pull Apart Novel

Sharathon Activity – Pull Apart Novel

Description: Pull apart a science fiction novel that is relevant to topics covered in your classroom by chapter or groups of chapters. Choose the size of the reading requirements based on your own classroom profile. Some classes may be better suited for large chunks of the novel and individual participants. While others may need small portions for each individual and co-operative groups for the written assignments. It’s an activity that is meant to be very flexible and not time consuming.

Some suggested books:

-Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

-Contact by Carl Sagan

-Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker

-Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling

-The Martian by Andy Weir

For a more extensive list of astronomy and physics related science fiction go to:

Part one:

S.9-10.L.2 determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text’s explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text

S.9-10.L.13 produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

S.9-10. L.14 develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

Choose a due date or due dates for each student or group of students to present summaries of their section of the book. Create a rubric to clarify the projects requirements. Students may be required to include a visual such as a comic book strip, diorama, poster, etc. Summaries should be oral and written. Require students to plan the construction of the presentation and summaries. They should have time to revise and edit their work. Students who are watching the presentations of others, may also be required to take notes on each section of the book.

Part two:

S.9-10.L.4 determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grade 9-10 texts and topics.

S.9-10.L.5 analyze the structure of the relationships among concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms.

S.9-10.L.6 analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, defining the question the author seeks to address.

S.9-10.L.9 compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.

Create questions for your novel:

How many standards covered in this assignment will be related to the content of the novel and the comprehension questions created by the teacher. Students may be asked to identify vocabulary, specific passages, and overall plot themes that connect to topics covered in class. They can also analyze the author’s reasoning for including scientific topics and explanations in the story. It is important that they determine misconceptions or “made-up” science that may be in their text. Comparing the fictional novel’s explanations to actual scientific texts can be useful as well.