Ever since Katie King and I released our Storybook STEM Units for K-2 last December, upper grade teachers in third, fourth, and fifth grade have been begging us for a similar version with novel studies.  Well, we’ve been working our tails off for the past few months, and both happen share a love of all things young adult literature.  In fact, I tend to read far more YA novels than actual adult novels!  Katie also has two kiddos in upper elementary and loves to enjoy novels right alongside them.  Our goal was to create comprehensive language arts units that would work with the novels as read alouds, in small group guided reading, or with students’ individual copies, complete with STEM Challenges and a matching digital component.  We’ve been researching both classic and modern novels for the past several months, including favorites from our childhood, and getting lots of input and suggestions for content from upper grade teacher friends.

Take a look at our incredible final selections:

Introducing Storybook STEM Novels for Grades 3-5

We are so proud to introduce our Storybook STEM Novel series for Grades 3-5, with three favorite units already released for Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. Also part of a 10 Novel Growing Bundle, these units are packed with rigorous language arts instruction and engaging STEM challenges.

 Here’s what you can expect to find in EACH unit:

3 Low Prep, Engaging STEM Challenges

We know that upper grade students are capable of SO much when it comes to engineering, math, and science, and we also know that hitting those upper grade science standards are important.  That’s exactly what these STEM Challenges were designed to do.  Each STEM Challenge comes with a detailed lesson plan with NGSS aligned standards, supply list, guided teacher chart, content area vocabulary cards, and student recording booklet.  Similar to all of my STEM challenges, they are low prep on the teacher’s part and require simple, easy-to-gather materials.  Take a look at some of our included options:

STEM Challenges for Wonder by R.J. Palacio

STEM Challenges for Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

STEM Challenges for Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Reader’s Response Notebook

Each Storybook STEM Novel Unit also includes a full Reader’s Response Notebook with high level vocabulary, deep questioning, and text evidence for each chapter of the novel.  AND because so many upper grade teachers are beginning to dive headfirst into Google apps and paperless classrooms, we also included a full color Digital Google Slides version of the notebook!

Comprehension Lessons

Also included are 3-5 full comprehension lessons for each novel that can be completed as a whole class or during guided reading.  As always, Katie has fully outdone herself with the creativity and quality of these lessons. They each include detailed teacher instructions, anchor charts, and student activities.  Your kids are gonna love these!

We’ve also added in some nonfiction research topics related to each novel and some Makerspace cards that are perfect complements to your classroom Makerspace or STEM Bins area.

We’ve poured our hearts, long hours, and hardest work into these new Storybook STEM Novel units and we hope you love them as much as we do!