SDW 2017 - YOUR FAVOURITE SCIENCE BOOK

23 April is recognised as the World Book and Copyright Day by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). On 4 April 2017, Scientix published eight great science books selected by its Scientix Ambassadors to give you the opportunity to read some or all of them before the World Book Day. Save the date and join us on this occasion to celebrate great literature in the field of science!

Click on one of the buttons to see the two selected books per subject.

For the STEM Discovery Week 24 to 30 April 2017, teachers are invited to participate in a discussion in an open forum here about the selected books and share ideas on how they can be used in science lessons. Scientix will award the best ideas shared with this community.

The goal of the competition is twofold:

  • To raise general awareness about science and scientific literacy through a community based approach and peer-reviewed exchange of information.
  • To show how scientific literature can improve classroom discussions and activities.

You are welcome to use the forum here to introduce yourself and to get to know other colleagues interested in science literature. Scientix will use the discussion forum to inform you as soon as new discussion threads are added on 23 April. You will receive a notification by e-mail if you introduce yourself in the discussion thread.

Read the terms and conditions

NOTE THAT YOU MUST BE REGISTERED AND SIGNED IN WITH YOUR OPEN ID IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION FORUM

DISCUSS WITH FELLOW TEACHERS

Welcome

Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

Welcome

Community member Posts: 33 Join Date: 5/11/15 Recent Posts
Hi there and welcome to the forum! Use this thread to get to know each other and share your interest in science literature.
On 23 April, a selection of eight science books will be added to this page. New discussion threads will be added for each book, in which you can share ideas for classroom activities based on each book.
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Àgueda Gras-Velázquez, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Moderator=regular-role:Message Boards Administrator Community member Posts: 2 Join Date: 8/6/10 Recent Posts
Hi all, I am Agueda Gras, Scientix Project Manager. I am looking forward to finding out which are the 8 Science books selected by the Ambassadors!
Nectara Mircioaga, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 2 Join Date: 11/5/14 Recent Posts
Hi. My name is Nectara Mircioaga, I am a science teacher and I love SF. I made a small presentation of how the I used a SF book in teaching process.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OFsGV4VxhmliMezaH-yx-zD0m5PM1dO27Vb6hUqVhMQ/edit?usp=sharing
Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Thank you for sharing your presentation Nectara. Keep tuned for news on 4 April when we publish the eight selected books to prepare for the World Book Day and STEM Discovery Week emoticon
Ileana Dogaru, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Post: 1 Join Date: 8/19/14 Recent Posts
Congratulations!
Dacă cunoaşterea creează probleme, nu ignoranţa va duce la rezolvarea acestora.
Isaac Asimov
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/i/isaac_asimov.html

Ileana Dogaru, Craiova
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Lidia Ristea, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 5 Join Date: 7/9/12 Recent Posts
Hello
I teach ICT, and for me  your idea  will help me to develop some task for students about  Tools used for creating documentary movie about Solar System, Stars...
sahin sahin, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 6 Join Date: 3/24/17 Recent Posts
Thanks! I am looking forward to World Book Day
Mladen Sljivovic, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 2 Join Date: 4/4/17 Recent Posts
Hi
I am Mladen Sljivovic from Serbia. And I alredz used ideas from book sin mz class . I hope to see how this will go, and I am so curious what book did thezy choose.
Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 33 Join Date: 5/11/15 Recent Posts
Hi everyone, we have published the 8 books selected for the competition, so you can start reading to prepare for the World Book Day emoticon On 23 April we will open new discussion threads where you can share ideas for classroom activities that are inspired by one or more of these books. But until then, feel free to use this forum to get to know each other emoticon

Find the selected books here
http://www.scientix.eu/events/campaigns/sdw17/cat3
Erhan sahin, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 6 Join Date: 3/24/17 Recent Posts
ok. Thanks!
Floriana Fabbrini, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Post: 1 Join Date: 4/13/17 Recent Posts
Hi! My name is Floriana and I teach math and science in middle school from Naples, Italy.
I read, every year, a chapter of the book the number devile (il mago dei numeri) to input the prime numbers and divisibility rule. Then I check it as reading during the summer holidays.
Lucian Constantin Vladescu, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Post: 1 Join Date: 4/25/17 Recent Posts
Hi everyone,
I am teaching Maths, Science and ICT. I think this competition is a great way to celebrate the World Book Day!
riccardo belle', modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Post: 1 Join Date: 4/5/17 Recent Posts
Hello I'm Riccardo Bellé from Italy. I teach mathematics and physics in high school in Massa (MS). I'm going to rea: - Janice VanCleave's Engineering for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun

and

- Uncle Tungsten


I've already read (in italian) The Number Devil (Il mago dei numeri) and The Parrot's Theorem (il teorema del pappagallo). I usually recommend these books to my pupils at the beginning of the year.

Bye, very good idea!

PS: I recommend to english readers The periodic table by Primo Levi a very good book. (think about it for the next year edition of SDW)

http://www.radio3.rai.it/dl/portali/site/articolo/ContentItem-d2323af2-eba0-4b1b-8035-f35dab61c46f.html

for those who can understand italian "Il sistema periodico" at the third radio channel Radio3

Riccardo Bellé
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Àgueda Gras-Velázquez, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Moderator=regular-role:Message Boards Administrator Community member Posts: 2 Join Date: 8/6/10 Recent Posts
Hi Riccardo,

I am thinking of reading Uncle Tungsten too (although I cannot participate in the competition of ccourse... emoticon

But first I need to finish Liu Cixin's The three Body Problem which I am having mixed feelings about. I was looking forward to reading a science fiction book by a Chinese author, but I am finding some parts too "weird / passive".

Has anybody else read it?

Agueda
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Miguel Ángel Queiruga Dios, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Post: 1 Join Date: 9/17/14 Recent Posts
Congratulations on this great initiative.
It is important to encourage reading (and specifically the scientific reading) if we want that young people develop a critical capacity. I have read almost all this books, but I will read all, sure!
I take this opportunity to recommend two excellent books (I always buy several copies, one for me and one for my students) although currently in Spanish.
The first is "Amundsen - Scott, duelo en la Antártida: La carrera al Polo Sur", by Javier Cacho Gómez. This book highlights values such as effort, tenacity, teamwork ...
The second, by a great team of disseminating scientists (Carlos Briones, Alberto Fernández Soto, José María Berúdez de Castro): "Orígenes. El universo, la vida, los humanos" tells us everything that has happened since the origin of the Universe to this day, through the emergence of life and human evolution.
Best!

Amundsen-Scott: Duelo en la Antártida

Orígenes. El universo, la vida, los humanos
gülhanım dursun, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hello I am primary school teacher from Ankara Turkey.  

ENGINEERING FOR EVERY KID: EASY ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE LEARNING SCIENCE FUN

my book.
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COSTANTINA COSSU, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hi,
I'm Costantina I teach Chemistry, Biology and Natural scienze in Higt school.
I know A brief history of time and use it in my first class because I teach also astronomy and use Cap 3 The Expanding Universe in an activity called "Cooperative learning resource sharing".
The book is very interesting but complicate for students but  they are attracted by the universe, the origin and the theories "The universe is expanding or deflation?"
I divided cap 3 in different part  ( part 1-, part 2....par3.....) and every students have a specific part.
The student tries to understand his part, all students with the same number speak each other to clarify.
I create 5 groups  with different numbers and each group creates a schema on various scientists and on the various theories on Universe.
It may also be used This book cap 3 to study the stars (chemical composition, temperature, light, spectrum, Doppler effect).
Best
Costantina
Felicia Mihaela Rusu, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hello, my name is Felicia Mihaela Rusu and I am a primary teacher in a Gymnasium school from Tulcea, Romania. My favorite science book is "Enginering for every kid, easy activities that make learning science fun" wrote by Janice VanCleave. I found in this book great activities with few materials but very easy to apply with my students. now, the age is not anymore a problem (7-8 years old), they can learning science in an easy and fun way.
Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 33 Join Date: 5/11/15 Recent Posts
Today, Sunday 23 April, is the World Book Day and we are happy to announce that we have opened the discussion threads dedicated to each book on our web page http://www.scientix.eu/events/campaigns/sdw17/cat3. Please use those threads to share your ideas for classroom activities based on each of the eight titles we have selected for the competition. The deadline to participate in the competition is 30 April. Thank you for your interest in the competition and we are looking forward to a great discussion about those excellent science books selected by our Ambassadors. Happy World Book Day everyone! emoticon

Maria Teresa de Paiva, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 6 Join Date: 4/20/17 Recent Posts
Hello!

I'm Teresa Paiva, from Lisbon, Portugal!
I'm a Physics and Chemistry teacher at a private school, and I always like to teach science in a STEAM (the A from any Art)  environmentemoticon - Literature is one of the Arts I prefer...
The most emblematic Portuguese poet is Luís Vaz Camões ("our" Shakespeare, or Cervantes, or  Dante...), from the XVI century. (By that time Portugal was the Global Village – see, please, The First Global Village: How Portugal Changed the World, by Martin Page)
The  first poem published by Camões, in a "book" from a physician living in Goa, India, Garcia de Orta, is, precisely about Science (Medicine)! This poem was published in 1563, by a German, Johann von Enden - so , you see, very global, by that time! The poem can be read here http://www.jornaldepoesia.jor.br/camoes65.html, but, sorry, in Portuguese old language.

The Portuguese physics and chemistry teachers who love literature are very lucky, because we have a contemporary poet, with a pseudonym, António Gedeão, who was a Physics and Chemistry teacher, Rómulo de Carvalho – you can read here some poems in an English translation J https://www.behance.net/gallery/10350221/Antonio-Gedeao-PoemasPoems.
So, I choose the Oliver Sacks book, I’m reading now, to participate in this so interesting contest, because I didn’t know it, and it’s about Chemistry, the topic I’m teaching at the moment to mine 9 th grade students. I already read at the Forum the mention to Primo Levi, and, according to me, the book “The Periodic System” should be compulsory to all secondary level science students… I presented already in a Chemical Meeting of Teachers, in Portugal, a work, done by a student – “Chemistry and Philosophy in the Periodic System, by Primo Levi”.
This Sunday, the World Book Day, I’ll go to the gardens of Gulbenkian Foundation, to read “Oncle W”, in the Portuguese version – and, for sure, I’ll do a break visiting again the great exhibition of another very interesting Portuguese Modern Artist, Almada Negreiros. With my 8th grade students, who are studing acoustic and optics, we will do a Project work: “Sound and Light in O amanhecer do dia claro (“Daybreak of clear day”, my translation…), from Almada Negreiros”. If any colleague comes to Portugal soon, please visit exhibition. Of course, you can always take a look here: https://gulbenkian.pt/cam/en/current-exhibitions/ -It’s amazing  how scientists worked to promote Art, and how artists promote ScienceJ! In the end Science is a kind of Art, isn’t it?
Good readings, good work!
Teresa
 
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Tullia Urschitz, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 2 Join Date: 12/2/11 Recent Posts
Hello Robert, Agueda and everybody!
Three of the books that were selected are between my favourite books, and I will follow the discussion in next days.
There is one more book, that I would like to suggest, even if it will not be in the competition. It is a new book, but it is already famous. Every girl would have to read it ;)
I've just finished reading it both in English and in Italian, and I've already brought it at school:

"Good night stories for rebel girls" - E.Favilli, F.Cavallo
http://a.co/2V0ggU0

Good night stories for rebel girls

Best regards,Tullia
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Rosa Gaspar, modified 7 Years ago.

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Hi everyone,
I´m Rosa Luisa and I´m from Portugal.
I am very glad to be part of this community.
I am a primary teacher and I usually teaches sciences at school.
The book I chosed was "A brief history of time" by Stephen Hawking because Hawking writes in non-technical terms about the structure, origin, development and eventual fate of the universe, which is the object of study of astronomy and modern physics. He talks about basic concepts like space and time, basic building blocks that make up the universe. Space Awareness courses has been so amazing to develop some of the principal subjects on astronomy and sciences in primary school through some amazing activities.

Many thanks
Rosa
Rumjana Angelova, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hello, colleagues! I am Roumiana Anguelova from Bulgaria. I teach Mathematics and Informatics in Vocational School of Economics and Management, Pazardzhik. I have the book THE NUMBER DEVIL: A MATHEMATICAL ADVENTURE in my library and  offen in our Classroom we read and discuss separate chapters.
Using the ideas of this wonderfull book we organized a workshop THE FIBONACCI NUMBERS, and competition MATH FACTOR.
Thank you Scientix staff for your passion and hard work !   <3
Daniela Bunea, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Dear friends,
My name is Daniela Bunea and I am a teacher of English as a Foreign Language at a secondary school in Sibiu, Romania. I have always been interested in science, and I always try to make my students appreciate it.
Daniela.
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Lidia Ristea, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Science Book

The notions from Stephen Hawking's book could be put into practice in the classroom by making multimedia materials, posters, posters, where students could work on groups, and various projects could be developed to allow pupils to work on groups about:
Promoting astronomy in teaching,
Stars, comets, how the universe was born, what effects produce eclipses to health, astrophysics, why the stars fall, through using , WWTelescope, Salsai and more can be used.
Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 33 Join Date: 5/11/15 Recent Posts
Dear all! Thank you so much for your interest in the books we selected for the STEM Discovery Week. We have already received many interesting ideas for classroom activities. Our thanks to those teachers that have already shared their ideas with us emoticon
Please remember that the deadline to post your idea is 30 April 2017! Please use the dedicated discussion threads for each book available on this web page. Good luck everyone and enjoy the rest of STEM Discovery Week!
http://scientix.eu/events/campaigns/sdw17/cat3
Noelia Velasco Pérez, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

Community member Posts: 3 Join Date: 4/8/17 Recent Posts
Hi!
I am Noelia Velasco, a trainee teacher of Secondary school, Jesus-Maria School in Burgos (Spain). I have already used some of the books´resources in my lessons of STEM subjects. I would also like to congratulate for this interesting project and the list of educational resources and comments which are being shared in this forum.

In particulary, I have developed some activities related to the book: "Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a chemical boyhood". 
http://www.scientix.eu/events/campaigns/sdw17/cat3/-/message_boards/message/604196

Furthermore, I want to recommend an interested Spanish book, which could be usefull to amplify this repository, it is titled "Ciencia para Nicolás", written by Carlos Chordá, a scientist teacher at Secondary school, who tells a guide around the word of science, directed to ones of his students, Nicolás. The book shows scientist information since diffenrent angles to approach the students´points of view and knowledge, it represents an excelent way to introduce and exlpain most important scientific topics.

Stella Magid, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hello my friends!!!
My name is Stella.I am from Israel. I work both as a Stem teacher and as science teachers' trainer. nice to meet all of you in this forum!
I am going to suggest a lesson plan ( about 3 lessons)
About Ender's game book!!!
I will be glad to hear your feedback!!!
Stella
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Tsetsa Tsolova Hristova, modified 7 Years ago.

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Hello,
I am Tsetsa Tsolva Hristova from Bulgaria. I am one of Scientix ambasador for my country. My school is computer school, but I have a students like very much Astronomy.
My favorite subject is Astronomy and I am so happy to have possibilities to learn from other colleagues and to share my classroom ideas with you. I use A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking at school and shared my ideas with you at Share your classroom ideas here .
Thank you for all great ideas, shared for this book.
Kind regards,
Tsetsa
Robert Baldursson, modified 7 Years ago.

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Thank you for sharing your ideas for classroom activities emoticon For everyone, please remember that the book competition is expected to end today. If you still plan to participate with your idea for STEM Discovery Week, you must do so as soon as possible.
Nely Stoyanova, modified 7 Years ago.

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Hello. My name is Nelly Stoyanova. I am from Bulgaria and I am a teacher in Mathematics, Informatics and Information Technologies. The book "THE NUMBER DEVIL" provokes many ideas for working with students. I will share some of them at the forum and I hope you will like them. I will be happy to learn about your ideas and will try to accomplish them.
Maria Melniciuc, modified 7 Years ago.

RE: Welcome

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Hello,
I teach ICT and Informatics at the Technical College Latcu Voda in Siret, Romania. I like reading but it is the first time that I will create some activities for my students going from literature books. Some of the books for the competition aren't translated in Romanian yet and a lot of the Scientix colleagues presented as very interesting so I' ll try to read them later in English.

These are the eight science books selected for the World Book Day and STEM Discovery Week 2017! In order to compete in our competition, start by:

  1. Read one or more of the selected titles
  2. Design an idea for a classroom activity based on your book
  3. Share your idea with peers in the discussion forum above during the STEM Discovery Week 24 to 30 April

Science books

 

This world famous book in the field of physics explores the origin of our universe, including the Big Bang and black holes, and the relevance of concepts such as space and time and other forces that govern our existence.

Author: Stephen Hawking

Originally published: 1988

Uncle Tungsten was a producer of tungsten-filament lightbulbs who ignited Oliver Sacks’ interest in chemistry, especially chemical reactions and the periodic table. This book is a fascinating story about scientific discoveries and inspiration during childhood.

Author: Oliver Sacks

Originally published: 2001

A brief history of time

Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a chemical boyhood

Technology books

A young boy, who is the outcome of genetic experiments, possesses great tactical skills playing computer games. This may be just what mankind has been waiting for in order to fight back against invasive alien species.

Author: Orson Scott Card

Originally published: 1985

This futuristic science-fiction describes the technical evolution of robots that are originally developed in order to serve humans. However, they eventually become so advanced that humans become obsolete.

Author: Isaac Asimov

Originally published: 1950

Ender's Game

I, Robot

Engineering books

Engineers can see a structure where there is none in place, possessing the ability to turn problems into solutions and solutions. This book collects narratives and case studies to show how engineering is used to innovate, standardise and optimise.

Author: Guru Madhavan

Originally published: 2015

This book is a collection of 25 entertaining experiments and activities in engineering in everyday situations, including step-by-step instructions, expected results of each activity and simple scientific background for each experiment.

Author: Janice VanCleave

Originally published: 2007

Applied minds: How engineers think

Engineering for every kid: Easy activities that make learning science fun

Mathematics books

Robert really dislikes studying maths, but this changes when he meets the Number Devil, who appears in Robert’s dreams to teach him maths and inspire him. With the help of the Number Devil, Robert gets to know fractions, geometry and other mathematic concepts.

Author: Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Originally published: 1997

Mr. Ruche receives a delivery to his house in Paris including a great number of maths books from Brazil. His parrot likes to talk about maths and together they give lessons to children. However, he soon discovers the real reason behind the delivery.

Author: Denis Guedj

Originally published: 1998

The number devil: a mathematical adventure

The Parrot's Theorem

STEM Discovery Week IN NUMBERS

SDW17 Infograph

This infograph demonstrates the main achievements accomplished and outreach during STEM Discovery Week 2017.

 

COMPETITIONS

‘MAKE YOUR OWN POSTER’

‘Make your own Poster’ with your favourite subjects and resources from the Scientix Resources Respository. Read more.

‘ORGANISE A STEM EVENT’

Organise or participate in an event dedicated to any STEM subject and opportunities from 24 to 30 April 2017. Read more.

‘YOUR FAVOURITE SCIENCE BOOK’

Share ideas for classroom activities in relation to selected science books and discuss them in an open forum. Read more.