The Sunflower Experiment / Sunflowers Need the Sun
Rosen REAL Readers: STEM and STEAM Collection
Fiction and nonfiction pairs provide opportunities for students to analyze and compare different perspectives. This pairing supports thinking across texts by illustrating how different authors treat a similar topic. Excitingly, this pairing contrasts craft and structure of fiction with craft and structure of informational texts. In the fictional narrative, The Sunflower Experiment, a great experiment is under way. Mara learns about life science while observing her three pots, each with a seed. One seed sprouts, and grows well under specific conditions, and one doesn't sprout or grow at all. Readers learn why, along with Mara. This fiction book is paired with the book, Sunflowers Need the Sun, for connecting across texts and comprehension through connection strategies. In this narrative nonfiction book, life science comes alive through description and a strong use of the author's perspective. Spark the young scientist in your readers through this inspiring theme set.
