MorningGlory Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I am in the initial planning stage of putting together a "History of Science" course for my 13 yo son (entering 8th grade). This will be more of a history course rather than a science course as I am planning to incorporate timeline work and writing into it. Joy Hakim's The Story of Science books will serve as the spine. I have a couple of ideas for other readings, too, but I need help choosing 4-6 scientist biographies to add into the plans. When I started making a list of possible biographies, I realized that there is quite a bit from which to choose. What are your favorite scientist biographies? Reading levels could range from upper elementary through high school. Also...if anyone has ideas for specific "science history" writing topics or sources, I'd love to hear about them. My son is going to be using MCT's Essay Voyage next year; I have seen several writing assignments in it that could be used with this course, but I'm always open to other ideas. Thanks in advance, Jetta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dietmom Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 we did a couple with our co-op I thought were really great: Archimedes and the Door of Science and Along came Galileo Both by Jeanne Bendick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thanks! I have the Archimedes book; I'll add the Galileo one to my list. Anyone else? Jetta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 That series also has Galen and the Gateway to Medicine, it's also well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic633 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I loved this book! I'm not very interested in science myself, but it captured my imagination. I read it outloud to my 11 and 7yo. It is "The History of Medicine" by Tiner. It has chapters on various important people in the history of medicine. http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-History-Medicine-Hudson-Tiner/dp/tags-on-product/0890512485 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Also by Jeanne Bendick: Along Came Galileo and The Mystery of the Periodic Table. I am trying to dredge more up. I will post them if I remember them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Have you seen this Milestones in Science kit? I know you were asking for books, but I couldn't help suggesting this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Thank you all for these new suggestions. I had thought about both the Tiner and Galen/gateway books; I think I will add them to the list. The Hakim books focus on physical science so it would be nice to have some life science bios. Jennifer (and anyone else), if you think of something else, please post! JudoMom, I've looked at the Milestones kit umpteen times. It would be a perfect addition if this were going to be a science-oriented course. But I'm trying to make it more history-oriented. My son will be doing BJU's Physical Science for his science course. Thanks again, Jetta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I second and third The Mystery of the Periodic Table. My boys loved it. My FIL who has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering loved it! He read it to them twice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 The Librarian Who Measure the Earth by Kathryn Lasky Gutenberg by Leonard Everett Fisher The ones below are in Sonlight's curriculum. I just went through and picked out ones that we enjoyed. Listening to Crickets by Candice F. Ransom (about Rachel Carson) Marie Curie's Search for Radium by Beverly Birch Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion by Andrea Gianopoulos (this is a graphic - as in cartoon - book) Pasteur's Fight Against Microbes by Beverly Birch Bell and the Science of the Telephone by Brian Williams The Story of Inventions (Usborne) This isn't about only one scientist/inventor. It is a story of the progression of inventions. My kids liked this book a lot. Are you including mathematicians in this category? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaSheep Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 My ds enjoyed reading about Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein last year (7th grade) when we were studying chemistry and physics. For life sciences, of course, you would want to include a Charles Darwin bio, or even his Origin of the Species. Leonardo DaVinci would be another good one to read about, as he was an inventor as well as an artist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Pasture's Fight AGainst Microbes is another good one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 My ds enjoyed reading about Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein last year (7th grade) when we were studying chemistry and physics. For life sciences, of course, you would want to include a Charles Darwin bio, or even his Origin of the Species. Leonardo DaVinci would be another good one to read about, as he was an inventor as well as an artist. I didn't even think about the "Who Was..." Series. They are very good, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Have you seen this Milestones in Science kit? I know you were asking for books, but I couldn't help suggesting this. Now 75% off at Barnes and Noble... I got two! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Galileo for Kids This is another very good one. It is presented as a biography but also has activities. I love the feel of the book, too. It is on heavy, glossy paper. It looks like there is a series of these books with some more scientists as the subject. I have this one on Galileo as well. It is another favorite and is more of a picture book but not too young for logic stage kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Now 75% off at Barnes and Noble... I got two! Online or in store? I couldn't find it online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Online or in store? I couldn't find it online. In store in the clearance section. My store still has some but I'm sure some are out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 In store in the clearance section. My store still has some but I'm sure some are out. Ah...I will have to take a gander while we are in the big city this week. :D Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn&charles Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Here are some: Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet Johannes Kepler: Giant of Faith and Science Along Came Galileo Robert Boyle: Trailblazer of Science Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy: Alaska's First Naturalist: Georg Wilhelm Steller The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America's First Naturalist Benjamin Franklin: Electrified the World With New Ideas Antoine Lavoisier: Founder of Modern Chemistry: Physical Science Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster: The Discovery of the Smallpox Vaccine The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning The Man Who Named the Clouds Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell: Setting the Tone for Communication Thomas Edison: Inventor With a Lot of Bright Ideas Daniel Hale Williams: Surgeon Who Opened Hearts and Minds Marie Curie: Scientist Who Made Glowing Discoveries Albert Einstein: Universal Genius Charles Drew: Doctor Who Got the World Pumped Up to Donate Blood Lise Meitner: Had the Right Vision About Nuclear Fission Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine Rachel Carson: Clearing the Way for Environmental Protection Mary Leakey: Archaeologist Who Really Dug Her Work Jane Goodall: Researcher Who Champions Chimps Luis Alvarez: Wild Idea Man Stephen Hawking: Cosmologist Who Gets a Big Bang Out of the Universe And a lot of the others mentioned are great books. :D Sorry for the weird text. I cut & paste from my history schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I'm on a roll here. ;) If you look up Fiona McDonald on Amazon and get to about the sixth page you begin to find her science biographies. She has a couple of 20th century scientists in there(Edwin Hubble, for example), which is why I thought it was worth mentioning. She also has Inside the Beagle with Charles Darwin. It looks like she was also involved in a series about scientists and inventors called "Groundbreakers" and possibly "Giants of Science". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I bought They Called Me Mad! for us. Mine loved it and so did I. I bought it at Barnes and Noble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 It's not what you perhaps are looking for but I highly recommend it for grade 8 & up. It's a thoughtful, moving TRUE story of the history of HeLa cells that scientists still use today for many different kinds of research. I recommend reading it with your dc - you'll both love it and LEARN a lot! http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305807539&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquinas Academy Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 I highly recommend Kathleen Krull's Giants of Science series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 This is one of the best threads ever!!!! We learned about Rachel Carson in A Short History of Nearly Everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Have you looked at The beautiful Guide called A History of Science for book ideas as well? I thought it too young for mine to use as a guide but I didn't give it more than a cursory flip through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewday Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I don't see him mentioned yet. He was an American scientist, inventor, botanist and educator - fascinating man!! My girls just today finished this book by Eva Moore and really liked it: http://www.amazon.com/George-Washington-Carver-Scholastic-Biography/dp/0590426605/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1305869458&sr=8-4 Ambleside Online has wonderful suggestions - you can check their science biography lists listed under each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 WOW! These lists and suggestions will keep me busy for a while. Thank goodness that we won't start back to school until July! ;) I'm especially appreciative for being reminded about Rachel Carson. I have a book about her that I had been saving until my son got older. I had completely forgotten about it! I think my son will thoroughly enjoy this coming year's break from the history cycle. He is probably headed to a science career...possibly meteorology or astronomy. I want him to have more than just a knowledge of the men and women who have been instrumental in forming science as we know it today...I want him to have a feel for their inspiration and determination. We read both a Wright Bros. bio and a George Washington Carver bio this year that showed just that...their unending determination. I hope to find some more good bios like those from these suggestions. Anyway, thank you all. Jetta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Wonderful book. I RA it to my eighth grader earlier this year and we had some great discussions. As an aside, I'll add that it's a good conversation starter for the child reluctant to discuss\hear about the "sensitive topics". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfarm Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 If you are branching out from just the classic books and well known scientists, you might consider Lads Before the Wind by Karen Pryor. She was not really a scientist when she wrote the book, but gradually became one of the big names in animal behavior. The book details her experiences in learning how to train dolphins before much was known about them at all. She worked with several well known animal behaviorists to figure out how to work with the dolphins and discusses working with them and what she learned from each. IMO, this is one of the best books I ever read explaining operant conditioning and how to train animals. I think most 13yo's would find it fascinating reading. I wasn't as excited about Pryor's later books, some are good but not as interesting as Lads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann@thebeach Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Now 75% off at Barnes and Noble... I got two! Thanks so much! I checked locally and they had one 75% off :hurray: They also had an environmental science kit too and it came to about $13 -woohoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 These are picture books, but we love them all-Peter Sis wrote biographies of Galileo (Starry Messenger) and Darwin (Tree of Life). They are long for picture books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 What a great idea. Here are two books on the Great Scientists. The Ancient & Middle Ages are available. Have you considered adding a science fiction literature component? I always thought it would be fun to do a history of science fiction, starting with some H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Create Your Ritual Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Thanks everyone for the great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 That's for bumping this back up. I missed it first time around. :001_smile: I plan on getting this book by Hawking There are so many books from this list I have to have now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5knights3maidens Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Just found this thread last night. It gave me a lot of ideas. ;) Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 There was a book posted about Robert Boyle before, but I haven't seen that one. I checked out "Robert Boyle, founder of modern chemistry" by Harry Sootin from the big city library & found it a good (higher level) read (vs. the Ages 9-12 on the previous book). It mixes in some English history (Irish vs. England, Charles I, Cromwell, Charles II) with the science. It is part of the "Immortals of Science" series if you want to look that up for more ideas. I'm adding a book on the finding of Pluto (1930 in Flagstaff, Arizona) to our (American) history studies this year. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handmaiden Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 My science guy is devouring books by/about Richard Feynman, one by one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workingmom Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 That's for bumping this back up. I missed it first time around. :001_smile: I plan on getting this book by Hawking There are so many books from this list I have to have now. Thanks for this suggestion. DS loved it and was quoting facts from the book. Excellent thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in FL Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I highly recommend Kathleen Krull's Giants of Science series. I hope I don't get any tomatos thrown at me for mentioning this. We read her bio on Isaac Newton, and it was very engaging and informative, better than any other bios available at our library. However, I am glad that I pre-read it and was able to discuss it with my son before I handed him the book. The author does mention that he possibly had a relationship with another man that would explain a period of depression in Newton's life after the relationship ended. As a parent, I would want to know this content before handing it to my child - which is why I mention it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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