Eleven Must-Have Science Books for Your Classroom

Any way you can bring science into your classroom is always a plus! Science is amazing and getting kids wondering and asking questions is essential to not only science, but reading as well. A curious nature takes kids places and makes things happen. So with that in mind, today I want to share with you eleven must-have science books to use in your classroom. 

1. The Kids who Changed the World:

I fell in love with this book instantly. It presents 10 scientists in short rhyming stories. Each story tells about one famous scientist and describes his or her important work in the field of science. It includes stories from the lives of Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Nicola Tesla, Louis Pasteur, and many more. The illustrations are absolutely stunning, vibrant, and bold. You will want to add this book to your shelf if you love or teach science. 

2. Kid Scientists: 

This next book is from an amazing series of books, and I would suggest that you check out the others, but they are not science related. This one tells stories about the childhood of several different scientists. How fun is that? Kids always wonder what grown-ups were like when they were their age. Believe me, you're class will love it.

3. Cece Loves Science and Adventure:

This is a book from a whole series of books about Cece and her friends. They all involve science and are great for practicing science skills like inquiry and inferencing. 

4. Libby Loves Science:

This is another in the series about Cece. They are just really great books to talk about science. I love that they feature strong girl characters. So many people believe, falsely, that science is a thing for boys. Not so, and this book shows how girls can also do the hard work.

5. Vivi Loves Science:

Here is another book in the series with Cece. Seriously, be sure to check out this whole series. It's pretty a pretty amazing set of books to share while talking about science.

6. Libby Loves Science Mix and Measure

What's cool about this series is that they also have these companion I Can Read Books. How fun is that? They include different science themes as well.

7. Cece Loves Science Push and Pull: 

I love that these books can be used to introduce so many different topics in science. This one is all about push and pull (force and motion unit?).

8. Counting on Katherine:

If you have seen the movie, Hidden Figures, this is a book based on the same story about Katherine Johnson and how she was really one of the main brains behind the Apollo 13 mission and saving the astronauts involved. What I love is that even though racism was still running deep and women were treated as less than men many times, this black woman was able to work at N.A.S.A., along side many other highly intelligent people, and she ended up doing something so big! That was huge back then. It really is a great story. 

9. Nature Did it First Engineering through biomimicry:

This book is perfect for showing how inventors and scientists model many of their experiments or inventions after things that are naturally found in science (God thought of it first). It is a great way to point out how people get ideas and inspiration from everywhere, even what is around them each day. It shows many different things in nature and the ways that people adapted them for what they needed.

9. Snowflake Bentley 

Snowflake Bentley is an old stand-by that I still enjoy sharing. It is the true story of a man who was obsessed with snowflakes. He found a way to take pictures of snowflakes zoomed close up and he spent his whole life dedicated to the science of snow. It is an inspiring tale of perseverance in your work. Spoiler alert, his work actually ended up costing him his life!

10. Ada Twist Scientist:

I love this book for so many reasons. It makes science real and connects it to our lives. It shows that everyone is a scientist because we all have questions as we grow and change. Even Ada, who starts out as a baby, was a scientist from the beginning. This book helps children see that they are doing the real work of science everyday and it encourages them in the process. Students will also be introduced to the scientific process while reading this book.

11. The Science Behind Farting:bbbb bbbb

Yes, I did go there. If you want to capture the attention of your class, just bring out a gross book about science. Children love gross science and will be sure to pay close attention. This series presents the answers to questions that kids want to to know but may be too afraid to discuss out loud v hb h h. There are a few books in this series, so be sure to check them all out. 

If you are interested in any science activities, you can check out these activities too. You can click the pictures to be taken to the resource.

This book unit includes several science activities that walk students through the scientific process using the scientific principal of floating. This is specifically for upper elementary and would be great in any classroom from 3rd-5th. The experiments include a floating egg, a floating rainbow (density column) and a STEM project that asks the students to create a floating soccer field, just like in the book. Students will love the hands-on activities and the soccer theme behind the book. You can find it here.

If you love STEM, be sure to check these out. This bundle has ten STEM activities that can be done all in the great outdoors. You can click here to be taken to the resource. 

If you love journaling with your students, here is another fun resource full of journaling activities that can be done in the great outdoors. Check it out here. 

This is a simple scientific process sheet that can be used to walk students through any science experiment. Find it here.  

Happy science-ing!