Sun heats sea which turns to clouds that trail the sky and drift around... and over land those clouds will cool and spill their rain in puddles, pools… lakes and streams and rivers too, then on to feed the sea anew” This year’s British Science Week theme is ‘journeys’ which has really got me inspired to share some excellent books to use during the Week. Books may not be your first thought for a science week, but they can really be a great spark for scientific enquiry and can support children acquiring new scientific knowledge and understanding. Reading really is STEMsational and it can help to build children’s science capital! Is this a realistic depiction of a river? Why do you think Nomoco painted the trees blue, and why did she leave so much blank space? Look at the spread that starts “That ICE turned liquid, boiled to gas…’ How would you describe Nomoco’s illustration and how do you think she created it? In my experience, using books across STEM subjects can be effective in two ways. With pupils who are reluctant to read, using a subject they may be more familiar, comfortable or confident in can help to nurture their reading confidence or interest. For those pupils who are more interested in books and reading, books linked to science can develop their interest and love of STEM subjects.

Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Part of the Solve Your Own Mystery seri... with the BSA OR sign up to our Educator's newsletter to hear about the latest news, upcoming events Ask children to choose a factual subject and research it, then tell people about it using poetic language Explore watery science from floating and freezing to colour-mixing, dyeing and chromatography – search online for activities to suit your kids.This is a text that reads well aloud - a little bit of practice before sharing will help you catch the rhymes and rhythms and let those words sing!

The format of the explanations is very accessible and would provide a great model for children to write their own journey explanations. Amazing Animal Journeys, North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration and We Travel So FarAlternatively, Molly’s Moon Mission is a great narrative choice which could start off some science learning on light and shadows. Find some suggested activities here. This text fully supports the curriculum subject of water, and also showcases playful, rhythmic poetry. Just like Once upon a Star, it is perfect to read aloud to a group of children. Curious about exploring the journeys in biology? As We Grow is a beautiful narration on the changes a human goes through in their life. A lovely read which takes a look at the stages of life in a thoughtful way. Now which child doesn’t find poo interesting? The Clue is in the Poo explores the poo (amongst other interesting scientific things!) of many animals. You can discover the food they eat and the journey it takes through them. Fun! Finally, Human Body Odyssey is another great choice which explores the wonders of the human body. Totally Wild Chase, When the Whales Walked

Let’s go straight into some fantastic books you may wish to use. The Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things I hope I’ve inspired you a little to use books within your British Science Week. Do let me know how you get on and, of course, share any other book recommendations that support the theme of ‘journeys’. I’d love to see any of the work your children create following reading any of these books. About the author How do your kids enjoy themselves in the water, and how do they stay safe when they’re playing or swimming? How and why is water important for good health? Cut rolls of inky-blue paper into wave-shaped strips and tape into position on a wall, using Nomoco’s endpapers to guide your design. Ask children to draw or paint themselves swimming or playing in the waves and add their cut-outs to your frieze. Pleasing aesthetics are a key feature of this lovely book. Every word, every blank space, every drop of ink has been carefully considered for maximum effect, and Nomoco’s stylishly understated illustrations are a particular delight.

"Full of colour and kindness"

The winners of The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2023, highlighting the work schools are doing to encourage a love of reading, have... Have a go at making frozen water-based lollies, then steam some vegetables or dimsum. Invent recipes for your own water-based fruity drinks, then taste-test your results. After fifteen years of writing, performing and recording music (whilst doing a series of jobs from job centre interviewer to recruitment consultant), James went off to Reading University to do a B.Ed degree in primary education and an MA in children's literature.