Sun, Mar 22, 2020 8:43 PM
Article Review #3
Collection: Earth and Space
Article: “The Moon in Children’s Literature” by Kathy Cabe Trundle
1. Why did you choose to put this article in your collection? Be specific...."because it looked interesting" is not sufficient.
I chose this article because I love to incorporate literature into all content areas when I teach. This article is all about how to avoid the pitfalls of introducing misconceptions when reading about the moon. The moon is familiar to all of us but is the most commonly misunderstood. It is important that we know what we are teaching to our students. If we plan to incorporate children’s literature in our lessons, we need to be sure they are teaching the facts!
2. What new information did you learn?
I learned that many people struggle with their knowledge of the moon (something I often find a little confusing), including Harvard professors and graduates. I learned that the book, Papa Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle, was a book that was deemed “educationally sound” had many misrepresentations of the moon. Several things in this book would present misconceptions in students. I also learned how to address the concerns of the misconceptions as a teacher. The article goes step by step to remedy this problem as a teacher. It also provides advice on how to choose the right books for your classroom.
3. What TEKS would it go with and how could you use this information in your classroom?
A good, applicable TEK would be the fourth grade standard:
§112.15.b
(8) Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system. The student is expected to:
(C) collect and analyze data to identify sequences and predict patterns of change in shadows, seasons, and the observable appearance of the Moon over time.
I would use this information in the classroom like the article discussed. I could continue to use the popular books integrating them into inquiry-based instruction on Moon phases. In this method, students first make methodical explanations of lunar phases, then follow up with a comparison of their observations to a book’s illustrations. Students will realize that the illustrations differ from real world, which can lead to further discussion.
4. Based on your experience, is there anything in the article that you agree with? Disagree with? Have questions about?
I agree with much of the information in this article. This is a topic that even I struggle with. I agree with the concept that children’s literature should be integrated into instruction. I do not necessarily agree with the statement that non-fiction books are the BEST resource. I wonder how many books I may have read believing they were fact, when they might have not been (as seen by the examples in the article)?