Cross-Curricular Novel Study With Poetry Mini-Unit: Finding Wonders Part 1

This class goes a step beyond your average book club and is designed to support neurodivergent learners. The texts are chosen with high concepts and interest but with easier language. Texts chosen are available on platforms with dyslexia-friendly options including audiobooks. Scaffolding is provided for new or non-literal language. The course is taught by a neurodivergent educator. Additionally, each unit includes at least one book/poem with a neurodivergent character/author/poet so that learners have the opportunity to see diverse positive representations. Each unit incorporates literature, poetry, and at least one form of nontraditional literature such as graphic novels, verse novels, or dramas . We will use novels and texts to help us explore feelings, ideas, and humanize issues for young critical thinkers. (All texts used pursuant to copyright laws and with applicable permission.)

In each class, we will study award-winning literature set during an important historical event and use that to learn about subjects like history, geography, science, and civics as well as practice vocabulary, reading comprehension, creative writing, and academic composition. This course involves a substantial amount of independent work and assumes the learner will dedicate approximately 45 minutes to an hour each weekday we do not meet. A teacher-created workbook is included with your enrollment in the course to guide reading. For each section, activities include vocabulary development, handwriting, reading comprehension questions, short-response questions to practice critical thinking, and a writer’s craft activity using our novel as a mentor text and involving a short essay or creative writing piece. These activities can be completed or skipped based on the needs of the individual learner to provide more time and support for emerging skills. 

In this unit, we will read the first section of "Finding Wonders: Three Girls who Changed Science" by Jeanine Atkins to celebrate Women's History Month. It tells the true story of Maria Sillyba Merian a biologist, artist, and girl in the late 1600's in Germany through beautiful verse and illustrations. 
Week 1: We will learn about the accusations of witchcraft faced by women who pursued science/art or other ambitions during this period to better understand the context of the novel. We will also discuss the unique forms, structures, and techniques found in verse novels. Learners will read the first half of this story. 
Week 2: We will study Maria Sillyba Merian and her contributions to science as well as make comparisons to modern scientists. Learners will complete the story. We will use the story as a mentor text to write a free verse poem sharing a story about an impactful female scientist.