BACKGROUND:
Science writer Seymour Simon created a boy detective, Einstein Anderson, who solves science puzzles that baffle his friends, parents, and teachers. As in Donald Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown stories, the reader is given an opportunity to “solve/explain” the crime/deception before turning to a page where the answer and explanation can be found. Einstein can solve these puzzles because of his general knowledge of science or application of science processes.
TASK:
Your task is to write a piece like one of Seymour Simon’s Einstein Anderson stories. You will create the character of a science detective and his/her friends, family, neighborhood, etc. You will include science in your story by making scientific information and /or science process important in the puzzle. You will develop a plot structure using one of Simon’s constructs or one of your own. Your piece will include an explanation of the crime/deception. You hope that the publishing company, SCI-DECT Publishers, will publish your piece and ask you to write more.
YOUR AUDIENCE:
Your audience is mystery fans and lovers of science in the middle grades (and their book-buying parents and librarians).
PURPOSE:
The purpose of writing an Einstein Anderson-style piece is to interpret science in a new way.
PROCEDURE:
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1. Refer to the Performance Task Assessment “Creating a New Einstein Anderson” to help you plan your project.
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2. Learn about Seymour Simon and Einstein Anderson through class discussion; complete character maps of Einstein and other characters.
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3. Review the basic science processes.
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4. Become more familiar with resources for the science content part of your story.
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5. Learn about plot devices or constructs that Seymour Simon used.
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6. Develop a setting.
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7. Write a first draft and submit it to another student/group for peer review.
ASSESSMENT:
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1. Use the Performance Assessment List to check your work.
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2. Make revisions to draft.
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3. Do a final self-assessment on your piece and hand it and your piece in to the teacher.