CKLA Unit 9: The Science of Breakable Things
Focus:
The Science of Breakable Things is a remarkable middle-grade novel about a seventh grader, Natalie, and her attempts to “grow a miracle” in order to win an egg drop contest (and its prize money) so she can buy her mother—a botanist struggling with depression—a rare, Cobalt Blue Orchid. Simultaneously, Natalie navigates the challenges of adolescent friendships, learning that sometimes what she thinks about others is not always accurate.
Note: This Novel Study Guide contains nearly everything needed to facilitate a novel study. Schools will only need to purchase the trade book The Science of Breakable Things, by Tae Keller published by Yearling, an imprint of Penguin Random House (ISBN 978-1-5247-1566-3).
Number of Lessons: See Instruction Time below.
Instruction Time:
The Science of Breakable Things is not divided into chapters but is instead grouped by steps and assignments. Students will read “assignments” rather than “chapters,” and the detailed guide uses these labels for consistency’s sake. For each reading selection, this guide contains a Blackline Master of activities divided into five categories. Teachers should review the guide to assess how much time they wish to dedicate to each area of learning.
Additional Search Terms:
botany • physics • health • social-emotional learning
