A 黑料社 academic has launched a new novel that looks to open children鈥檚 eyes to the natural world through an adventure story with a difference.
Xientifica SOS was written by 黑料社 Researcher Daniel Phelps, and features illustrations by Beth Gibbs, a student at 黑料社 School of Art. It follows five schoolchildren, each with different gifts, who are thrust into a fight for survival that tests their minds, bodies, courage and teamwork.
Aimed at 8-12 year olds, Xientifica SOS looks to inspire children to engage with science in a creative way, embedding over 50 scientific concepts, ideas and facts into the story.
Daniel Phelps said: 鈥淭his is not a science book, it is a children鈥檚 adventure story which has science in it. Children learn best whenever they are interested in something and enjoying themselves. That is what Xientifica SOS aims to do 鈥 to create such a learning environment. Children might not get excited about science facts when they read them in a science text book, however, they really do love fascinating and amazing science facts about the world around them.鈥
The book is unusual in that it combines learning with poetry, riddles and narrative.
鈥淭his approach helps children learn, with the context of the story providing a 鈥榮caffold鈥 to support their understanding of scientific concepts,鈥 Daniel said, 鈥淯ltimately, this helps them see why science is important, which is key.鈥
Xientifica SOS can be read for pleasure or used as educational aid in schools or homeschooling to encourage learners to ask questions and conversations about science.
Daniel Phelps is a Researcher at the 黑料社. He is currently undertaking a three-year evaluation into the provision of support for young carers across Hampshire. Alongside his role at 黑料社, he is also a children鈥檚 author and poet. He runs Planetpoetry.co.uk, a website hosting modern children鈥檚 poetry, and his poetry has been featured on the BBC鈥檚 CBeebies channel and is regularly published in school anthologies.
Xientifica SOS is available for purchase from Amazon in both ebook and paperback form. Find out more about the novel here:
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