Non-Fiction Science Book Study Supplement Differentiated Unit Plan

Give your students real-world applications to the science content they are learning in their high school science classes! This science book study unit is designed to work with any non-fiction science book such as The Hot Zone, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, or The Disappearing Spoon. Whether you need a full unit across all levels or a supplement for honors or gifted students, this unit gives you everything you need to implement and assess a book study in your high school science classroom.

The unit is written to meet the needs of honors, academic, and students with IEPs or ELL students. A detailed unit plan, differentiated chapter summaries, vocabulary journals, KWL charts, and assessment rubrics are all included!

This unit ensures complex scientific concepts are accessible and engaging for all students, promoting a deeper understanding and retention of the material.

You may be thinking, I don't have time to implement a book study, I'm already struggling to get through the required content. I hear you! But by incorporating a book study on a specific non-fiction science book can enhance what you're already teaching in your class and reinforce important concepts. If you need more reasons to implement a book study in your high school science class, read my blog post here and check out the preview here.

When you purchase this unit, you will get:

Detailed Unit Plan

• Structured, weekly plans for honors, academic, and students that need scaffolds
• 6-week plan for integrating a book study with traditional science content
• Suggested activities and discussion points

Differentiated Chapter Summaries

• Summary handouts differentiated for honors, academic, and students that need scaffolds
• Key concepts and main ideas for each chapter
• Definitions of challenging vocabulary terms

Vocabulary Journals

• Differentiated for honors/academic and students that need scaffolds
• Space for definitions, context sentences, and personal connections
• Encourages active vocabulary acquisition and usage

KWL Charts

• Two versions: honors/academic and version with sentence stems
• Activates prior knowledge, tracks learning, and encourages reflection

Assessments and Projects

• Reflective essay prompts
• Socratic seminar guidelines and rubrics
• Creative project ideas (posters, presentations, models)
• Final assessment options with differentiated rubrics

Assessment Rubrics

• Clear criteria for grading student work and participation
• Tailored for different learning levels

 These resources are designed to save teachers valuable planning time, ensure all students can access and understand complex scientific content, and foster a more engaging and enriching learning environment in the science classroom.