Jacqueline Kelly earned herself quite a fan club over here with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. It provides a delicious fictional introduction to the world of being a naturalist at a time when the skills of naturalists are no longer emphasized in science classes. In fact, Max and love it so much that I created a unit study to make sure we pore over every perfect little piece.
Granted, it makes a great subject for a unit study because it combines scientific observation with American history and social studies. The primary conflict in the novel pits Calpurnia's interest in science and curiosity about nature against the social expectations of her sex at a time when corsets were considered "the proper thing to do".
This unit study is what I call a "folder study" in that we go through it gradually and add all related materials to a 3 prong folder as we go. It gives us something to go back and flip through- something to save and enjoy again. I'll try to post a few pages from the study every couple of days as we continue our exploration. Enjoy!
Chapter 1 Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary (PDF)
Nature Journal Page 1: Stump Stories (PDF)
For more opinions and perspectives on this book from educators and book lovers, try Handmade Homeschool, Here in the Bonny Glen, Books 4 Your Kids, Simple Homeschool, Avant Parenting, Home Education Magazine, and Write4Kids. I'll go ahead and warn you that you'll have a hard time finding negative reviews of this book- it charms kids and adults alike.
