Welcome to the wonderful world of Maurice on the Moon! This book is designed to meet California State Standards for Earth and space science for 5th through 8th graders. The book teaches students about the Earth-Moon system as they read about the exciting adventures of a boy who lives on a lunar colony, but wants nothing more than to return to the Earth. The planet we call home is the distant and exotic world that seems like science fiction to Maurice
As they read Maurice on the Moon, your students will be introduced to ideas and concepts in a way that is natural for both of you, through literature, the language of storytelling. The idea of learning through stories is as old as civilization itself, probably as old as language itself. It doesn't matter how sophisticated, or how elementary you think your science background is. Maurice will make your teaching of science natural and almost effortless. Many teachers have said that they have learned as much about the Moon while reading Maurice as their students have!
The basic concepts that the book tries to convey fall naturally into several categories: Earth and Space science, the Moon and its history, having a sustainable ecology and economy, and human culture and civilization. Because the story is multi-layered, you can choose to emphasize whichever strand you wish. Consider Maurice on the Moon your buffet table of learning! Take what you like from it, emphasize what you like (or what your district and school requires), and use Maurice as a springboard to unleash your student's natural creative and exploratory nature. Some classes may emphasize the "hard science" aspect of Maurice, learning about the Moon, how it was formed, and what its surface is really like. Other classes may emphasize the humanistic side of Maurice, exploring ideas about space exploration, colonization of the Moon or other planets, and how civilization will change as we move out into space. Some classes may want to go deeper, and think about how Maurice's experience on a lunar colony may teach us how to maintain a sustainable economy and ecology here on Earth. One thing is certain, no matter what direction humanity may go in, there will be children and students there in the future. Our young children will be the parents and grandparents of these future citizens, and we need to prepare them for journeys that we, as teachers, may never live to see.
Each chapter is followed by a list of themes and questions teachers may ask students to discuss either verbally, or in their written work. Students as young as 3rd grade have used Maurice on the Moon and produced beautiful artwork and stories about the characters. Older children (and their teachers!) may enjoy the activities that accompany each chapter. Some are simple and elegant demonstrations, some activities are more intellectually and scientifically sophisticated; while others qualify as real laboratory activities that can generate quantified data that would impress any science fair judge! How you use these activities is up to you. Sometimes a younger group can benefit from seeing an experiment done as a demonstration - even if it may be too complex for them to perform on their own.
Nor are you alone, when you use Maurice on the Moon, you have access to the author for assistance and suggestions that are tailored to your classroom. Both teachers and students can contact me via this website with questions about the book and its characters, about your class, stories of your successes, and suggestions for other teachers. Students, should be sure to include their name and grade level! Questions and suggestions will be compiled by grade level. You can request a list of previous questions and answers for your grade level - obviously, as this list grows and develops more material will be available, so don't be shy! E-mail as often as you wish - children's questions are also welcome, as long as they are screened by the instructor.