I Was a Third Grade Science Project by Mary Jane Auch and Herm Auch

Hilarious. Sarcastic. Trouble-Makers. Scientific. Silly.

I Was a Third Grade Science Project

Written by Mary Jane Auch. Illustrated by Herm Auch.

Published by Holiday House, 1998.

Auch, 1998.

Auch, 1998.

"Auch's wise-cracking third-graders and superb comic timing will have readers rolling around on the floor." -Booklist

From Publishers Weekly
Three boys create mayhem while scrambling for their science fair project. "Auch fuels her novel with funny, flippant dialogue and clever one-liners," said PW. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)

Nominated for Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2002.

Nominated for the New York State Charlotte Award, 2000.
Nominated for the Texas Blue Bonnet, 1999-2000.

With it's humorous and sarcastic dialogue and hand-drawn, cartoonish illustrations, it’s that time of year when Mrs. Metz’s introduces to her third graders that they are able to enter their own science fair projects into the Ontario Elementary Science Fair. The exciting thing is… whoever is the first place winner, they will win free passes to Wonderland Lake. Josh is thrilled because he knows that his best friend and soon-to-be science fair partner, Brian is the smartest kid in the class, basically a GENIUS! Later that day, Brian and Josh have a sleepover and Brian explores and thinks of different science fair project ideas. However, in this odd predicament, Brian thinks of hypnotizing his dog Arful into being a cat as the science fair project. Thinking how impossible and outrageous this experiment is, Josh goes along with the project idea knowing that he and Brian will not be winning those tickets to Wonderland Lake... Who will be the winners of the third grade science fair? Will Brian and Josh’s experiment work? Who is actually getting hypnotized?

Auch, 1998.

Extras: Mary Jane Auch's I Was a Third Grade Science Project is a funny and exhilarating book that will engage and possibly provoke new project ideas for your student's upcoming science fair. The text is very personable and it might remind you of some of the students in your class. Hand-drawn illustrations by Mary Jane's husband, Herm, are included in the book to motivate the student's imagination. Reviews from Publisher Weekly and Booklist and recommendation of other books are also provided.

Literary Genre: Science Fiction

Reading Level: Lexile Framework 600L, Grade 4/5

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read or Small Group Read
ISBN-13: 978-0440416067

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Teachers... Here are some resources to help 

you teach I Was a Third Grade Science Project

Auch, 1998.

Electronic Resources:

Auch Books: Author & Illustrator - This link provides information about the author and illustrator and how they became the people who they are today. This source also includes a variety of teaching resources that go hand-in-hand with Auch's book. In addition, teachers could book the Auch's to visit the school and to have them teach students how to write stories. Great to review before or during reading as a way to interest and engage students.

Author: Mary Jane Auch - This link provides information about Mary Jane Auch and why she became a young children author. Auch makes personal connections and experiences to her writing. She also discusses how she is interested in illustrating.

Science Kids - This link is an interactive science website just for students! Great for students and teachers to review during or after reading. The source includes fun science experiments that will motivate, engage and interest students, cool facts, free online games and activities, science fair project ideas, quizzes, science videos and photos. Teachers, you could also visit this site for science lesson plans.

Auch, 1998.

Science for Kids! - This link is another interactive science website for students, focusing primarily on Chemistry. Great for students and teachers to use during or after reading. Students are able to view the periodic table and engage in a variety of activities that explore the planet earth, human body, motion and energy, and many more. Teachers are also able to use this source for teaching chemistry and other educational resources.

Science News for Kids - This link provides "intelligent, accessible and award-winning coverage" about the science field just for kids. The science articles are very diverse which will hook student's interest. Great for students to review after reading especially if they are interested in science.

Key Vocabulary: announcement, experiment, observations, originality, frantically, psychiatrist, hypnotize

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text in Science as a supplement when introducing the Scientific Method or as a motivator when students have to enter or create their own Science Fair Project.
2. Use this text in Reading and Language Arts to discuss narrative elements such as point of view. Was this book written in the first, second or third person? How does that effect the perspective of the story?
3. Use this text to explore the difference between real or fantasy. Ask students if the science project that Brian and Josh are doing is a credible experiment; can this be real or fake? Teachers could make a list of real or fake experiments and have students differentiate them into those categories.

Comprehension Strategies:

Auch, 1998.

• Before Reading: 
• Have students do a Think-Pair-Share or Text Impressions. Ask students to think/predict "Why the title of the book is called I Was a Third Grade Science Project?" What do you think the story could be about based off the title? What is the science project?" This individual part will give the student time to gather their thoughts. Then have students pair up with another student so both can share what they are reflecting and expand each others thinking. Next, have a spokesperson speak for each group on what they thought about the book; this allows the spokesperson to not only share his or her own thoughts, but also his/her partner's as well. After, have students to keep their predictions in their head until they finish, then ask students if their prediction was right.
• During Reading: 
• Have students boost their metacognitive skills in their reading by using sticky notes. On the board, write prompts that will help the student monitor their comprehension when reading. Each sticky note should have one prompt, i.e. "Do I understand this? What is the main point I should remember? Why did this happen? Is this important or not important?" Having this tool for students is vastly important during reading because it allows the student to pause and reflect about their reading. Students could also make self-to-text connections while reading as well.
• After Reading: 
• Have students split into small groups. Each group will participate in Reader's Theatre; they will be able to pick a passage within the story that they will like to act out. This is an excellent strategy to assess student's comprehension and fluency because the characters in the book are humorous and sarcastic, thus students must depict these characteristics in their acting.

Auch, 1998.

Student Writing Activity: Set up a small table with different types of objects that allow students to make several observations. Like Brian in the story, he wrote down many observations that he noticed when he was experimenting hypnosis with his dog. Have students record 10 observations that they find and explain why they made that observation based on the object given. Students will also draw a picture of the object as another way of explaining what they saw.

Auch, M. J., & Auch, H. (1998). I was a third grade science project. New York: Holiday House.