SuperQuesters: The Case of the Angry Sea
This great book, SuperQuesters: The Case of Angry Sea by Thomas Bernard and Lisa Moss was in our recent key stage 1 book subscription. Part of the SuperQuesters series, it immerses children in an exciting STEM learning adventure. Each book in the series combines adventure stories with an educational non-fiction twist.
Whilst reading each story in the series, children develop over 12 different STEM skills including problem solving, coding, logic and sequencing as they complete 8 interactive quests/puzzles. The books are carefully designed with cross-curricular learning opportunities in mind, offering links between science, learning about the environment, computing and maths. The books are also designed to support the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1.
Images from inside the Superquester book
Interview with the authors
I had the opportunity to interview Thomas and Lisa and ask them some questions about the book and the SuperQuesters series. Here’s what they had to say:
What inspired you to create the SuperQuesters?
A few years after our twin daughters were born, we started to look for ways to begin nurturing and developing their curiosity and initial interest in STEM learning. We found a lack of options available at the time, especially for younger children. And most of the options that were available were limited and depicted stereotypical lead characters or role models such as young boys in a white lab coat. This really struck a chord with us, we felt it was time for all young children to see that STEM is something for them regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or abilities. From this, the SuperQuesters were born.
Why did you decide to use adventure stories to share STEM with children?
We know that for many, the idea of introducing children to STEM topics and developing a STEM learning mindset can feel daunting. It conjures up visions of complexity, feelings of intimidation and lack of understanding as to how to best approach the topic.
Using fiction books and storytelling is an ideal and effective way of sharing new information in a familiar setting. That’s where SuperQuesters came from. By using absorbing and interactive plots in the series, children are encouraged to engage in STEM topics in new ways. It helps them see how subjects like coding are something they can do. The stories focus on building the reader’s confidence so that they feel more inclined to engage in STEM in real-world scenarios in the future.
As well as learning STEM skills, each book in the series focuses on a “big” topic. What topics can teachers and pupils learn more about?
We wanted to make each of the adventures engaging and fun, and inspire the young reader to finish the stories excited to further discuss and explore a STEM-related topic or subject. In The Case of the Stolen Sun, we focus on the science behind hot air balloons, as the SuperQuesters try to work out how a hot air balloon goes up in the air.
The Case of the Missing Memory, is about computer memory and robotics.
Meanwhile,The Case of The Great Energy Robbery and The Case of the Angry Sea both focus on environmental issues introducing readers to renewable energy, water pollution, recycling and caring for our environment. Each story encourages children and their grown-ups to start speaking and thinking about the topics together. By making these big subjects an integral part of the exciting, adventure story, we aim to make the them accessible even for the most reluctant readers. There is also an assortment of fun science facts included throughout the books and a glossary at the end to help expand children’s vocabulary.
How can teachers use SuperQuesters: The Case of the Angry Sea in Schools?
The books can be used in a number of ways including:
1. Share the book during reading time
You can read the story together and then work on each quest as a team talking through your decisions together. Year 1 teacher, Ellie Atkins, explains how it worked when she used the first book in the series, SuperQuesters: The Case of the Stolen Sun, with her class.
You can also read more teacher case studies on the QuestFriendz website.
2. Focus on the environmental issues
The Case of the Angry Sea focuses on how the SuperQuesters can help their local environment by removing water pollution and recycling. This can be used in conjunction with a national day such as Earth Day as a springboard to incorporate climate change and the environment in your lessons. Check out Dr Thomas Bernard’s article for top tips on how to achieve this.
3. Create crafts based on the book
You can try making plant pots out of plastic bottles or try to find your own solution to the issues in the book, just like one of our young readers.
4. Use extra resources
For each of the books in the series we have a digital activity pack available which you can download from our website:
- SuperQuesters: The Case of the Stolen Sun activity pack
- SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory activity pack
- SuperQuesters: The Case of The Great Energy Robbery activity pack
- SuperQuesters: The Case of the Angry Sea activity pack
5. Get parents involved
The books not only make a great addition to the classroom but can be used at home either independently or shared with a parent, sibling or friend.
Do you have any tips of how to keep inspiring children to engage in STEM in the classroom?
Try creating your very own ‘Secret STEM book’ box/corner/display. This could include The Three Little Pigs (building, testing), The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (sequencing), The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (habitat, food chains and ecology), The Iron Man by Ted Hughes (magnetic energy). While for non-fiction, you could include books on baking, building with LEGO bricks and nature. Get the children to see if they can spot STEM in any books they are reading to add to the collection.
Look out for national days that you can use in your classroom such as World Baking Day (17 May), Water Saving Week (May), World Environment Day (5 June), UK Festival of Robotics (June), Coding Week (September), World Space Week (October) and National Engineering Day (2 November).
Find out more about SuperQuesters and QuestFriendz find us online:
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