By the Inhabit Media & Inhabit Education Books Team
Science, math, and art are all around us! From animals to technology, there’s a lot for students to get excited about. STEAM education has been shown to have many benefits, from enhancing problem-solving skills to encouraging teamwork. So, why not use it to help strengthen students’ literacy skills, too?
Incorporating books about animals, nature, storytelling, and Inuit culture into lessons can help reinforce STEAM concepts as well as engage reluctant readers. When students read books about subjects that interest them, they are more likely to stay engaged. Stories can also be a great way to spark a life-long passion for learning about the world.
Check out the amazing Inhabit Education Books and Inhabit Media titles below for some great recommendations, all of which are available in both English and Inuktitut.
A Walk on the Tundra
By Rebecca Hainnu and Anna Ziegler, Illustrated by Qin Leng
Ages 5–7
Inuujaq, a little girl who travels with her grandmother onto the tundra, soon learns that the tundra’s colourful flowers, mosses, shrubs, and lichens are much more important to Inuit than she originally believed. This informative story teaches that Arctic plants have many uses and the book also includes a field guide with photographs and scientific information about a wide array of plants found throughout the Arctic ecosystem.
Animals Illustrated Series
By Various authors
Ages 6–8
This series mixes fun-filled facts about animals with detailed illustrations and diagrams to create a unique collection of children’s non-fiction books about Arctic animals. Each volume contains first-hand accounts from authors living in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal.
Spencer the Siksik Solves a Problem
By Nadia Sammurtok and Shawna Thomson, Illustrated by Valentina Jaskina
Ages 6–8
When Spencer’s parents won’t buy him a tablet holder, Spencer must find a way to keep his tablet upright. This book encourages the development of problem-solving and engineering skills by teaching readers about the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit guiding principle of Qanuqtuurniq: being innovative and resourceful. What will Spencer create to solve his dilemma?
What Was It Like Then?
By Nadia Mike, Illustrated by Lenny Lishchenko
Ages 7–9
Miali loves spending time with her anaanatsiaq (grandmother)! Anaanatsiaq has lots of stories to share about her past. Miali loves listening to Anaanatsiaq’s stories and learning about what life was like long ago.
The Fox Wife
By Beatrice Deer, Illustrated by DJ Herron
Ages 7–9
One cloudless night, a fox falls to Earth and comes across a family of humans. As the seasons change and they move their camp, the fox follows them, growing ever more intrigued by human ways—and especially by the oldest son, Irniq. When Irniq grows older and sets out hunting on his own, he is surprised to enter his tent one day and find the lamp lit, the tea made‚ and a strange woman who says she is his wife. Tired of being alone, Irniq welcomes the woman. But soon he grows curious and cannot stop himself from asking too many questions.
How to Build an Iglu and a Qamutiik
By Solomon Awa, Illustrated by Andrew Breithaupt
Ages 9–12
This book provides how-to instructions for building an iglu and a qamutiik, along with general information on their construction and importance to survival. Complete with detailed illustrations, this valuable resource teaches readers about these structures that are so central to Inuit culture and tradition.
Animals & Nature Collection from Inhabit Education Books
By Various authors
Ages 5–12
These books explore the environment, sustainability, and life systems. Many of the titles support science units on the environment, animals, and seasons. They also teach about the Inuit traditional value of environmental stewardship.
For more incredible titles from Inhabit Education Books and Inhabit Media, visit their websites at inhabitmedia.com and inhabiteducationbooks.com.
This article originally appeared in the seventh issue of Root & STEM, Pinnguaq’s free print and online STEAM resource supporting educators in teaching digital skills
