Using steampunk to teach science, history, perspective, morality, religion, and ethics was the topic of discussion on Friday, International A (W). Presenter Emily P. Bush headed up a panel of authors and educators.

The room was set up as a roundtable discussion, allowing participants to ask questions of the panel. The venue filled quickly, with a few sitting on the floor. Many topics came up, like what books to utilize with lower level readers and how to engage students.

An array of books appropriate for kids aged three to teens made the rounds. YA steampunk is definitely an area with growth potential. It’s a great way to introduce a genre and to encourage creative thinking. It may also stimulate young inventors to come with new masterpieces.

This panel had the audience’s attention right out of the gate. A lot of the participants were teachers; a lot were not. The bottom line is finding ways to get kids interested in steampunk.