Descriptive Science Writing

One of the most important skills of a scientist is to be able to scrutinize the world around him or her and then to describe it in writing so that others can imagine it.  Check out these beautiful examples of descriptive science writing!  They feature elegant similes, gorgeous examples of personification, and even some metaphors.  The variety of sentence structure creates a lovely flow.  Let these exceptional writers paint images in your mind's eye!  Leave some comments and let us know what you think!  Many thanks to Mrs. Kinkle who is at once a fabulous science teacher and a tremendous writing teacher!

Bird's Nest
by Annie B.

This is a bird's nest, fragile but safe, like a house made of cardboard.  It is tiny and soft, silently resting among the web of branches high from the grass.  Like a pillow for a doll, it waits for its owner to return and sleep in its warmth.  It looks like a straw hat resting on a farmer's head, protecting him from the rays of the sun as he works.  It is made from so many things, intricate but at the same time simple, like the rings of a tree stump.  It is impossible to believe that this tiny nest once had a bird living inside.  It's so small, so tiny, so delicate. 

Sand Dollar
by Tim C.

This is a sand dollar, as coarse as a piece of sandpaper grinding down the toughest wood.  This sand dollar is as big as a silver dollar but much more valuable because it is more rare and beautiful.  As tan as the sandy shore, it hides from the world--the best camouflage ever.  The sand dollar moves around quietly and slowly on the beaches waiting for someone to find it. 


Amythyst
by Michaela C.

This is a piece of amethyst,
Unique and beautiful
Like an elegant chandelier hanging from above.
Sparkly and bright
Twinkling like a purple, shining star
Standing confidently, alone in the clear, black sky.
Shimmering.
But it is rough on the other side
Like a two-faced friend.
Glassy but firm,
As if it were preparing to break and hurt you if something went wrong.
Lavender and bumpy
Realizing that it is beautiful in its own special way.


Moon Snail Shell
by Noelle B.

This is a moon snail shell, hollow and empty like a thoughtless mind, smooth and whitish like a swirl of chocolate and vanilla ice cream that resists melting.  Coiled tight and brown, it looks like a snake, sleeping hidden in a den.  Curled up and darker toward the middle, like a whirlpool, it sucks a mighty ship to its doom.  Hard and a little rough like a seahorse, it curls around seaweed. 

Pine Cone
by Christopher Rizzi

This is a pine cone,
brown and shiny
as a chocolate cake.
Long and pointy,
it pierces like a bullet
shot from a sniper.
Sweet and sticky
as sap on a tree,
Untrimmed and sharp
like a fingernail
waiting to be cut,
Broken and skeletal
like a beaten ship.

Sea Glass
By Natalie Ostrowski

This is a piece of sea glass,
Rippled and spotted with dirt,
Like a green pond in the spring.
Deep and vibrant,
It reflects your image like a crystal mirror, drowning with unique beauty.
It looks strong, but would shatter in an instant.
It is smooth like a weathered rock, but more stunning.
It is cold and mysterious.
Many wonder what lurks beneath the surface... 

The Dead Wasp
by Carla Ko

This is a dead wasp, furry and striped like an old, worn out sweater.  Shriveled and old, it lays like a dead leaf in the corner of my living room window.  The dead wasp's legs are crinkled and black as the night sky.  The wings of the insect are transparent and light as a feather.  The wasp's eyes are closed like a shut door that should not be opened.  The old wasp rests on its fragile back; it remembers the days before its death.