Science Archives - Page 22 of 30

August 12, 2011August 12, 2011

Dinosaur Discovery: Everything You Need to Be a Paleontologist

If you have ever wished you could have a retired paleontologist come to your classroom or home and give your kids hands-on science lessons, then Dinosaur Discovery: Everything You Need to Be a Paleontologist by Chris McGowan and illustrated by Erica Lyn Schmidt is the book for you.

Interspersed with two-page spreads of amazing watercolor illustrations of dinosaurs by Erica Lyn Schmidt (see her website for numerous examples) and detailed information about specific dinosaurs, are instructions for hands-on activities with bright full-color photographs. It really gives a feel of going back in time and then coming to the present to learn more. (Although it would have been nice to include photographs of a girl performing the experiments as well as a boy).

Chris McGowan’s hands-on activities pack a powerful science punch. He incorporates numerous science principals into experiments and demonstrations that are deceptively simple and involve materials you can find around the house. These are real concepts that a paleontologist would need to comprehend and shows how well-rounded they must be, understanding not only dinosaurs but also such diverse fields as physics, anatomy and geology.

Pinning down an age range for this book is difficult. Most likely it targets middle grade, but many children get intensely interested in dinosaurs at an earlier age. I would say younger children would eat this up with quite a bit of help from an adult. It would also tie in wonderfully with a trip to a natural history museum that features dinosaur exhibits.

Teachers, homeschoolers and librarians will definitely find Dinosaur Discovery: Everything You Need to Be a Paleontologist a useful resource for experiments to supplement a variety of science lessons, such as earth science or anatomy lessons. Be sure to pick up this book and invite a paleontologist over soon.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (June 28, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1416947647
ISBN-13: 978-1416947646

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We are hosting STEM Friday today. Stop over for links to more excellent STEM books.

If you would like to participate in the future, go to Chapter Book of the Day for a list of STEM Friday hosts.

August 4, 2011August 28, 2011

Seabird in the Forest: Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet

Seabird in the Forest: Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet written and illustrated by Joan Dunning caught my eye because my family and I had become enamored with similar birds, the ancient murrelets, when we watched The Life of Birds with David Attenborough. It turns out the story of the marbled murrelets is even more amazing. Dunning reveals that it was only recently discovered these little sea birds fly long distances, sometimes more than 50 miles, to nest in old growth forests.

The main story follows two parent murrelets raising a chick. Many of the pages include sidebars within the illustrations with many more fascinating details about the birds and their habitat. Even the endpapers (front and back are different) are filled with intriguing facts and more information about the trees the birds nest in. For budding scientists, the author has included snippets of information about how biologists study these elusive creatures.

Joan Dunning illustrated the book with oils, as she says in her website, to capture the darker, heavier feel of the forests. She says she got the idea for the book when she saw the parent murrelets bringing food to their chick while she was working on Secrets of the Nest a decade ago. We are glad she did!

It is always fun to reinforce learning with some hands-on activities:

Celebrate Joan Dunning’s illustrations by drawing or painting pictures of marbled murrelets
Participate in citizen science projects, like the Backyard Bird Count
Have your children try building their own bird nest and other ideas at Growing With Science
Explore a tree activity
If you are interested in helping with conservation, the National Park Service has a page with ideas and posters for children to color. The main thrust is to help keep predators of murrelets from becoming too much of a problem.

Intrigued? Check out this video from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more information about the incredible marbled murrelets.

For another review, be sure to visit Archimedes Notebook

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (April 1, 2011) +

Reading level: Picture book Ages 4-8

ISBN-10: 1590787153
ISBN-13: 978-1590787151

STEM Friday is hosted today at NC Teacher Stuff. Stop over for links to more excellent STEM books.

If you would like to participate in the future, go to Chapter Book of the Day for a list of STEM Friday hosts.

July 29, 2011July 29, 2011

From Tadpole to Frog

From Tadpole To Frog by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Reading level: Beginning Reader, Scholastic Reader Level 1

Summary: Age appropriate discussion of the life cycle of a frog.

Illustrations: full-color photographs

Comments: Although a simple, straightforward nonfiction book, it still manages to be quite appealing. Perfect for the young scientist/naturalist interested in learning more about frogs.

Related activities (preschool to first grade):

Create sequence cards of the life stages of a frog, like these at Enchanted Learning. Have your child put them in order.
Frog hands (mimic webbed feet)
How frogs eat
See also Hip-Pocket Papa activities

Compatible fiction: The Frog Prince (several versions available)

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (February 1, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0545273374
ISBN-13: 978-0545273374

STEM Friday is hosted today at Chapter Book of the Day. Be sure to stop over for links to more excellent STEM books, as well as a list of upcoming STEM Friday hosts.

NC Teacher has a review of Inside Hurricanes, which we enjoyed as well.

July 21, 2011October 4, 2011

The Elephant Scientist

The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson with photographs by the first author and her husband, Timothy Rodwell

Series: Scientists in the Field

Reading level: Middle grade, 9-12

Summary: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study elephants in Africa? This book follows Dr. Caitlin O’Connell as she studies elephant social life and communication and at the same time works on ways to prevent elephants from ruining crops planted by local people. She discovers that elephants communicate to one another by detecting vibrations in the ground with their feet and trunks.

Illustrations: Photographs by Caitlin O’Connell and Timothy Rodwell

Comments: The Elephant Scientist is a wonderful new addition to the outstanding Scientists in the Field series. Because the scientist in the spotlight is one of the co-authors, this book has unprecedented access to how the science was done and what the scientist was thinking. The book not only reveals the process of science, but also gives state-of-the-art information about elephants, as well. How the elephants talk to one another is absolutely fascinating.

Related activities:

Simply Science a a review of a related book, Elephant Talk by Ann Downer. and a link where you can listen to elephants, as well as activities

Exploring Elephants at Growing With Science

Compatible fiction: The White Elephant by Sid Fleischman and illustrated by Robert McGuire

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; (July 11, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0547053444
ISBN-13: 978-0547053448

Today we are excited to be joining a new meme called STEM Friday at Chapter Book of the Day.

Jeff at NC Teacher Stuff shares another STEM book perfect for summer reading: How Do Waves Form?