STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– In the Classroom

By on February 10, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Cover of How Do Molecules Stay Together?How Do Molecules Stay Together?
by Madeline J. Hayes, illustrated by Srimalie Bassani

How Do Molecules Stay Together? is a picture book that introduces readers to some basic chemistry concepts. This could be a good read-aloud as an introduction to chemistry, although I suspect older students may find the call-and-response phrases a little too childish for their liking.

 

Marie Curie for Kids
by Amy M. O’Quinn

This is a book that’s great for readers who love history and activities. Follow Marie Curie’s life from a bright, young girl in occupied Poland through her Nobel prize winning discoveries. This book is packed from activities that explore a wide range of topics, including geography, culture, and science. I read this book in its e-book version, which had some formatting issues that occasionally made it challenging to absorb. This could be an opportunity to explore those areas with an activity. (See below)

The Radium Girls
by Kate Moore

What happens when people are exposed to light waves emitted from radioactive material? That’s what this book covers, by telling the stories of a group of women who worked with radium. This is not an easy read emotionally, but it tells a very important story. It’s referenced in Marie Curie for Kids, and would be a great follow-on book for that one.

 

Bonus Books:

Werewolf, dressed as an astronaut, standing on a scale. Scale reads: "Matter Meter: 100% Werewolf"Werewolves and States of Matter
by Janet Slingerland, illustrated by Angel Mosquito

For readers who love graphic novels and/or werewolves, this book provides a great introduction to chemistry. It explores the concept of matter, what states it can exist in, and how matter transforms from one state to another.

 

Cartoon character appears to create molecular structure out of sand with the help of another character with a bucket.Explore Atoms and Molecules! (with 25 Great Projects)
by Janet Slingerland, illustrated by Matt Aucoin

If you’re looking for activities that help explore atoms and molecules, be sure to check out this book. It covers lots of different chemistry topics, including atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical reactions. There’s even a section that introduces readers to Lewis dot diagrams, a great way to visualize how atoms combine.

 

As always, there are lots of different things that can be done with these books. Be sure to check out the activities provided in the books. Some of the books also have educator materials or informative websites associated with them. Here are links to some of them:

There is a website dedicated to The Radium Girls. There is an educator guide linked on this page of the site: https://www.theradiumgirls.com/the-radium-girls-young-readers

The Atoms and Molecules page of my website has some links of interest: http://janetsbooks.com/atoms-and-molecules

There is a classroom guide and a free downloadable activity on the Nomad Press site: https://nomadpress.net/nomadpress-books/explore-atoms-molecules

Some of this month’s books are older, and the web links provided in them no longer work. However, since the authors thought they were worthy of inclusion, exploring them might be a good exercise. If a link no longer works, can you find the same information on another reliable website or page?

Here are some other ideas for activities.

Create a Timeline

As mentioned in the book descriptions, I had some difficulties with the book formatting in Marie Curie for Kids. This was particularly true for the timeline provided in the book. In order to better visualize the timeline, create one of your own. This could be done on a single sheet of paper, or it could be constructed so it wraps around an entire room. This can also be an opportunity to explore the use of technology in presenting a timeline, whether it’s created with a graphic tool like Canva, a slideshow like PowerPoint, or whatever your favorite tool is.

Students can choose what should be placed on the timeline, based on the books they’ve read. Including pictures or illustrations of the events helps everyone visualize the events better. This provides lots of opportunities to practice research skills. This is also an opportunity for students to work together to create it.

Here are some ideas of things that could be included on the timeline:

  • Major life events for the people involved in the science (the Curies, Mendeleev, Bohr, etc.).
  • Important discoveries, including elements, atomic structure, effects of elements, etc.
  • Key dates related to products using chemicals.
  • Major world events like the World Wars.

Get Messy!

Chemistry can be one of the messiest of the scientific disciplines. The books on this month’s book list include lots of experiments that explore chemical reactions. Here are a few popular experiments:

Elephant Toothpaste:

Erupting Soda:

Making slime:

Get Thoughtful

Scientific discoveries often have unintended consequences. The stories of the Curies and the Radium Girls are perfect examples of this. Here is an article from the Society of Physics Studies and the American Institute of Physics that addresses this topic:  https://students.aip.org/radiations/discoveries-unintended-consequences-and-the-values-of-science. After reading it, have some discussions about the topic. Does the scientific process help to address this?

This opens up the topic of the scientific process. This website from UC Berkeley has lots of information on this topic: https://undsci.berkeley.edu/understanding-science-101/how-science-works

Explore (Largely Unsung) Scientists

Marie Curie was the first women to achieve many accomplishments. There are other groups of people who have historically faced huge obstacles to achieving things like college degrees and scientific discoveries. Often, discoveries made by women and minorities were attributed to others.

Explore some of the underrepresented people who have made great discoveries related to chemistry.

Each student could explore a different scientist and incorporate it into the timeline from above.

February is Black History Month. Here are a few lists of scientists to explore (there is some overlap between the lists):

March is Women’s History Month. Here are some lists of women scientists to explore:

Woman with short brown hair and glasses, smiling.Janet Slingerland has written over 2 dozen books for young readers, including Werewolves and States of Matter and Explore Atoms and Molecules! (with 25 Great Projects). To find out more about Janet and her books, check out her website: http://janetsbooks.com

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STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– Book List

By on February 3, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

 

Chemistry is everywhere! It helps us understand how the world works. Explore many aspects of chemistry with biographies, a cookbook, a graphic novel, a study guide, amazing true tales, and several fascinating informational texts!

Cover of the book Who Was George Washington Carver?

Who Was George Washington Carver? by Jim Gigliotti

This book introduces Carver, a famous American agricultural scientist, educator, and scientist. Born into slavery in 1864, Carver became the first Black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and then its first Black professor. His research with plants which focused largely on peanuts, revolutionized Southern agriculture.

Cover of the book Maria Orosa Freedom Fighter, Scientist and Inventor from the Philippines

Maria Orosa Freedom Fighter: Scientist and Inventor from the Philippines by Norma Olizon-Chikiamco

This book shares the inspiring biography of a remarkable woman who studied chemistry and pharmaceutical science and created super-nutritious foods to save the lives of many people in the Philippines during a time of crisis.

Cover of the book The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements: The Powers, Uses, and Histories of Every Atom in the Universe by Lisa Congdon

Learn about all 118 elements in this book for children age 10 and up. The book includes images that take the reader on a periodic table journey. Along the way it also includes infographics and information about scientists.

Cover of the book Science Comics The Periodic Table of Elements Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything

Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements: Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything by Jon Chad

Mel, an anxious chemistry student, dreams of the land of the elements in this graphic novel. Readers learn about the elements and periodic table as Mel and Hydrogen battle against their evil nemesis Elemancer. The book’s imaginative and interesting story are likely to appeal to older elementary and middle school students and provide a fresh approach to understanding the periodic table.   

Cover of the book Chemistry for Curious Kids

Chemistry for Curious Kids: An Illustrated Introduction to Atoms, Elements, Chemical Reactions, and More! by Lynn Huggins-Cooper

This book provides clear, easy to follow explanations that support understanding of the states of matter, chemical building blocks, the periodic table, and scientific tools. Illustrations, questions, and thoughtful arrangement of key ideas make complex chemistry content accessible.  Other titles in this STEM series focus on biology and science and math.

 

Cover of the book The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists

The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists: Good Science Makes Great Food: 70+ Recipes, Experiments, & Activities (Young Chefs Series) America’s Test Kitchen

This book explains everyday cooking phenomena and helps children understand the “why” in food preparation. It’s full of hands-on experiments that explain how chemical interactions transform food. It will encourage young chefs to ask questions, observe, measure with precision, collect data, analyze, and answer the food science questions they find intriguing.

Cover of the book The Radium Girls

The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore

This book is the true and shocking story of hundreds of girls who worked in factories, painting watch dials with radium. With each new dial, they licked the paintbrush to create the finest possible tip. At first the fact that they glowed was a marvel but the novelty turned controversial and horrifying as radium poisoning overtook them. Their heroic courage and resolve led to advances in laboratory regulations and research.

Cover of the book Our World in Pictures The Elements Book

The Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table (DK Our World in Pictures)

With remarkable pictures and text, this book offers a fascinating tour of the elements, substances that cannot be broken up into smaller ingredients. It looks at the unique and sometimes surprising properties of the elements and explains where they come from, what they can do, and how they can be used.

Everything You Need to Ace Chemistry in One Big Fat Notebook by Jennifer Swanson

This book uses diagrams, graphics, mnemonic devices, and compelling characters to delve into atoms. elements, compounds, mixtures, the Periodic Table, chemical reactions, chemical calculations, and so much more. It’s a great companion for students studying for a chemistry exam.

Cover of How Do Molecules Stay Together?

How Do Molecules Stay Together?: A Book About Chemistry by Madeline J. Hayes

This book uses a question-and-answer format to explain a variety of chemistry concepts: atoms, elements, compounds, states of matter, and chemical reactions. It includes a simple and effective explanation of condensation, evaporation, freezing, and melting. The book is part of the How Do Series.

Cover of the book the Disappearing Spoon

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean

This book is full of fun and fascinating chemistry stories. Anecdotes of adventure, conflict, drama, and obsessions reveal how elements influenced our world. First published in 2011, this book continues to bring the history of chemistry alive.

Cover of the book Marie Curie for Kids

Marie Curie for Kids: Her Life and Scientific Discoveries, with 21 Activities and Experiments by Amy M. O’Quinn

Learn about Marie Curie in this engaging book. Many are familiar with Curie’s brilliance in chemistry and physics as the first woman to win a Nobel Prize through boiling mercury off to reveal pure radium metal. Alongside Curie’s brilliance in atomic physic discoveries, the reader learns about Curie’s role as a mother, her scientific partnership with her husband, inclination to forget sleeping and eating, refusal to monetize her scientific discoveries, and her health concerns. Twenty-one hands-on activities and experiments further the text, along with a list of resources and interesting sidebars.

 

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

New Realeases Nov 2025

Bev Schellenberg is an author (A Prince Among Dragons; A Princess Among Dragons), as well as a writer of creative nonfiction, poetry, and picture books. She’s an advocate of STEM who was a science fair national winner and high school robotics club sponsor, and passionate about young people discovering, following the passion inside them and flourishing. She’s taught grades kindergarten to grade 12 and is currently an academic advisor, careers teacher, and armchair futurist. Learn more about Bev at BevSchellenberg.com.

 

 


Carolyn Pfister is a STEM Content Developer, writer/illustrator, and coordinator of the California Early Math Project. She is interested in encouraging family and community STEM opportunities and maintaining 

children’s early love and success with math and science. Carolyn writes a monthly Substack on behalf of the California Early Math Project – https://carolynpfister.substack.com/. Learn more about Carolyn at Carolynpfister.com

 

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STEM Tuesday Author Interview: Jasmine Ting

By on January 27, 2026   /   Forests/Temperate Trees, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!

Today, we’re interviewing Jasmine Ting, author of Forests in Danger (A True Book: The Earth at Risk). The book explores forests around the world and invites kids to learn how climate change is impacting these biomes and what we can all do to protect these ecosystems!

 

Forests in Danger

Andi: What forest fact that you learned surprised you the most? For me, it was the sheer number of insect species in the Amazon rainforest!

Jasmine: I think the fact that 25% of the world’s modern medicines come from rainforest plants surprised me. I feel like we’re all so used to this idea that medicine is produced in laboratories and those types of environments that we forget—many of the things we have come from nature. Though, of course, Indigenous people who safeguard these forests are very well aware.

Andi: What is your research process like?

Jasmine: I wish I could say I was the type of person who goes to the library and starts with books, but like any other person in the 21st century, I begin with Google. I look up basic facts to get a general survey of the wealth of knowledge out there, from reliable sources and outlets, of course. (Nat Geo, The Smithsonian, etc.) Then, when I spot certain interesting tidbits that require deeper dives, I do that. I usually end up in a rabbit hole with too many open tabs, but I tend to be able to navigate my way through my browser.

Andi: How do text elements like fun facts and a timeline help kids learn?

Jasmine: I love having fun facts and elements like timelines because they make information easily digestible, and memorable. Sure, the entire book is easy enough for kids to read, but not everyone will realistically remember every single fact on every page. Having those text elements, which are visually straightforward and not enclosed in blocks of texts, makes things stand out and stick.

Andi: I loved Jack Dalton’s interview! Why include this in your book? What might kids take away from his experiences?

Jasmine: Well, quite frankly, all authors working on the series were asked to include a “kid hero” interview. But I certainly recognize the significance of having this in the book. It adds a level of relatability, to hear from another kid and have that voice speak to them about the matter. It also, hopefully, gives a sense of inspiration—that a kid (like them) is out there, doing something about forests that are in danger.

I think what kids might take away from Jack’s experiences is that they have tools at their disposal to do small things about the causes they care about. Those small things they do can snowball and create a big impact. But caring—really caring—about something enough to do something about it is the first step.

Andi: You make it clear that forests are in trouble—but you also include a sense of hope. Why is that important to you as someone who writes for kids?

Jasmine: It’s not very constructive to just impart this sense of doom and gloom. It’s important for kids not to grow up with a defeatist mindset, especially when they’re the ones who will be inheriting this Earth we live on. They need to know that not all hope is lost, that there are people who care about this world and their future, and there are certainly ways that they can do their part.

Andi: What is your favorite experience you’ve had in a forest?

Jasmine: One of my favorite experiences to date has been going to Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, Philippines. I went with my family, cousins, and uncles and it was a fun adventure through guided trails within the nature preserve. Beyond the photo opportunities and time with family, it was great quality time getting to know my home country’s natural resources and environments. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable not just about the richness of our country’s forests, but also the threats they face. It was a bit of a wakeup call for me.

 

Jasmine TingJasmine Ting is a journalist currently based in New York City who calls the Philippines home. She is always hungry for stories, for adventure, for the truth… but, mostly, for good food!

 

Andi DiehnAndi Diehn is the author of over 20 children’s books. She also works as a children’s book editor and marketer at Nomad Press.

 

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