STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday Author Interview: Jasmine Ting
January 27, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

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! 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...
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STEM Tuesday– Forests/Temperate Trees — Writing Tips & Resources
January 20, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

Hello, and welcome back to STEM Tuesday’s Writing Tips and Resources. I’m Stephanie. The intersection of trees and writing is a well-traversed one. I’ve been meaning to write about it for years, to really analyze the motif across children’s literature. Trees are symbolic of many nouns… people, places, things, and ideas. At least for me, trees invoke feelings of magic, wonder, stability, and safety. I feel confident in surmising the same is true of others; otherwise, why are they so prevalent in these writings? As an English major, Sigmund Freud captured my attention because of his essay The Interpretation of Dreams which in my humble opinion—along with The Uncanny—remains his most relevant work informing literary analysis. In the former essay, he explored the significance of dream-elements in proportion to each other. In terms of story (the supposed dream), and in service of the writing craft, how could his insights become...
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STEM Tuesday– Forests/Temperate Trees — In the Classroom
January 13, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

Trees are some of nature’s most amazing creations! Around the world, trees of all sizes and shapes are the heart of forest ecosystems. They provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, stabilize soil, and serve as essential habitat and food sources for countless species. In these books, readers can take a walk through a number of different forests across the globe and join scientists and naturalists as they discover many amazing secrets of some remarkable trees. They make a great starting point for classroom discussions and activities! Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees by Patricia Daniels Introductory pages include “what is a tree?” and provide lessons for recognizing leaves. Each tree entry includes a photo of the entire tree and a close-up of the leaves or needles, flowers, nuts, cones, or fruit. Special features and “fun facts” make this more than just an ordinary field guide. Classroom Activity – Tree...
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STEM Tuesday– Forests/Temperate Trees — Book List
January 6, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

Take a walk through a number of different forests across the globe and join scientists and naturalists as they discover many amazing secrets of some remarkable trees. And learn how we can all help protect these important guardians of our globe. Can You Hear the Trees Talking? Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben This book is a walk through the woods in seven chapters. Forest explorers learn how trees work, how they grow, animals that live in and around them, and more. Each spread examines a single question: How do trees drink? Do trees make babies? Can they talk? “Look” sidebars invite readers to notice something, and “Try This” activities provide hands-on STEM activities to explore the forest around you. Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate by Melissa Koch An engaging and conversational older middle grade book highlighting various tree scientists and their fascinating and surprising discoveries...
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