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STEM Tuesday
  • Ice Age by Cindy Blobaum
    STEM Tuesday: Snow and Ice– Interview with Author Cindy Blobaum
    November 28, 2023 by
        We are delighted to interview author Cindy Blobaum for our Ice and Snow theme this month! Cindy is the author of:   Explore the Ice Age! With 25 Great Projects By Cindy Blobaum Illustrated by Bryan Stone Brrr–does it feel cold? Get out your gloves and get ready to experience the Ice Age! In Explore the Ice Age! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 to 10 discover what an ice age consists of, why we have them, and what effect an ice age has on living organisms and ecosystems. The book pays particular attention to the most recent Ice Age, which is the only one humans were around to witness.                     Cindy digging up a mammoth bone, and then holding one!      Cindy, thanks for being on our blog. How fun was it to write a book about the Ice Age?  I’m one of the few people I know who absolutely...
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  • STEM Tuesday: Snow and Ice-- Writing Tips & Resources
    STEM Tuesday: Snow and Ice– Writing Tips & Resources
    November 21, 2023 by
      Accordions and Information The five-paragraph essay. Love it or hate it, it’s a thing. One of the reasons it is so hard to teach? Young writers rarely see pure examples in their pleasure reading. Still, this formulaic approach can help young writers learn to organize their thinking and writing. So, how do we teach them to use this tool? Step By Step My favorite is the accordion method. Start by printing each of the sentences below on a separate sheet of colored paper. Green paper: Bugs have wicked cool mouthparts. These mouthparts allow insects to chow down on their favorite food. Yellow paper: Some bugs have hypodermic needles for mouths. A few insects use sponges for mouths. And, others have strong grinding jaws. Post those in random order on the board or wall. Challenge students to physically re-arrange them into a logical paragraph. This can be done together on...
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  • STEM Tuesday: Snow and Ice-- In the Classroom
    STEM Tuesday: Snow and Ice– In the Classroom
    November 14, 2023 by
    What can we learn by studying ice and snow? From chemistry to poetry, try these classroom activities to get your students excited about the cold!   Mission: Arctic: A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North Pole by Katharina Weiss-Tuider and Christian Schneider   Until now, the world of the Arctic was a mystery. This guide follows the 2019 MOSAiC expedition whose mission was to let their vessel freeze in the sea ice and drift to the north pole. Why? To study how the Arctic is changing. Featuring photographs, facts, diagrams and more; the thrilling world of the Arctic will come alive as readers discover its secrets.   Student Activity The MOSAic expedition site has a whole list of educational activities for elementary to high school students. They can learn more about the Arctic ecosystem, make ice cores, and much more. Find the entire list here: https://mosaic.colorado.edu/activities. Also check out educational...
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  • The Good Luck Book by Heather Alexander
    Feeling Lucky with Author Heather Alexander
    November 10, 2023 by
    Welcome to MUF, Heather Alexander, author of The Good Luck Book: A Celebration of Global Traditions, Superstitions, and Folklore (DK Children), out November 2023. Heather Alexander is the acclaimed author of more than 70 books for children, and she also works as a children’s book editor, packager, and literary scout. Here, she talks to MUF contributor Andrea Pyros about luck, her research process, and why we really cover our mouths when we yawn.  Mixed-Up Files: Tell us a little bit about The Good Luck Book. Where did the idea for this come from? Heather Alexander: THE GOOD LUCK BOOK is a large, illustrated, middle-grade nonfiction book that explores fascinating traditions and superstitions from all over the world. Kids will discover how and why they started, why people still do them today, if they hold up to science, the good luck charms we share, and the unique ways we wish for...
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Photo of Jennifer Swanson

Jennifer Swanson

Website: www.jenniferswansonbooks.com

Biography

Jennifer Swanson dreams of one day running away to the Museum of Science and Industry- then maybe she could look at all the exhibits and try out all the gadgets without competing for them with her kids. An author of thirty nonfiction science books for grades 3-6, Jennifer’s goal is to show kids that Science Rocks! She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, three kids and two dogs. When not writing she’s on the hunt for fun science facts.