Posts Tagged cross-curricular

STEM Tuesday– Awesome Animal Antics– Book List

By on January 8, 2019   /   Animals, Common Core & NGSS, Cross-Curricular, STEM Tuesday  

Animals chat, build, migrate, and do all sorts of things. Their antics are the subject of so many STEM titles that we just had to make a list this month of the latest and the greatest. Please suggest your favorites if we’ve missed any. Like our other lists, these books are great classroom and library additions.

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org The Superpower Field Guide: Beavers by Rachel Poliquin and John Firth

Through meeting Elmer, an ordinary beaver, readers discover the many attributes all beavers have that make them crucial to wetland habitats. This new series turns traditional field guides upside down, creating a fun, informative look at each species. Cartoony illustrations liven it up further.

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Penguins vs. Puffins by Julie Beer

We love the mock contest setting of this title. Which bird is better? Penguins or puffins? Beer does a wonderful job of pointing out similarities and differences of the many species of these birds. And of course, the beautiful National Geographic photos are a hit!

 

Death Eaters by KellySupport Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Milner Halls

Vultures are one of the most misunderstood and least appreciated wild species. Readers will discover just how important and amazing they are in Kelly Milner Halls latest book. Readers will love the nod to the Harry Potter series, too!

 

Animal ZombSupport Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.orgies by Chana Stiefel

Zombies really do exist in the animal kingdom! This book features zombying parasites, bloodsucking vampires, sea beasts, ghosts, and others that will excite and inform fans of animals and horror.

 

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Where the Animals Go: Tracking Wildlife with Technology in 50 Maps and Graphics by James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti

This cross-over title will appeal to any reader who is fascinated by animal migrations. It’s filled with topographical maps that provide a rich look at wildlife and geography. Readers can follow the record flight patterns of Arctic terns to pythons in Florida.

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps Conservation by Patricia Newman

Most elephant books feature Asian elephants or the African elephants that live on the plains. This NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book title follows a group of scientists who listen to forest elephants–a relatively unknown species. A great addition to a science unit on sound, this book also includes QR codes that take readers inside the forest to hear elephants the way the scientists heard them.

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Little Monsters of the Ocean: Metamorphosis Under the Waves by Heather Montgomery

You might think that butterflies and frogs are the only creatures that undergo metamorphosis, but you would be wrong. Leave it to STEM author Heather Montgomery to show us that there are many ocean animals that also experience this life-changing cycle.

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Smart About Sharks by Owen Davey

Owen Davey has compiled so much information about sharks into this richly illustrated book that even the most knowledgeable shark enthusiasts will find something they didn’t know. A shark book that should be on every ocean book shelf.

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Absolute Expert: Dolphins by Jennifer Swanson and Justine Jackson-Ricketts

Aspiring marine biologists will enjoy learning about dolphins with National Geographic explorer and dolphin expert, Justine Jackson-Ricketts in this ultimate dolphin resource book.

 

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Unstoppable: True Stories of Amazing Bionic Animals by Nancy Furstinger

Inspiring tales of animals using prosthetics, braces, orthotics, and wheelchairs to live out their lives fill the pages of this STEM title. Readers will get a glimpse into how cutting-edge technologies are improving the lives of animals and humans.

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Snowy Owl Invasion: Tracking An Unusual Migration by Sandra Markle

This book goes hand-in-hand with Where The Animals Go. Readers will dive into the unusual migration of snowy owls in this beautifully illustrated book by Sandra Markle.

 

 

Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org Backyard Bears:  Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife by Amy Cherrix

Have you ever seen a bear in your backyard? More and more people are experiencing these extraordinary visitors each year. Readers will take a look into why this is happening and how conservation can play a role going forward in this recent Scientists In the Field title.

 

STEM Tuesday book lists prepared by:

Nancy Castaldo has written books about our planet for over 20 years including, THE STORY OF SEEDS: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, and How There’s More of Less To Eat Around The World, which earned the Green Earth Book Award, Junior Library Guild Selection, and other honors. Nancy’s research has taken her all over the world from the Galapagos to Russia.  She strives to inform, inspire, and educate her readers. Nancy also serves as the Regional Advisor of the Eastern NY SCBWI region. Her 2018 multi-starred title is BACK FROM THE BRINK: Saving Animals from Extinction. Visit her at www.nancycastaldo.com

Patricia Newman writes middle-grade nonfiction that inspires kids to seek connections between science, literacy, and the environment. The recipient of a Sibert Honor for Sea Otter Heroes and the Green Earth Book Award for Plastic, Ahoy!, her books have received starred reviews, been honored as Junior Library Guild Selections, and included on Bank Street College’s Best Books lists. New in 2018:  Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps Conservation. During author visits, she demonstrates how her writing skills give a voice to our beleaguered environment. Visit her at www.patriciamnewman.com.

 

 

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More Than a Middle Grade Book Club

By on December 28, 2018   /   Articles, For Librarians  
For Narnia!

Jonathan Robbins Leon, Osceola Library Youth Specialist, gets into the spirit for book club meetings. Photo by: Osceola Library. Used with permission.

I sat down this week to chat with Jonathan Robbins Leon, a youth specialist at the Osceola Library, about how he incorporates STEM and history into his book club for middle graders, and he passed along some great ideas for parents, teachers, and librarians who want to add a little something extra to their middle-grade book discussions.

MP: Tell us a little bit about how you started the book club?

JRL: We started this last August. The sessions run from August to May. It started out as a home-school book club to tie books into home-school lesson plans. Last session, I chose 8 random books, but this year, I decided to do a series.

MP: Why did you decide to do a series, and which series are you focusing on this year?

JRL: This year, I did the Chronicles of Narnia. It has worked out well. It gives the kids a goal to work toward, finishing the series, and we’ve had a lot more regular participation than just choosing different books for each session.

MP: So, the kids read along with each session. What if they haven’t finished a book yet?

JRL: The activities that I chose go along chronologically with the events of the books, but the kids don’t necessarily have to have read the book in order to enjoy the activity or participate.

MP: That sounds interesting. Can you give us an example?

JRL: In The Magician’s Nephew, there’s discussion about the dying sun on Charn. So, we talked about the life cycle of a star and built solar K’nex machines. Also, we talked about World War II, which is the setting for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We talked about what it was like during World War II. The kids planted mini victory gardens and learned how to sew a button. We also handed out recipes for war cakes that would have been made with what was given on a ration card.

MP: Have any interesting observations come out of these sessions?

JRL: During our World War II session, we talked about the roles of women during war time and how some women fought during the war, and one girl raised her hand and asked “Then, why does Lucy get told that she needs to wait during the battle?” It led to an interesting discussion about gender roles.

MP: Any tips for teachers, parents or librarians thinking about coming up with their own extension activities?

JRL: This first one is obvious but read the books. The first session of the book club, I’d read the books, but a long time ago. So, the meetings weren’t as detailed as they were for this session because I read the Narnia series knowing that I was going to be planning the book club around them. I made pages of notes as I was reading. Also, break it down into how many meetings you’re planning to hold. Make sure the final meeting of the book club has all the fun stuff so that it’s a reward for finishing the whole session.

MP: Were there any other lessons that you learned from planning this session that you’d like to pass on?

3-D Printed Narnia Charms

3-D Printed Charms that correspond with each Narnia book were incentives given to kids who finished a book. Photo by: Osceola Library. Used with permission.

JRL: This session we added an incentive, a little 3-D printed charm, for each book read. This has helped to keep the kids reading along with the activities.

MP: Are there any resources that you can recommend to help planning a program like this?

JRL: Think outside just what goes on in the book, and find ways to connect the time period of the book, the culture, and the author’s background. Teacher’s guides are incredibly helpful for this because they’ll often have extension ideas. Also, consider inviting guest presenters to add depth to the meetings. We’ve Skyped with Big Cat Rescue about lions, and had a magician come in and teach some beginning magic tricks.

MP: Any other suggestions?

JRL: Make sure that you have enough copies of the books for everyone to read. Also, if you can, find young reader copies for younger siblings that may want to participate. Finally, at least in a library, if you are having guest presenters, advertise them separately from the book club as well to get more interest. For example, our meeting with the magician was bigger because some people only came to see the magician, but we had several people join the book club afterward and stick with it.

MP: This sounds awesome! Do you plan on repeating the program with other series?

JRL: We’re definitely going to continue this next year. I’m thinking about doing either A Series of Unfortunate Events or Harry Potter.

For more information about Osceola Library’s home-school book club, visit their page here. Or for more ideas to pump up your own middle grade book club, check out our list of Author Websites with Discussion/Activity Guides as well as our reference page For Teachers and Librarians.

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STEM Tuesday — Getting Your Comic-on with Great Science Graphic Novels– In the Classroom

By on December 11, 2018   /   Common Core & NGSS, Cross-Curricular, Graphic Novels, STEM Tuesday  

Visual Literacy with Graphic Nonfiction!

Graphic nonfiction is a great way to work on visual literacy strategies. This week I’ll introduce four questions/ teaching moves that I use to work on visual literacy with students. I’ll give examples from this month’s book list, but you can repurpose these for use with other graphic nonfiction, illustrations, or diagrams from any science text.

 

1) Provide a diagram or illustration with the text removed. Ask students to work with a partner to talk through the answers to these questions: (a) Describe what you see. Don’t worry if you don’t know the name of any item in the picture—just describe it as you see it. (b) Make a prediction. What do you think the illustrator is trying to show here? (or—what do you think [xxxx] is?)

Consider this cell from the bottom of page 46 in Science Comics: Bats.

Ask:

What do you see in this image?

Make a prediction: what do you think the shapes might represent?

After students have studied the image and made predictions, show them a version with the text. They will be engaged and eager to see if their predictions were correct.

2) Take this a step further and ask students to fill in the blanks themselves with possible text. For example, if your class has already studied meiosis, you might use this image from page 17 of Science Comics: Dogs and let them fill in what the dog might be saying.

Then show the author’s version. Who’s do they like best?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Talk about the role of arrows or other diagram features. I worked with a group of high schoolers studying a mitosis diagram many years ago. When I asked about what they saw, they were describing the image as if it were showing 6 different cells—they missed the role of the arrows indicating that the first cell turned into the cell in each image that followed.

Here’s an example, from page 43 of Older than Dirt.

Ask: Arrows in diagrams can have different meanings. They can–

a) point to something important you should notice

b) give the name of an object in the picture

c) show that one thing turns into something else

d) show that something is moving.

What is the role of the arrows in this diagram?

4) Help them see the value of imagery. Often, some information is found in the text while the images add extra information or make the text more clear. Students who don’t study images miss that extra information. So another pair of questions I like to ask are: What information do you get from the words that is not in the images? What do you see in the images that is not in the words?

This series of frames from page 21 of Secret Coders is a good example of text and images with different information. In this scene, the boy Eni is explaining to Hopper how binary code can show numbers. (Which could be especially useful since digital coding—e.g., binary—is now a piece of the Next Generation Science Standards for middle school.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try these techniques with any of the graphic nonfiction texts from this month’s list, or any other image-heavy text you choose. Once you have used an image in class, make sure the book is available. Students will want to read the entire book!

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen is a former science teacher and the author of the Once Upon A Science Book series (NSTA Press) on integrating science and reading instruction.  She also writes for children, with her most recent book being Dog Science Unleashed: Fun Activities to do with Your Canine Companion. She can’t draw, so she’s extra impressed with the writers for this month’s books.

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