Posts Tagged science

Scientists explore 3 Weeks in the Rainforest

By on October 24, 2025   /   Articles  

Rainforest Book cover

Science Rocks! And so do Jennifer Swanson’s books. She is the award-winning author of over 50 nonfiction STEM books for children. A former middle school science teacher for 14 years, she’s also a science communicator, podcaster, and lifelong explorer. Jennifer is a long-time contributor and admin to the Mixed-Up Files blog, creator of the STEM Tuesday blog, and also the STEAMTeam Books promo group. You can learn more about Jennifer and her books at https://jenniferswansonbooks.com/. Most recently, Jen explored the rainforest’s environment with scientists who spent 3 Weeks in the Rainforest. Her forthcoming book captures the diverse ecosystems as well as the ways local communities and indigenous people have adapted to co-exist within this amazing environment.

Jen became interested in the Amazon inventory while at an exhibit of The Field Museum in Chicago while visiting her daughter who was a summer intern. The two decided to visit The Field Museum, and that is where Jen first saw the exhibit about the Rapid Inventory Project. We sat down to watch the short video about the project. Jen was hooked. “The vivid images, the amazing conservation efforts, and the team of awesome scientists made the Amazon come alive.” As Jen walked through the rest of the very informative and descriptive exhibit she was enthralled “to learn how these scientists would count every single animal they saw, collect samples, and literally take an inventory of the biological creatures of that area. But I think the coolest part was that the social scientists made great effort to include the local communities and Indigenous Peoples in their reports. The people who live in that area should have a lot of say in how it would be set up as protected lands.”

Jen recognizes that this inventory is important for readers and for the world. “It is an unbiased way to evaluate the health of an ecosystem, determine its strengths and where it might need help. But I think the best part of the way The Field Museum scientists work is that they do this with the full cooperation and involvement of local communities, Indigenous Peoples living there, as well as scientists from all levels of life. It is the people that live there that know best about the areas and that is a huge part of the recommendation made to the country for protection.”

The narrative style of Jen’s writing gives readers the sense of being right there in the field keeping a diary with the different teams. It creates a close bond for readers. But Jen didn’t trave with any of the teams because it wouldn’t be allowed. Instead Jen interviewed a few of the females scientists in person before the pandemic and interviewed the rest via zoom. Jen added, “Also, I’m not sure I’m as brave as they are to just go through these jungles and live amongst the animals.”

She would love for readers to come away from reading this book with an understanding that “there are ways to help their own environments.” This book isn’t just about the Amazon but could be about each reader’s own backyard or local park. She encourages readers to “take a biological inventory of the plants and animals around where you live. Find out which ones might be indigenous to your area, and which ones are not. Learn how you can help to keep your environment healthy and long-lasting.”

She explains that this ability to see the environment and keep it healthy is why she writes for kids. She says, “I think it’s a great way for them to see how people from different backgrounds and different countries can come together and collaborate to protect one of the world’s most amazing resources: the Amazon rainforest.”

One of the surprising aspects of the inventory team preparations for exploring an area was that a lead team comes and not only creates paths in and out of the rainforest, but they create necessary tables, chairs, canopies of leaves for the teams and then leave these items for local use. Jen feels the coolest part of this book was “talking with the awesome scientists that participated in it. My favorite part was when Dr. Lesley de Souza, an ichthyologist, told me that they just walk right into bodies of water or rivers in the Amazon. No waders, just boots and jeans. I said, aren’t their anaconda in these waters. She shrugged and said, ‘Yes, sometimes. The key is to just not let it wrap itself too far up your leg.’ (Yikes! And Wow! She is sooo impressive)”

Jen’s final chapters focus on the ways people can live and work in a symbiotic relationship with nature and the environment within the rain forests. Jen saw this as a way that kids and their grownups living in urban or suburban environments can create a lifestyle that incorporates this relationship into their lives. “The best thing to do is to learn about the environment where you live. Discover which plants are indigenous, or which might be invasive. Try to support the indigenous ones. Maybe even conduct your own inventory of creatures that live there. Consider planting areas that might help feed or protect these creatures. When you are more aware of your surroundings, you will naturally treat them better which is also better for your own mental health.”

The images in this book are lush and beautiful. Jen explains that the Field Museum provided all of the photos. Charlesbridge Publishing and the Field Museum came to their own agreement about the photos. Although Jen wasn’t involved with that she’s glad it worked out. “They are absolutely gorgeous!”

Jen encourage readers to learn more about the environments we need to maintain the earth and suggested that readers “look into local nonprofit organizations that might support a river, or zoos, or even parks. Find out what they are doing to help the environment and volunteer. If you live near a beach, participate in beach cleanups or help to promote safe turtle nesting. If you find an injured animal call the local rescue group. There are so many ways to help, you just need to look around and reach out.”

Readers are encouraged by Jen if they have the means to visit the Field Museum in Chicago. “I highly recommend it. It’s a fabulous place! There are so many different exhibits that teach us all about history and science. And, you’ll get to experience the book in a different way by walking through the Rapid Inventory exhibit. It’s amazing!”

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STEM Tuesday– Zombies (Real and Otherwise)– Writing Tips & Resources

By on October 21, 2025   /   STEM Tuesday, Zombies  

Welcome back to STEM Tuesday. I’m Stephanie Jackson, and today’s zombies are in the “otherwise” category—less real, and more “otherwise,” drawing on literary theory and cultural studies. If you’re thinking along the lines of Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic novel Frankenstein, you’re headed the right direction.

So… monster theory… have you heard of it? In the 1990s, Jeffrey Jerome Cohen wrote about monsters as metaphors and how we can decode (or encode) our stories with them. The TLDR of it is that the monsters of any given cultural text—book, film, etc—represent that society’s fears and desires. Through taboos, boundaries, contamination, and other monster lore, writers and readers explore themes of humanity and inhumanity.

First, as readers: Monster theory makes the English classroom fun again, allowing students to read the text against itself, to tease out the textual society’s ideals. While maybe this seems a little lofty for middle-grade readers, it can apply to age-appropriate texts. For fiction, I think of the middle-grade novels Zombie Baseball Beatdown and Better Off Undead.

Exercise #1: Why Monsters?
Identify a favorite story about monsters. Are its monsters likeable or not, and why? Do the monsters fit or break the monster stereotype? In what ways does the monster complicate the story in a way that a non-monster character wouldn’t? What does the monster disrupt or destroy? How does the text’s main characters and society at large treat the monster(s), and what’s the takeaway? Write down your thoughts and prepare to share them with peers.

Teachers and homeschool parents, feel free to tailor this exercise as appropriate for your students. Essay? Slides presentation? How long? You decide. This type of analysis is less about finding a “right” reading of a text, and more about interpretation and engagement. As long as they’re participating, while using textual evidence as guardrails for the discussion, it’s a great opportunity to engage them in critical thinking skills. (Let them choose a story they love, even if it’s a picture book or movie. Child-led learning sparks joy!)

And now, without further ado, exercise two…

Exercise #2: Perspective

  • Part A) Monstrosity—and not merely beauty—is in the eye of the beholder. Select and write down an everyday object. It could be anything that, taken out of context, might seem scary, weird, or inhuman. Slime and scrambled eggs have odd textures… without sight, encountering them might be unsettling. The object could also be something innocuous, like a dandelion or cereal. Describe the object, and think about how the truth of that description might be purposefully distorted. (Remember the marble in It Fell From the Sky? It’s a perfect example of an everyday object for this purpose.)
  • Part B) Next, invent a character or creature that’s scared of that object. How could this object endanger them, their society? In what circumstances might it be mistaken for something much scarier? What evidence might the character have found to support their belief that they’re endangered by it? How could they misinterpret its purposes? (Think of Strange Planet‘s descriptions.)
  • Part C) Gather into groups and discuss your results with peers. What was the most interesting scenario? What makes something monstrous, vs. what makes something human? As a group, present your findings to the class.

That’s it for this week! If you’re looking for some hi-lo Zombie books for your second-to-seventh graders, you might like this one and similar titles by the same publisher. If you missed it, go back and peruse our book list. As always, I’d love it if you stopped by my website StephanieWritesForKids.com for more book recs, writerly tips, and the latest updates on my publishing journey.

Best,

Stephanie

Stephanie Jackson is a mother of four kiddos ages 4-14. Her kidlit work has been published in Cricket magazine, Dirigible Balloon, and elsewhere. She holds an English creative writing degree and writes from her book-glutted home in northern Utah.

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STEM Tuesday– Zombies (Real and Otherwise)– In the Classroom

By on October 14, 2025   /   STEM Tuesday, Zombies  

 

Monsters, zombies, and other scary creatures star in tales throughout the year, but especially near Halloween! These books explore a wide range of creatures, both real and imagined, to get imaginations flowing. They make a great starting point for classroom discussions and activities!

 

Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature’s Undead

by Rebecca L. Johnson

Zombies are real … but so far, the zombie-makers don’t attack humans. Yet. They do take over the brains and bodies of spiders, ants, flies, snails, and even rats. Not only that, some of these zombies are too small to avoid until it’s too late, like the teeny tiny wasps and fungal spores, and the totally invisible viruses. And then there are the brain worms! A must-read for anyone planning to hunt for zombies in their backyard!

 

Classroom Activity – Nature’s Mind Controllers

How do parasites, fungi, and viruses “take over” animal behavior? Divide students into small groups. Each group should choose a “zombie-maker” to explore. The students should research how their chosen parasite/fungus/virus infects its host and how it changes the host’s behavior. They can create a poster illustrating the life cycle of the zombie-maker, including infection, control, and transmission. They can be creative with labels, arrows, or thought bubbles to show how the host is being controlled. How does this strange behavior help the parasite survive? Each group can present its “zombie story” to the class.

 

Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures

by Kim Long

The Loch Ness monster. Kraken. Giant turtles. What some people call monsters, others call cryptids: an animal whose existence is not yet substantiated by science. The emergence of DNA technology, SONAR, bioacoustics, and other advancements has enabled cryptozoologists of every stripe to seek – and sometimes discover – the species behind the monster myth.

 

Classroom Activity – Design Your Own Cryptid

Students can use their imaginations to design a brand-new cryptid, a mysterious creature that people might believe exists but hasn’t been proven by science. Students should describe:

  • What it looks like
  • Where it lives and how it survives
  • Typical diet and behavior
  • How it hides from humans
  • What real animal or adaptation could explain it
  • What scientific tests could be used to prove this creature’s existence

Once students have designed their cryptid, have them draw or create a 3D model of it. Students can also write a short newspaper article or “eyewitness report” about their cryptid discovery.

 

Secrets of the Dead: Mummies and Other Human Remains From Around the World

by Matt Ralphs

In most environments, when someone dies, their flesh decays, leaving only bones. But not mummies. With mummified remains, we can learn about the person and their culture, including the foods they ate and the diseases they suffered from. This book brings nearly 20 mummies to life – so to speak.

 

Classroom Activity – Mummy Lessons

Scientists can learn a lot about the past from mummies, including diet, health, clothing, and burial customs. Have students select one real mummy from the book and create a Mummy Fact Card that summarizes where it was found, how it was preserved, and what scientists learned. Next, it is the students’ turn to become archaeologists. Have them imagine they just discovered a mummy. What clues would they look for to understand its story? Have the students write a diary entry from the archaeologist’s perspective about the discovery.

 

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Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at http://www.carlamooney.com, on Facebook @carlamooneyauthor, or on X @carlawrites.

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