Posts Tagged STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Plants– In the Classroom

 

Most plants obtain their energy by converting sunlight into food, which makes them a target for hungry animals. But not all plants are defenseless. Some plants fight back, and a few even become a threat to those trying to eat them. These books explore many interesting plants and the strategies and adaptations they use to survive. They make a great starting point for nature explorations, classroom discussions, and activities!

 

Killer Carnivorous Plants (Creepy, Kooky Science)Killer Carnivorous Plants

by Nathan Aaseng 

Plants gather energy from the sun and turn it into leaves, flowers, fruit. Animals, who can’t produce their own food, eat the plants. But what happens when you turn the food chain upside down? When the plants are the hunters and animals the hunted? In this book you’ll meet sticky traps, trigger traps, and pits of death. There’s also a handy survival manual for carnivorous plants.

 

Classroom Activity – Build a Carnivorous Plant Model

How do carnivorous plants trap animals and insects? Divide students into small groups. Assign each group a type of carnivorous plant trap mechanism, such as snap traps, pitfall traps, and sticky traps. Each group should research their assigned trap and the plants that have it. Using classroom craft supplies such as paper, cardboard, string, and glue, each group should design a working model of their plant trap. When all models are completed, each group of students can share what they learned about the trap and demonstrate their model for the class.

 

When Plants Attack: Strange and Terrifying PlantsWhen Plants Attack: Strange and Terrifying Plants

by Rebecca Hirsch

Beware the killer plants – the leaves that sting, the jaws that trap. This book, not for the faint-of-heart, is the perfect read for kids who want to know about the bird-catching plant, vampire vines, and corpse flowers.

 

 

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister SeedsA Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds

by Rebecca Hirsch

For older readers, Hirsch has an engaging, conversational, almost conspiratorial, text invites the reader on an exploration of the “science, history, and true crime coverage” of fourteen poisonous plants, seeds, and fungus found around the world. Gorgeous taxonomic illustrations, photos, and “Deadly Details” sidebars help highlight some innocent and more sinister encounters with these plants.

 

Classroom Activity – Design Your Own Deadly Plant

Nature has created many deadly plants. Now, it’s your turn! Students should use their imagination to create a poisonous or carnivorous plant. Write a description of the deadly plant and include the following details:

  • Where does the plant grow?
  • How does it trap or poison prey?
  • What adaptations does the plant have?
  • What animals or humans should avoid the plant?

Students can draw a picture, create a model, or build a representation of their deadly plant creation and present it to the class.

Classroom Activity – Poisonous Plants Safety

What poisonous plants live in your community? Have students select a local poisonous plant to research, individually or in small groups. With the information they learn, students should prepare a public safety announcement to warn people about the dangers of the plant. They can make a safety poster, film a commercial, or make a PowerPoint presentation warning about the local poisonous plant. The warning should include information about where it is commonly found, how to identify the plant, symptoms that occur when one comes into contact with the poisonous plant, and first aid tips.

 

Andy Warner's Oddball Histories: Spices and Spuds: How Plants Made Our World (Andy Warner's Oddball Histories, 2)Oddball Histories: Spices and Spuds: How Plants Made Our World 

by Andy Warner

From trees to rice, tea to spice, plants are central to our day-to-day lives. In graphic novel-style, this book explains how plants, from corn to potatoes, shaped human history. First, a grounding in plant essentials: photosynthesis, food web, and a fun graphic table of contents. Chapters focus on wood and wheat, tea and tulips, potatoes, peppers, cotton, corn, and rice.

Classroom Activity – What If Plants Disappeared?

Plants have had an integral role in Earth’s history. Animals and humans have relied on plants for food, shelter, and more. But what if plants disappeared from Earth? What impact would it have on ecosystems, animals, and humans? Conduct a group discussion or have students write a brief essay on the significance of plants to ecosystems and human life. Have them think about what life would be like without plants.

 

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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, on Instagram @moonwriter25 or on X @carlawrites.

STEM Tuesday– Plants– Book List

Rooted to the ground, plants are pretty much stuck in place. Most of them get their energy from turning sunlight into food – which makes them a target for hungry animals. But some plants fight back, and some turn the food web completely on its head. These books might inspire you to think about plants in a different light.

Rooted to the ground, plants have to find nutrition, fend off predators, and survive whatever conditions the environment throws at them. From water lily leaves that could serve as rafts to a flower that smells like a rotting corpse, meet the plants that thrive by using brilliant and bizarre adaptations.

Beware the killer plants – the leaves that sting, the jaws that trap. This book, not for the faint-of-heart, is the perfect read for kids who want to know about the bird-catching plant, vampire vines, and corpse flowers.

For older readers, Hirsch has an engaging, conversational, almost conspiratorial, text invites the reader on an exploration of the “science, history, and true crime coverage” of fourteen poisonous plants, seeds, and fungus found around the world. Gorgeous taxonomic illustrations, photos, and “Deadly Details” sidebars help highlight some innocent and more sinister encounters with these plants.

Plants gather energy from the sun and turn it into leaves, flowers, fruit. Animals, who can’t produce their own food, eat the plants. But what happens when you turn the food chain upside down? When the plants are the hunters and animals the hunted? In this book you’ll meet sticky traps, trigger traps, and pits of death. There’s also a handy survival manual for carnivorous plants.

Plants don’t have brains, but they can sure fool animals – even humans! They have ways to defend themselves from harsh weather, being stepped on, and from being eaten. Some plants fake leaf damage and one plant plays dead to discourage predators. And some plants turn the tables and hunt insects.

Plants can’t move when conditions get tough, like little to no water, extreme cold, or high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Yet, some of the largest, oldest plants (some 3,000 to 5,000 years old) thrive in these harsh conditions with unique structures and ingenious lures for both pollinators and prey (using sticky, snap, and suction traps). Great photos and graphics, “Fun Fact” sidebars, and a STEAM Challenge to create a model of a “new plant species” help explore these extraordinary plants.

Explore forty-nine of the world’s most incredible plants, from prehistoric species (which have existed for around 300 million years) to giants (both in height and width), from spectacular leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots to some  truly unusual plants. The fascinating illustrations also depict the flora, fauna, and environments interacting with these amazing plants and provide a wonderful, global indexed map.  

What good is a dead plant? Examining dried specimens, farmers can learn about weeds and ecologists can study plant diversity and see how plant populations have changed in the past 200-plus years. Readers will learn how plants are collected and preserved, and be inspired by a kid who discovered a new species in his backyard.

From trees to rice, tea to spice, plants are central to our day-to-day lives. In graphic novel-style, this book explains how plants, from corn to potatoes, shaped human history. First, a grounding in plant essentials: photosynthesis, food web, and a fun graphic table of contents. Chapters focus on wood and wheat, tea and tulips, potatoes, peppers, cotton, corn, and rice.

GENERAL/ OVERVIEW:

An introduction to the Plant kingdom, how plants grow, leaves, and seeds. One section dives into ferns, conifers, and other nonflowering plants. A longer section highlights flowering plants, pollinators, fruits, and grasses. Filled with photos and sidebars that explain concepts such as photosynthesis.

This book begins by comparing your body to that of a plant. Where we have skeletons, plants have stems, trunks, branches. Where we have toes, plants have roots. One chapter focuses on leaves, others on flowers, pollinators, fruits, and seeds. Activities range from making fruit shakes and salad to leaf prints, seed sprouting, and finding fibers.


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

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria Marshall is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the 2018 & 2017 Cybils Awards, and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

STEM Tuesday– Cephalopods — Author Interview with Lynne Kelly

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 Lynne Kelly, author of Three Blue Hearts (October 2025). The book involves Max, a twelve-year-old who lives in the shadow of a powerful father and struggles with expectations that don’t match his own interests. One day, while visiting a beach town with his mother, Max sees an octopus that he thinks is dead. Instead, the octopus is injured and Max makes it his mission to find help and care for it. In doing so, he not only learns about how unique these creatures are, but finds the strength to set his own path for his life.

 

Christine Taylor-Butler: Hi Lynne. You’ve written several books about kids and animals. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Lynne Kelly: No, I always loved books but didn’t think about writing them until I was teaching special ed, grades 3-5. I had bookshelves all over the room. I helped students find the right book for them and did a lot of read alouds in the classroom. Over time I discovered old favorites and found new ones.

CTB: So what was your first book?

Chained cover

Lynne: Chained, published by Macmillan in 2012. I didn’t realize that the road to publication would take six years. But after some time I liked finding an idea and figuring out what story could lead from there. It helps to be a big reader but learning how to write a story is more difficult. Once I began learning about writing and publishing I wanted to keep going.

CTB: So your background was in teaching?

Lynne: I taught for just a few years but have been a sign language interpreter for much longer. I loved teaching special ed. I started in 2000. But I didn’t love the planning and paperwork. I couldn’t quit my job and just write for a living so I went back to sign language interpreting as the only day job.

CTB: I noticed that your book, Song For A Whale, the main character is deaf and helps a whale who is also struggling. You used your experience with American Sign Language to help the reader understand the richness and the culture.

Song for a whale cover

Lynne: Yes. I think it’s important. There are a lot of services being offered by non-deaf influencers, but the most important resources come from those who live with being deaf every day. For example, my favorite website is ASL University. It’s easier to learn from those who are deaf so you can get it right. They have a huge video dictionary which is better than a two-dimensional book. And there are lessons if you want. There’s also a YouTube channel where deaf people demonstrate sign language so others can learn.

CTB: So this is STEM Tuesday and our monthly topic is on cephalopods. Tell us about your new book, Three Blue Hearts?

Three Blue Hearts coverLynne: It’s been in the works for a long time. Parts of it I wrote 10 years ago. The setting is made up from different coastal towns in Texas, including Indianola. That town was pummeled by two hurricanes in the late 1800’s and is now a ghost town. Much of the old town is now underwater. In the book, the main character, Max, is a sweet compassionate kid, but his father is an overbearing politician and car salesman. They also look alike. So when Max travels to the beach with his mother, it’s a welcome change from the pressures of trying to fulfill what others have planned for him – like being a football star.

Max and his mother arrive at the beach town when it’s stormy. The next day he finds an injured octopus in the sand and initially thinks it’s dead. Even so, he knows he can’t walk away. The octopus reaches out to him. So he finds help and ends up taking care of her.

CTB: How does he know it’s a girl?

Lynne: Max finds a vet clinic/wildlife center. There, he meets a guy named Jordan who helps get the octopus into a tank. Jordan points out one particular arm in which the suckers go all the way to the end. That indicates the octopus is a girl.

CTB: How did you find the facts that helped you write about Max taking care of the octopus over the summer?

Lynne: I knew I had to make a connection between the two. I had read Soul of an Octopus in 2015. I also had a National Geographic at home with an octopus on the cover. I saw an article where someone found an octopus in a parking garage after a storm. So I thought, “That’s the animal.”

Max feels honored the octopus seemed to reach out to him even though he was the only one on the beach at the time. Over time, caring for the animal, Max learns that focusing on the things that interest him are okay. He finds strength and learns it’s okay to say no to his dad (no one says no to his dad).

CTB: What research did you learn about the octopus that you would want kids to know?

octopus pulling handLynne: I watched documentaries, then got to meet octopuses at various aquariums, including Houston Zoo. At the zoo, I did a behind-the-scenes tour where I could meet them. In one instance, one of my hands was being pulled into a tank by an octopus while my other hand took pictures. The ones I met were Giant Pacific. They’re the ones most people think of even though it’s not the one in the book. They are huge. At the Houston Zoo, the octopus didn’t have a name so I named her Ursula. I used the same name in my book. Max thinks the octopus he finds looks like a deflated volleyball, so it’s smaller than the ones most people see in public aquariums.

CTB: What are their personalities like? They are so intelligent.

octopus with fishLynne: I’d written about mammals before but octopuses are so different. They’re good puzzle solvers. I was reading about their brains. It’s almost as if they have nine brains. There is a central brain, and each arm has its own brain. They can hunt for food with one arm while punching an animal with the other. They don’t have long lives. They live about 3 years. And they don’t grow up with examples, so their behavior has to be instinctual. Their fathers die after mating. Their mothers watch over the eggs then dies when they hatch.

Another thing. Octopuses have three hearts – hence the name of the book. They also have blue blood. It contains hemocyanin which is a copper-rich protein rather than iron like humans have. Octopuses have camouflaging abilities in both color and texture. Think about it. They can blend in with coral reefs despite being color-blind. Somehow its body knows what color and texture is around them. It is almost as if their skin sees their surroundings.

CTB: Where is Max caring for the octopus in your book?

OctopusLynne: Max hangs out at the center. He’d grabbed post-storm debris for a makeshift tank while he searched for help. He meets Emmett, who suggests they take her to a beach house, which is the wildlife care center. Inside they see injured animals such as sea gulls, pelicans, and a sea turtle with a cracked shell. The center names the animals after book characters. They have a tank big enough to care for the octopus until she’ll be strong enough release back to the environment. Octopuses have escaped, so they have to weigh down the lid. They also have a lot of hatchlings. Some have hundreds, others have tens of thousands. Most will not make it which may be why octopuses have so many eggs.

Max was not knowledgeable so the reader is going to learn about the octopus along with him. For example, octopuses do recognize people. There are studies about it. In one study, one person would bring food and another person would poke it with a bristly thing. The octopus would shoot water at the person that poked it and swim towards the one with the food.

I enjoyed writing the story and watching Max wonder why he is so worried about the animal. Maybe it’s about him wanting to do something right.

 

CTB: So is there a future book you want us to watch out for? Anything you are excited about?

Lynne: I’m working on different projects but nothing is confirmed yet. Stay tuned.

CTB: Anything else you want our blog readers to know?

Lynne: Yes. The book comes out on October 7, 2025. That’s the day before World Octopus Day (October 8). It’s just a coincidence but very exciting.

I’m also doing an author Q&A session. Anyone who buys even one copy of the book, can get a link to the session.  

L Kelly promotion

 

L Kelly headshot

Photo by Sam Bond

Lynne Kelly’s career as a sign language interpreter has taken her everywhere from classrooms to hospitals to Alaskan cruises. Her 2019 novel Song For a Whale, about a deaf girl named Iris who forms an unlikely bond with the “loneliest whale in the world,” has been described as “finely crafted,” “important,” and “uplifting” by reviewers from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. Song For a Whale received the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by New York Public Library. Her latest book, Three Blue Hearts, releases in October 2025. Lynne lives near Houston, Texas. Find her online at Lynnekellybooks.com and on Twitter @Lynnekelly.

 

author christine Taylor-butler

Photo by Kecia Stovall

Your host is Christine Taylor-Butler, MIT Visiting Scholar and author of close to 90 nonfiction books for kids. She is also the author of the STEM based middle grade series The Lost Tribes. Follow @ChristineTB on X, @ctaylorbutler.bsky.social‬ on Bluesky and/or @ChristineTaylorButler on Instagram