Month: February 2022

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Air Show read aloud

Air Show
by Anastasia Suen (Author) and and Cecco Mariniello (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Overdrive e-book | WorldCat

Booktalk: Cougars, Panthers, Camels, and Mosquitos. What do these animals have in common? Their names identify the historic airplanes that take flight at this spectacular air show event.

Snippet:

This week’s author visit mini-comic, What would you name a new airplane?, answers questions about why I wrote about airplanes at an air show.

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

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Junk Drawer Ecology: 50 Awesome Experiments That Don’t Cost a Thing

Do you enjoy themed collections of hands-on experiments and activities that can be done with little preparation time using stuff from around the house? Then check out the newest in the Junk Drawer Science series, Junk Drawer Ecology: 50 Awesome Experiments That Don’t Cost a Thing by Bobby Mercer.

 

High school Physics teacher Bobby Mercer has organized instructions for 50 activities into 4 general categories: “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”, “Animals and Plants”, “Water and Land”, and “Air.” Each activity has a brief summary of the project and the ecology concepts it covers. Next is a list of the materials needed “From the Junk Drawer.” Once you have gathered the materials, the instructions are given step by step, illustrated with black and white photographs.

Included with each activity is a discussion of “The Science Behind It” and ends with “Science for the Ages”, a description of the age requirements for that particular project — based on safety concerns — plus ways to extend learning. Although the reading age is listed as 9-12, most of the experiments and activities could be used as is or modified for a broader age range.

Many of the activities in Junk Drawer Ecology could also be extended and expanded to follow a child’s interests.  Using inexpensive household items to do hands-on science that has potential to grow with the child? It doesn’t get any better than this.

Check Growing with Science blog for the full review and related activity suggestions.

Copyright © 2022 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

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Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes

Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes
by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author) and Don Tate (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: When a dangerous forest fire burns out of control, helicopter Roto and pilot Roy are ready to fly to the rescue! They’re braver than brave, tougher than tough, and nothing will stop this firefighting crew from completing their mission.

Snippet:

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

The illustrator, Don Tate, is one of my former students.
Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

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Marie Curious, Girl Genius Saves the World

Marie Curious, Girl Genius Saves the World
by Chris Edison (Author)

Booktalk: Young inventor Marie can’t believe her luck when she earns a place at a high-tech summer camp in California owned by tech guru and multi-millionaire Sterling Vance. It’s nothing short of a dream come true. She and the other super-clever campers get to build robots, do supercool science experiments and test out awesome gadgets. But not everyone is a happy camper . . . Someone is sabotaging their robots, so Marie and her new friends team up to catch the culprit. Can Marie outsmart an evil engineer intent on causing a global disaster?

Snippet:

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.