STEM Friday

October 11, 2019October 9, 2019

Coding

My new Focus on STEM column: Coding is in the October Quick Tips for Schools and Libraries newsletter.

Booktalk: Catch up on computer science with this list featuring female coders, interactive guides, and other coding activities.

Snippet: The first computer-to-computer message was sent on October 29, 1969, and the system crashed before the entire message was entered. (Sound familiar?) Only the letters “L” and “O” were delivered to the other three computers. Fifty years later, even pre-readers are learning to write computer code. As December’s annual Hour of Code approaches, look to these recent books about coding to inspire and prepare.

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

October 11, 2019October 7, 2019

Arithmechicks Add Up: A Math Story

by Ann Marie Stephens; illus. by Jia Liu
32 pages; ages 4-8
Boyds Mills Press, 2019

Don’t call these mathematicians “bird brains” – because they are busy solving problems. Cheeping and chattering, they count rocks, flowers, and how many steps it takes to reach the park. Once there, they play – and add. With three chicks swinging high into the air, and six more at the lowest vertex of the arc, there are nine in all, swooshing through the air – while one holds up a scorecard so we can keep count.

What I like about this book: This is a great resource for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents who are looking for a fun way to introduce the idea of addition. Each spread shows a different way to add up the chicks – and back matter explains the different ways that you can use to represent addition. Most of us are familiar with basic equations and tally marks, but this book includes number bonds, counting on fingers (or feathers, depending on your species), number lines, and more.

Head over to Archimedes Notebook for a review of Pigeon Math and some hands-on activities.

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

October 4, 2019October 4, 2019

The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne

At Growing with Science blog last week I wrote about a saguaro cactus flowering in September (they usually flower in June). This week I found a lovely picture book that celebrates them, The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne.

Lara Hawthorne is an illustrator, so it is no surprise this book is an incredible visual treat. The first thing you notice is the stunning cover with a bold white saguaro flower standing out against the black background of night. The image above doesn’t do it justice because because many of the details are outlined with a metallic shiny gold. It has a luminescent 3-D effect.

Inside, the book starts with an informational paragraph about the saguaro cactus. From there gentle rhyming text takes the reader on a journey through one day and night in the desert. Along the way readers meet many different animals and learn about the role the saguaro plays in their lives.

You won’t want to skip the fully-illustrated back matter. Hawthorne describes the life cycle of the saguaro and names the parts of the plant. Next she asks “Did you spot…?” In a two page spread she shows the different creatures mentioned in the text, giving more information about each and challenging the reader to go back through the book to find them. She ends with a glossary of the scientific terms she used.

The Night Flower is a picture-perfect introduction to a unique plant and its habitat. It can be used to accompany a unit on deserts or plants, or to prepare for a trip to Arizona. Poke around in a copy today!

Be sure to check Growing with Science blog for more information and suggestions for related activities.

October 4, 2019October 3, 2019

A Different Story

A Different Story
by Adolfo Serra (Author / Illustrator)

Booktalk: Sometimes the world is a small place. Other times it feels huge. Sometimes we feel as though we’re sinking. Other days we can soar. And every creature on Earth is unique. But no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how different we may seem, even a rhinoceros and a beetle have something in common.

Snippet:

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

October 4, 2019October 2, 2019

Evelyn The Adventurous Entomologist

Evelyn The Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story Of A World-Traveling Bug Hunter
by Christine Evans; illus. by Yasmin Imamura
40 pages; ages 5 – 10
The Innovation Press, 2019

“Back in 1881 when Evelyn Cheesman was born, most people thought girls should be quiet, clean, and covered with lace.”

They definitely weren’t supposed to kneel in the dirt and hunt for bugs – but Evelyn did. She loved insects and other animals, and wanted to be a veterinarian. But in the early 1900s, women weren’t allowed to become veterinary doctors. They weren’t even allowed to vote! So Evelyn worked as a veterinary nurse until one day she learned that the London Zoo’s insect house needed a keeper. Evelyn applied and soon found herself scooping insects from ponds and collecting caterpillars, beetles and other buggy creatures to fill the tanks of the insect house. And when that wasn’t enough, she went on collecting adventures around the world to find new arthropods for the Insect House.

What I like about this book: I am passionate about bugs – and illustrator Yasmin Imamura fills this book with them, from the end papers to illustrations. I love the story about Evelyn and can only imagine having to fight my way free from a sticky curtain of spider webs (which she has to do on one of her adventures).

I like the way author Christine Evans weaves fun images into the story: crowds swarming into the insect house, and bugs creeping, sliding, scurrying. And I really like the way she portrays Evelyn as an intrepid and curious explorer graced with an indomitable spirit.

And there is back matter: more information about Evelyn, an interview with an entomologist, and a list of books and other resources for curious readers who want to know more.

Head over to Archimedes Notebook for some hands-on Beyond the Book entomology activities. This review is from a copy provided by the publisher.

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

September 27, 2019

Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?: Real Science Questions from Real Kids

At Growing with Science blog today we are highlighting Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?: Real Science Questions from Real Kids by Kira Vermond and illustrated by Suharu Ogawa.

This is a Q-and-A book with a twist. After writing down questions asked by children who visited the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada, Kira Vermond queried scientists and educators to provide accurate, meaningful answers. The resulting book is a fascinating look into science — and also into the minds of children — that is likely to ignite some passions for further exploration.

Overall, it is a well-curated assortment. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you sneeze in space? Or how whales sleep (without drowning)? Have you ever stayed awake at night wondering if rats burp? The answers are here and some of them might just surprise you.

The collection can be used a couple of different ways. Some children are going to want to read it cover to cover. Others will want to pick and chose a few areas that interest them, for example if they are looking for topics for a science fair project.

Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice? will likely entice reluctant readers to learn about STEM, and at the same time serve as an inspiration or jumping off point for budding scientists. Explore a copy today!

While your at it, stop by Growing with Science blog for the full review.

September 27, 2019September 26, 2019

The Forest in the Trees

The Forest in the Trees
by Connie McLennan (Author / Illustrator)

Booktalk: It’s common knowledge that coast redwoods are tall, tall trees. In fact, they are the tallest trees in the world. What most people don’t know is that there is a whole other forest growing high in the canopy of a redwood forest. This adaptation of The House That Jack Built climbs into this secret, hidden habitat full of all kinds of plants and animals that call this forest home.

Snippet:

These are the sprouts,
new little trees;
shooting from trunks,
massive and tall;
that lead to the forest
in the trees.

See the book trailer.

BONUS! Download the Activity Guide

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

September 27, 2019September 11, 2019

STEAM Jobs in Cybersecurity

STEAM Jobs in Cybersecurity (Series: STEAM Jobs You’ll Love)
by Cynthia Argentine
48 pages; ages 9 – 13
Rourke Educational Media, 2019

Just one month ago, the computer systems in 22 small Texas towns were hacked and held for ransom. Hackers blocked access to data, effectively closing down town governments and court systems. Just a week earlier, hackers locked down computer systems for a small town library system and school system.

Like pirates, hackers held town and institutional data hostage until a ransom could be paid. Their demands: hundreds of thousands of dollars in bitcoin. Those who don’t pay don’t get their data back. Even those who do pay often don’t get all their data returned.

Cities aren’t the only victims. Hospitals, credit agencies, even individuals are increasingly facing cyber-threats. So there are plenty of opportunities for people seeking a job in cybersecurity. Author Cynthia Argentine writes about those jobs, and the importance of a STEAM education for young people hoping to go into the field.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Cybersecurity involves many of these subjects, from information technology to psychology and cryptography – that’s the math and science of secret codes. Art is included because musical patterns and visual art help develop creativity and problem-solving skills.

Argentine shows how hackers can get into a computer system, and shares their “toolkit of tricks”: viruses, malware, and bots. She devotes an entire chapter to designing a defense against cyber-intrusion, another to ethics

Fast Fact boxes add information about specific cyber-attacks, how computers influence our lives, and which passwords are the worst. Hint: don’t use starwars! Throughout the book she highlights STEAM jobs in cybersecurity: cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity consultant, malware analyst, cyber-forensic investigator, security software developer, information security administrator, cybersecurity engineer and architect, and cybersecurity lawyer.

Another cool thing about this book: it’s part of the STEAM Jobs You’ll Love series. Other books in the series focus on jobs in Agriculture, Architecture, Forensic science, Game development, Robotics, Wildlife Conservation … and the list goes on. Review copy provided by the publisher.

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

September 20, 2019September 15, 2019

Silent Swoop

Silent Swoop: An Owl, an Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket
by Michelle Houts (Author) and Deb Hoeffner (Illustrator)

Booktalk: An owl swoops down to lay her egg in a coal yard–a dangerous spot for a fragile egg! Rescued by Walter, a bird expert with a big heart and warm shirt pocket, the egg miraculously hatches and is aptly named Coal. Additional pages of science information, literacy connections, and STEM activities can be found in the back of the book.

Snippet:

BONUS! Download the Science and Engineering Activities

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

September 20, 2019September 10, 2019

The Lost Forest

The Lost Forest
by Phyllis Root; illus. by Betsy Bowen
40 pages; ages 4 – 9
Univ Of Minnesota Press, 2019

How do you lose a forest?

Especially when trees are so tall you can’t see their tops. So big it takes two or more people holding hands to reach around. You’d think a forest of trees like that would be easy to find – but in 1882, in Minnesota, a survey crew lost an entire forest. It disappeared right off their maps! Great news for the trees – they kept right on growing. Great news for the other plants and the animals living in the forest – they kept on raising seeds and babies and continuing their community of life.

For more than 75 years the mistake stayed on the map, protecting the trees from the lumberjacks’ saws and axes. Now the forest is protected and you can go visit 350-year old pines. So it is a lost-and-found forest, right?

What I like about this book: I love the way Phyllis Root tells her story, with a sly wink to the reader. “If you were trying to turn this rollicking land into straight lines on paper, you might make a mistake,” she writes. She reminds readers that the trees had never been lost. Neither had the orchids, porcupines, and other wild plants and animals. They knew exactly where they were!

I love the illustrations by Betsy Bowen. They pull you right into the woods. I like the endpages – maps of the township – and the plentitude of back matter. There you’ll find out more about old growth forests and some of the species you might find there. You can find out more about surveying, and there’s a fun section called “how to talk like a surveyor”.

Check out “beyond the book” activities over at Archimedes Notebook

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