Aquileo | Bookish Ways in Math and Science

Aquileo | Cross-Curricular Teaching with Feathers by Melissa Stewart

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 03:55:00 +0000

I wrote this post three ago as I was preparing a lesson for a class I taught entitled Content and Pedagogy for Elementary Science and Social Studies. For years I lamented having to combine two subject areas in one class, feeling neither got the attention it deserved. Since the regulations regarding the preparation of teachers in Virginia finally changed, I can happily say that I now have separate methods classes for science and social studies and that I'm teaching both of them this semester.

The up side to teaching science and social studies together was all the opportunities there were to show how the curriculum can be integrated in a natural way. Since I spend a lot of time integrating children's literature in my courses, I thought that I'd try to begin a series of posts that focuses on these ideas for integration.

FEATHERS
Feathers are a unique physical adaptation found only in birds. But what are they? What are they used for? You'll find these answers and much more in this terrific informational book.

Feathers: Not Just For Flying

written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Melissa has a Pinterest board with lots of teaching ideas and resources for using the book in the classroom. You'll also find a Teacher's Guide on her web site, as well as a Readers Theater script, math activity, and more.

On her blog, Celebrate Science, Melissa has a post entitled Behind the Books: Curriculum Connections. In this one you will find a number of ideas connected to this book.

You can pair Melissa's book with this podcast from BirdNote. This just-under two minute segment describes how down feathers serve to keep bird's warm (insulate them) in very cold weather.

This podcast mentions how "People learned years ago how well goose-down insulates and began stuffing comforters, sleeping bags, and clothing with it." This use of feathers as a natural resource provides a connection to economics and another book.

Agatha's Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story

written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Laura Seeley

In this story, Agatha explains to a young boy visiting her shop that “everything comes from something”—silk from silkworms, cotton from cotton bolls, wool from sheep, and linen from flax. She tells him:

"Everything comes from something,
Nothing comes from nothing.
Just like paper comes from trees,
And glass comes from sand,
An answer comes from a question.
All you have to do is ask."

That evening, a group of naked geese wake her from her sleep and remind her that “everything comes from something,” and that her new feather bed is made from their feathers. (Please note that I am not endorsing the use of down, just highlighting it as a historically accurate use of a natural resource. Please read Can Down Be Ethical or Green to learn about ethical options to down feathers. )

Peachtree Publishing has a helpful Teacher's Guide for this book.
KidsEconPosters has a page on the book that explores how it can be used to teach economics concepts that include natural resources, goods & services, economic wants, productive resources, capital resources, and human resources.
You might want to consider making an "Everything Comes From Something" resource kit so students can see the natural resources used to make everyday items.
You can also try this lesson from Virginia's Ag in the Classroom program entitled Resource Round-Up.

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So, what do you think? Are there other connections we can make to this book? If you have ideas or resources to contribute, please share them in the comments.

Aquileo | Jelly Bean Classification

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 06:01:00 +0000

My class this evening focused on the skills of observation and classification. In thinking about classification, we engaged in a series of sorting activities with a variety of materials (buttons, screws (hardware), seashells, etc.) At the end of this, we completed a jelly bean classification activity using a dichotomous key.

In 2003, David Crowther published an article in Science and Children entitled "Harry Potter and the Dichotomous Key" (October issue, p.18-23). In it he described a 5E lesson for teaching about dichotomous keys using Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. This article also included a key for Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.

Over the years that I have conducted this activity, there were always minor "problems" with the key, as jelly bean flavors and names changed over time. Today, I came home after class and updated the key I had been using (based on the original published in the Crowther article). While not fully following the format of a true dichotmous key, it does a pretty good job of helping students classify the jelly beans found in a 40 flavor bag.

Download a copy.

Let me know if you find this useful.

Aquileo | Connecting Math and Art to Teach Multiplication

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Tue, 03 May 2016 01:25:00 +0000

In October of 2011, one of my students, now a highly successful classroom teacher, created an annotated bibliography on connecting math and art in the teaching of multiplication. I've updated that information and included a number of new resources. My thanks to Christine Mingus for the original post.
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In the interest of finding new and artful ways to help teach children about multiplication, this post highlights resources that use art to enhance math instruction, increase student motivation and engagement, and help students tap into fun and creative ways to think about math concepts.

Visual learners, and even ELL students, benefit from making projects that allow them to explore mathematical concepts in new ways -- and art is all about looking at the world from multiple perspectives. Art simply feels like play for elementary aged students, and using it to explore multiples and place value helps foster their confidence in their math abilities and definitely works to keep a multiplication lesson percolating. Many children see art as a non-threatening subject matter, and using it to ground a lesson is a great way to generate ideas and excitement among your young mathematicians. Getting them to see the visual and creative aspects of math can go a long way in teaching the algorithms of multiplication and can create a lot of math-positive, math-rich dialog in the process.

In third grade, students begin to explore basic multiplication by utilizing strategies, algorithms, and appropriate methods of computation. As they progress beyond simpler whole number operations into this new realm of mathematical thinking (learning the multiplication tables through the twelves), art can lead the way and ease the transition into higher level reasoning and problem-solving.

Web Resources
Artful Connections With Math: Multiplication Array Prints - In this lesson, students explore positive and negative space and create a stamp on top of a watercolor wash. They repeatedly print the stamp as an array representing a fact family of multiplication and division number sentences. The video below provides additional information about this lesson.

Multiplication City Art - See how one teachers helps her students learn array multiplication by creating city blocks where the buildings are created by differing arrays of windows.

Art Inspired Math - This brief article by Michael Naylor describes some activities that will get students looking for mathematics in artwork and also creating their own artwork to show off geometric ideas.

Fooling Around With Math and Art - Here's a description of an interesting art project that morphed into a cool way to look at array multiplication.

Origami Multiplication Flash Cards - If cootie catchers aren't your thing, you may want to make these basic origami shapes and encourage your students to do the same. These are found on Rick Morris's New Management website, and you can use them with his multiplication triangle tests (downloadable as a PDF file at the bottom).

Math Art: Hands-On Math Activities for Grades 2, 3, and 4 - This is the web page that accompanies Zachary Brewer's book (see below). Here you will find pictures and descriptions of various projects throughout the book, including his lesson on common multiples and his lesson on multiplication arrays.

String Art and Math: A Project in Multiplication - While I normally associate string art with bad 1970s home decor, I think this is a really interesting way to play artfully with multiplication. Instead of using nails to create the string art, students will have to be advanced enough to know how to use embroidery thread and needles to pull the thread through cardstock printed with the design template. This could be a good art/math center activity for those students with strong fine motor skills, and could produce very colorful work for display in the classroom. (The sample worksheet is downloadable as a PDF file at the bottom of the page.)

National Gallery of Art: NGA Kids - While this is just a wonderful arts site for kids to create their own artistic compositions, you can bookmark this at your classroom computer center and invite students to create online works that demonstrate multiplication concepts. Basic multiplication can be expressed through art through image repetition, and here kids can try all kinds of cool programs: BRUSHTER (an interactive painting machine); NGAkids Photo Op (an introduction to digital photography and image editing); the Collage Machine; Mobile Maker; FLOW (a remarkable interactive motion painting program); and Wallovers (which uses a 6 x 4 grid for students to create symmetrical compositions and can reinforce the interrelatedness between multiplication and addition). Students can create the multiplication masterpieces and then write out what kinds of images are multiplied in their work (and express them as equations).

Books for Teachers

Mathematical ART-O-Facts: Activities to Introduce, Reinforce, or Asses Geometry & Measurement Skills by Catherine Johns Kuhns. (2008). Crystal Springs Books (978-1934026113). Gr. 3-6.

This book contains 22 different math activities focused on geometry and measurement, though multiplication and division concepts can be found woven throughout the lessons. Fun and engaging, all of these activities promote mathematical thinking and creativity through problem solving.

Math Art: Hands-On Math Activities for Grades 2, 3, and 4 by Zachary J. Brewer. (2010). Create Space (1453636439). Gr. 2 - 4.

This book shows you how to successfully integrate arts into any elementary math curriculum. Each of the math activities ultimately result in an aesthetically-pleasing project that reinforces a basic math concept. Inside are two great projects to help teach multiplication to third grade students: a project about multiples (p. 14 - 17), which demonstrates how to skip count and how to tell the difference between common and uncommon multiples, and another that shows how to represent multiplication facts as arrays (p. 26 - 27). All the lessons list teaching objectives, what materials are required, full project descriptions, and black line masters of reproducible assessment sheets (which require students to explain their mathematical thinking in writing).

Comic-Strip Math: Problem Solving: 80 Reproducible Cartoons with Dozens and Dozens of Story Problems That Motivate Students and Build Essential Math Skills by Dan Greenberg. (2010). Scholastic Teaching Resources (0545195713). Gr. 3-6.

This is such a brilliant idea - what a fantastic way to blend art, math, reading,and writing. Using comics to explore math encourages students to use their visual, verbal, spatial, and logic skills in interpreting situations. While most of the multiplication exercises in the book incorporate multi-step problems (some of which also ask children to take the next step into division), there is a nice section in the book with lots of fun activities for them to solve (p. 12 - 19). Each lesson features a comic at the top, which concludes with a "figure it out" question, and then the follow-up questions listed below take on a more-familiar worksheet format. There are "super challenges" at the bottom of each page to help students extend what they've learned and some encourage them to create their own pictures, diagrams, charts and models. Consider setting up a math/art center for students to make their own multiplication comic strips. You could use graph paper to help them better design the more traditional story-board layout, or take larger paper and fold it to create frames for students to draw in. Encouraging them to think about and ask multiplication problems through art and humor and then asking them to share them with classmates could be incredibly fun for everyone.

MathART Projects and Activities by Carolyn Ford Brunetto. (1999). Scholastic Teaching Resources (0590963716). Gr. 3 - 5.

This book is full of good ways to connect math to simple art projects, and inside there are two very fun multiplication projects: multiplication constellations (p. 38 -41), and my favorite idea, multiplication houses to reinforce basic multiplication facts for numbers 1 to 12 (p. 40 - 41). Using the template, students can create their houses - or if you are more artistically inclined, you can encourage them to create their own houses (or skyscrapers, or other buildings). For example, if a student creates the house of nine, the number 9 would be written on the door. The numbers 1 to 12 would be written on the house's twelve windows. When you open the window to any given number, you see the product of nine and that number revealed. Creating these houses for kids to use as lesson guides would be very enjoyable, and if you made large ones for your classroom, you could create your own Multiplication Neighborhood that your students could look at for review.

Quick and Easy Math Art: Dozens of Engaging Art Activities That Build and Reinforce Essential Math Skills and Concepts by Deborah Schecter. (2011). Scholastic Teaching Resources (0439199425). Gr. 2 - 4.

Here is another great art-math resource offered by Scholastic, chock full of great, inexpensive, and simple projects that anyone can do. There are a number of very cute multiplication activities (p. 14 - 22): Be Mine! Multiplication (which you can see in color on the cover of the book), Multiplication Menageries, Fall Factor Trees, and Teeny-Tiny Times Table Books. The author makes it clear that educators should test out these projects before introducing them to the class - as any art teacher can tell you, figuring out how to do them on your own first can help you determine exactly how you need to model instruction, what steps are important to emphasize, and will help you figure out how complicated (and possibly time consuming) it is going to be. Many of these multiplication projects would be suitable to use at math centers.

Aquileo | Teaching for Conceptual Understanding

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:08:00 +0000

My math classes focus on teaching math for understanding, not rote memorization of processes. For sure knowing basic facts and how to compute is important, but understanding strategies and why procedures work is just as valuable.

In the post 5 Tips To Help Students Develop Conceptual Understanding In Math, Crystal Morey describes her approach to inquiry-based instruction and the ways in which she develops students' conceptual understanding.

This quote highlights one problem teachers using this approach run into.

"Since I’ve begun to focus on the development of conceptual understanding, I’ve run into some challenges. Students and parents alike want me to teach short cuts and algorithms. Yet, when I hear students talking and thinking mathematically, I’m certain that this struggle will prepare them to be risk-takers, not only in my classroom but in their daily lives, too."

It's a post worth reading. You can also see her in action teaching students about inequalities, with a focus on concepts FIRST and notation last.

Click on the video title to be taken to Teaching Channel for a transcript of the lesson, copy of the lesson plan, and more.

Aquileo | What Color Were Dinosaurs?

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 04:11:00 +0000

Based on fossil evidence, how can scientists know what color dinosaurs were? In this TEDEd lesson, Len Bloch shows how making sense of the evidence requires careful examination of the fossil and a good understanding of the physics of light and color.

In this terrific video you'll learn a bit about the microraptor, a four-winged carnivorous dinosaur with iridescent black feathers, as well as the work that scientists do in determining how dinosaurs actually looked.
You can find more resources at How Do We Know What Color Dinosaurs Were?

Aquileo | Books for Math Storytelling Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 15:31:00 +0000

September 25th is Math Storytelling Day. Today (every day!) is the perfect opportunity to encourage and nurture the love of mathematics through reading about math. There are many terrific books that include mathematical content or challenging puzzles to solve. Here are some titles that will encourage children to stretch their mathematical muscles in a different way.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster - Take a journey with Milo, a young boy who drives through a magic tollbooth into the Lands Beyond and embarks on a quest to rescue the maidens Rhyme and Reason from exile and reconcile the estranged kingdoms of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. This is a great book for kids enamored of words and/or numbers.

Grandfather Tang's Story: A Tale Told With Tangrams by Ann Tompert and The Warlord's Puzzle by Virginia Pilegard are both stories that revolve around an ancient Chinese puzzle made from a large square cut into seven pieces. The seven shapes include a small square, two small triangles, a medium-sized triangle, two large triangles and a parallelogram. Kids can read the stories and follow along with their own set of tangrams!

You can print some tangram puzzles as well as shape outlines for young children.
Try out some tangram puzzles online.

The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger - With full color illustrations, this book tells the story of a twelve year old boy and math hater named Robert, who meets the Number Devil in his dreams. Over the course of twelve nights, the Number Devil illustrates different mathematical ideas using things like coconuts and furry calculators. Along the way he also takes Robert to Number Paradise where he meets different mathematicians.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett - Petra and Calder are preoccupied with Vermeer. When a Vermeer painting is stolen in transit from the National Gallery in Washington D.C. to the Chicago Institute of Art, they become intent on finding the painting and solving the mystery. Clues and mysteries abound.

Calder carries a set of pentominoes in his pocket at all times, so be sure to print your own set to use while reading this one!
Play pentominoes online.
Learn more about the book, the author, and the other books in the series at the Scholastic site.

Brown Paper School Math Books by Marilyn Burns - Don't let the publication dates fool you into thinking these are out of date (one was first published in 1975!). These are great books for helping kids see that math is fun and for everyone.

The Book of Think: Or How to Solve a Problem Twice Your Size
The I Hate Mathematics! Book
Math for Smarty Pants

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - Eleven year-old Reynie Muldoon is intrigued by an ad in the paper that asks “Are You a Gifted Child looking for Special Opportunities?” Reynie and dozens of other children show up to answer the ad and take a mind-boggling series of tests, but only Reynie and three others are left at the end. Puzzles and mysteries abound in this adventurous tale. Sequels include The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma.

After reading the books, try your hand at solving the puzzles in The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums.
Play games for the gifted at the Mysterious Benedict Society site.

Books by Greg Tang - Greg Tang has written a series of books that encourage children to look for patterns in math and find more "economical" ways of solving problems.

The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply
Grapes of Math: Mind Stretching Math Riddles
Math Appeal
Math Fables: Lessons That Count
Math Fables Too: Making Science Count
Math for All Seasons: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles
Math Potatoes: More Mind-Stretching Brain Food
Math-terpieces

The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures by Malba Tahan - Orginally published in 1949 as O Homem que Calculava, this book of mathematical puzzles was written by Júlio César de Mello e Souza and published under the pen name Malba Tahan. The book is an enjoyable series of "Arabian nights"-style tales, with each story built around a classic mathematical puzzle. In each tale, Beremiz Samir uses his mathematical powers to "settle disputes, give wise advice, overcome dangerous enemies, and win for himself fame and fortune."

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin - Winston sees puzzles everywhere. Imagine his dismay when he gives his sister a box for her birthday, only to learn that it has a secret compartment containing four wood sticks with puzzle clues. Readers will solve puzzles right along with Winston and his sister Katie as they try to solve the mystery. The sequel to this book, The Potato Chip Puzzles, is also highly entertaining.

Download puzzles from the Winston Breen books.
Check out the Winston Breen puzzle blog.

Books by Theoni Pappas - Written in the same vein as the Brown Paper School Books, Pappas has written many books about math, my favorites of which are those where a cat explores the math in and around his house.

The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat
Further Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat

The Origami Master by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, Lissy's Friends by Grace Lin (picture books), and Fold Me a Poem by Kristine O'Connell George (poetry) are all books about origami. Paper folding is a great visual and spatial puzzler for kids and adults. It's also fun!

You can get great paper at Origami Corner.
Try making this origami crane.
Here are directions on folding an origami frog.
If you have trouble reading origami directions in print, try following along with this video on Origami for Children.

Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra by Wendy Lichtman - Tess is an eighth grade girl experiencing typical middle school problems--friends breaking promises, peers cheating on tests, the boy that may-or-may not be interested--as well negotiating some drama at home. Tess examines everything logically and views her world through the lens of mathematics.

"The way Sammy spoke about her mother made me think of what Venn diagrams look like when the two sets have nothing in common--like, for example, the set of odd numbers and the set of even numbers. Their intersection is called an empty set, because there's nothing in it. There's not one number that can be both odd and even. I didn't like thinking of Sammy and her mother like that--like an empty set." (p.49)

While the book isn't necessarily about math, Tess has many interesting mathematical insights and how they relate to the world we live in.

That's it for now. Do you have a favorite book that offers something mathematical to puzzle over? If so, please share. I would love to add your ideas to this list.

Aquileo | The Science of Story Time

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 18:36:00 +0000

Last week on Science Friday there was a segment entitled The Science of Story Time. While it begins with a discussion of a study that shows reading with kids has positive effects ranging from increased vocabulary to greater success reading independently, it ends with experts and callers sharing favorite books for science-curious kids.

Visit the Science Friday site for a list of books discussed.

Aquileo | Informal, Math-Rich Experiences - The Richmond Math Salon

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 17:15:00 +0000

This is an old (2010) video, but I keep returning to it because I love the notion of a math salon.

A while back I wrote a post describing the components of elementary school homework I believed were important. Here's a description of one of those components.

Puzzle - When was the last time you sat down to solve a puzzle and did it for fun? I do this all the time. Sudoku, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, logic problems, tangrams ... I could go on. Puzzles are good for the brain. They develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. They teach kids to persevere, guess and check, collaborate with others, and try a whole host of new strategies. Can you think of a better training ground for mathematical thinking than puzzling? Now imagine if your teacher encouraged you to do this for homework.

This is exactly the kind of think happening in this math salon--kids exploring ideas in meaningful ways that just happen to touch on aspects of mathematical thinking. Just imagine what you could do with this idea in a classroom.

You can read more on my views about homework in the post entitled Elementary School Homework and Reading in Math and Science.

Aquileo | How Many Trees Are There On The Planet?

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:58:00 +0000

Last week I was interested in a story I heard on NPR. It began with the question "How many trees are there on the planet?" I started to think about how one would make such an estimation. My guess was 100 billion. Was I close? No. The actual answer is closer to 3 trillion. That's TRILLION, or 3 x 1,000,000,000,000.

You can hear the story at NPR in the post entitled Tree Counter is Astonished By How Many Trees There Are.

And while this sounds like a huge amount (no, we don't have enough), the researchers found that the Earth has lost nearly half its trees since the start of human civilization. We also know that we are losing 10 Billion trees every year. All of this is pretty disturbing.

These numbers teach us a lot about habitat loss, how much carbon dioxide is being absorbed from the atmosphere, how water is recycled in an ecosystem, and how we can preserve and replenish our forests. Take a minute to learn more in this video.

You can read more about the study that produced these data at Live Science in the article Earth Lost Half Its Trees to Humans.

Aquileo | Thematic Book List - Biographies of Early Scientists (through Newton)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 12:34:00 +0000

In a letter to Robert Hooke in 1676, Isaac Newton wrote "If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants." Newton, just like the scientists of today, relied on the work of scientists and mathematicians who came before him.

Below you will find a list of books on scientists before and including Newton. I've also thrown in a couple of important mathematicians. Titles are roughly arranged in chronological order.

The Life and Times of Aristotle (2006), written by Jim Whiting - This biography from the Biography from Ancient Civilizations series provides a compelling look at Aristotle and his influence across history in a wide range of subjects. Though Aristotle was a philosopher, he was for many centuries considered the world's greatest scientist. Whiting explores Aristotle's contributions to science, as well as history and politics. Back matter includes a chronology, selected works, timeline in history, chapter notes, glossary, and further reading ideas.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth (1994), written by Kathryn Lansky and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes - This biography of the Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes, who compiled the first geography book and accurately measured the globe's circumference, tells the story of his life from his birth over two thousand years ago in northern Africa (modern Libya) to his work as the chief librarian at the great library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt.

Of Numbers and Stars: The Story of Hypatia (2006), written by D. Anne Love and illustrated by Pamela Paparone - The daughter of Theon, a mathematician, philosopher, and the last director of the Library at Alexandria, Hypatia was educated in the ways of many young men of her time and was one of the first women to study math, science, and philosophy. This book provides a nice overview of the time and place in which Hypatia lived. The artwork evokes both Egyptian and Greek styles and nicely incorporates images that reflect the subjects Hypatia studied. This is a carefully crafted picture book biography on a woman that little is known of. Despite this, her story is one that will inspire. Included are an author's note and bibliography, as well as some additional notes about mathematics.

Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci (2009), written by Joseph D'Agnese and illustrated by John O'Brien - Medieval Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci is introduced in this first person biography. In traveling with this father, Fibonacci learned geometry in Greece, fractions from the Egyptians, and Hindu-Arabic numerals in India. Largely responsible for converting Europe from Roman numerals to Hindu-Arabic numerals, he also realized that many things in nature followed a certain pattern, today known as the Fibonacci sequence.

Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer (2012), written and illustrated by Robert Byrd - In this gorgeously illustrated picture book biography, Byrd provides a wealth of information about da Vinci's life and work. In addition to the traditional narrative, da Vinci's own words, anecdotes, and journal excerpts are found in sidebars and small panel illustrations. Byrd clearly and concisely explains da Vinci's theories in a way all readers can understand.

Leonardo da Vinci: Giants of Science (2008), written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Boris Kulikov - An extensive biography for older students (middle grades and up), this engaging work in the Giants of Science series focuses on the life of da Vinci while exploring his study the natural world, including aerodynamics, anatomy, astronomy, botany, geology, paleontology, and zoology. Special attention is given to da Vinci's notebooks and their meaning.

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas: 21 Activities (1998), written by Janis Herbert - This biography of da Vinci is interspersed with activities readers can try on their own, including observing nature, painting birds, growing an herb garden, making minestrone soup, building a kite, and more. Includes extensive reproductions of da Vinci's sketches and paintings. Includes a list of related Web sites.

Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci (2009), written and illustrated by Gene Barretta - This biography for younger students focuses on the ideas and inventions found in the more than 20,000 pages of da Vinci's notes. Readers learn how many inventions that came centuries after da Vinci's time were actually imagined and described in his notes.

Galileo For Kids: His Life and Ideas: 21 Activities (2005), written by Richard Panchyk - This biography of Galileo is interspersed with activities readers can try on their own, including letter writing, observing the moon, playing with gravity and motion, making a pendulum, painting with light and shadow, and more. Back matter includes glossaries of key terms, people, and places in Italy, helpful web sites, and a list of planetariums and space museums.

Galileo's Telescope (2009), written by Gerry Bailey and Karen Foster and illustrated by Leighton Noyes - Every Saturday morning, Digby Platt and his sister Hannah visit Knicknack Market to check out the interesting and unique “antiques” for sale. In finding a telescope, the children learn about the life of mathematician, physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei. Back matter includes a glossary.

I, Galileo (2012), written and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen - This first person biography opens with Galileo imprisoned and remembering his life from childhood onward, highlighting his education and scientific discoveries. In the Afterword, Christensen explains that it took nearly 400 years for the Catholic Church to admit they were wrong to condemn Galileo. Back matter includes a glossary, chronology, and descriptions of his experiments, inventions, improvements, and astronomic discoveries.

Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei (2000), written and illustrated by Peter Sis - In this Caldecott honor book, gorgeous illustrations take center stage in telling the story of Galileo. Sis creates for readers images of the things Galileo saw in his observations of space, including sunspots, planets revolving around Jupiter, valleys and chasms on the moon, and more. Though not a detailed treatment of his life, the text is enhanced by notes and quotes from Galileo's own writings, scrawled throughout the pages.

Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian (2010), written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Maria Merian was an artist and scientist who studied plants and animals in their natural habitat and then captured them in her art. This book is based on the true story of how Merian secretly observed the life cycle of summer birds (a medieval name for butterflies) and documented it in her paintings. Focusing on her young life, this book shows readers how curiosity at a young age can lead to a lifelong pursuit.

Isaac Newton: Giants of Science (2008), written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Boris Kulikov - An extensive biography for older students (middle grades and up), this engaging work in the Giants of Science series focuses on the life of Newton, a boy who was incredibly curious. Though he lived a solitary life, he attended Cambridge, worked for an apothecary, served in Parliament, and so much more. Despite his successes in the fields of math and science, Newton was also "secretive, vindictive, withdrawn, obsessive, and, oh, yes, brilliant."

Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (2009), written by Kerrie Logan Hollihan - This biography of Newton is interspersed with activities readers can try on their own, including making a waste book, building a water wheel, making ink, creating a 17th century plague mask, tracking the phases of the moon, testing Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, and more. Back matter includes a list of useful books and web sites.

World History Biographies: Isaac Newton: The Scientist Who Changed Everything (2013), written by Philip Steele - This book in the National Geographic World History Biographies series profiles Newton as more than just a physicist, but also as an acclaimed mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, philosopher, and inventor as well.

Online Resources

The Timeline Index of Scientists provides a quick chronology and overview of important figures in the history of science. (Note that mathematicians are integrated into this list.)
The video Carl Sagan on Eratosthenes discusses the contributions to science by Eratosthenes. This clip comes from Carl Sagan's Cosmos episode 1, The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean.
Learn more about Eratosthenes' contributions to mathematics by learning about the Sieve of Eratosthenes.
The AMS has a free poster you can order on Fibonacci Numbers in Nature.
Mensa for Kids has a nice set of lessons on Fibonacci Numbers.
The introductory video Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant does a terrific job of showing Fibonacci numbers in nature.
Universal Leonardo is a program aimed at deepening our understanding of Leonardo da Vinci through a series of European exhibitions (2006), scientific research and web-based resources.
The SciShow video Great Minds: Leonardo da Vinci provides a nice overview of his life and contributions.
This Guardian article on da Vinci's notebooks provides examples and links for further study.
View the teacher's guide for Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sis.
Easy Science for Kids has a simple biography of Galileo.
You can view a few of the paintings that were part of the 2008 Getty Center exhibition entitled Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters: Women of Art and Science.
You can learn more about Merian at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Easy Science for Kids has a simple biography of Newton.
The NOVA production Newton's Dark Side explores the strange and complex mind of Isaac Newton and explores how he was searching out hidden meanings in the Bible and pursuing the covert art of alchemy.

That's it for this list. Coming up next is a list of biographies for scientists from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Aquileo | Honeybees and Hexagons

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:15:00 +0000

"Honeybees are some of nature’s finest mathematicians. Not only can they calculate angles and comprehend the roundness of the earth, these smart insects build and live in one of the most mathematically efficient architectural designs around: the beehive."

Learn more by viewing the complete Ted Ed lesson by Zack Patterson and Andy Peterson.

After viewing this you may want to check out this book on patterns and shapes in nature.

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes . . . Naturally (2008), written by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Steve Jenkins explores surprising and hidden shapes and patterns in nature. Poetic text and cut paper collage illustrations serve as a beautiful vehicle for introducing young readers to these concepts. On a page depicting a snake, a spider hanging from a thread, a snail shell, a bee in flight, an ant, and goose silhouetted against the moon, the text begins this way.

In the day
and the night,
on the land
and in flight

tucked in hollows
of trees,
in the tide pools
and seas,

you'll find patterns and shapes—
from the snakes to the bees!

The next page reveals the genius behind a beehive. This is one of my favorite spreads in the book—not only do I love the text, but I could spend hours staring at the bees on the hive. The layers upon layers of paper used to create the illustration are stunning. The text that accompanies it reads:

Study a beehive
and you will see
the mathematical genius of the bee.

The hexagons
you'll find inside
fit side
by side
by side
by side.

This math is passed
mysteriously
from worker bee
to worker bee!

*Swoon* Beautiful images and beautiful words—what better tools are there to introduce nonfiction to young readers? None that I can think of.

Franco and Jenkins next explore moths, the stunning symmetry of a spider's web, the dazzling feathers of the male peacock, the familiar V of migrating geese, the teamwork and formation of members of an ant colony, the geometry of animal tracks (a mouse in the snow), the shapes on diamondback snakes, the radial symmetry of sea stars, the shape of a puffed-up puffer fish, and the spirals of a snail shell. The text/poem on the shell page is written in the same spiral form displayed by the shell.

The text ends with the same background as the opening spread, though presented at nightfall with some different animals on the page. There are eyes inside a hole in the tree, sea stars on a rock, a moth flitting in the moonlight, and a spider now resting on a completed web. The text reads:

So there you have it . . . .
I think you'll agree

that creatures
on land,
in the air,
in the sea

make patterns and shapes
quite naturally!

Text ©Betsy Franco. All rights reserved.

The end matter of the book is titled New Angles on Animals and provides a brief bit of information on each of the animals highlighted in the pages of the text.

While I plan on using this book for math to talk about shapes and patterns, I can also see it being used in science to discuss camouflage and other animal adaptations. This is a gorgeous book in both writing and illustration. I highly recommend it.

Aquileo | Thematic Book List - Extreme Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:02:00 +0000

There are many types of storms, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. Caused by extremes in weather, storms can cause severe damage. But extremes are not limited to storms. Weather conditions such as too little or too much precipitation can result in drought or flood. Extremely high temperatures can cause a heat wave. Whatever the condition, extreme weather is something meteorologists work hard to predict so that lives and property can be protected.

Here is a list of books that focuses on storms and events caused by extreme weather conditions.

Nonfiction Picture Books

The Big Rivers: The Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Ohio (1997, OP), written and illustrated by Bruce Hiscock - In a text that combines history, geography and science, Hiscock describes the flooding of the upper Mississippi in 1993, while explaining what a river basin is, how it works as part of the water cycle, and how the system of dams and levees failed on this occasion.

The Big Storm (2008), written and illustrated by Bruce Hiscock - This book follows the course of one large weather system as it travels across the United States. Hiscock carefully chronicles a large springtime storm in 1982 as it moves from rain in the Pacific Northwest, to a blizzard in the Sierras, to tornadoes and hail in the Texas plains, and finally to New York City where it becomes a blizzard. As the storm rolls on, readers learn about weather forecasting, how storms are formed, and how they travel.

Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America (2006), written by Jim Murphy - The great blizzard of 1888 changed the way we respond to storms. Using personal recollections as well as newspapers, photographs, and sketches made by news artists during the storm, Murphy takes readers into the unfolding blizzard and its aftermath. As a result of this storm, legislation was passed in New York to clean up the city, bury wires, build the subway, and more. Back matter includes a six page narrative discussion of notes on sources and related reading material.

Flood: Wrestling With the Mississippi (1996, OP), written by Patricia Lauber - This National Geographic photo-essay describes the flooding of the Mississippi in 1993 with a focus on more on the underlying causes of the flooding.

The Great American Dust Bowl (2013), written and illustrated by Don Brown - This graphic novel is a masterpiece of history and science, weaving together sourced facts in an accurate historical narrative. Brown uses words from primary source materials to explain how the heartland of America became a vast barren plain, citing drought, the Depression, the loss of bison, and more. Includes scientific explanations for the dust storms as well as first hand accounts. Back matter includes a selected bibliography and source notes.

National Geographic Readers: Storms (2009), written by Miriam Goin - This Level 1 reader introduces the basics of weather and then goes on to describe a variety of storms, including thunder and lightning, hailstorm, sandstorm, blizzard, monsoon, and others. Back matter includes a glossary.

Rising Waters: A Book About Floods (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - This book in the Amazing Science series describes the causes and effects of flooding. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Sizzle!: A Book About Heat Waves (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - This book in the Amazing Science series describes what a heat wave is and how it affects living things in rural and urban areas. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Storms (1992), written by Seymour Simon - In stunning pictures and clear and engaging text, Simon provides clear explanations of various storm types, how they form, and how destructive they can be.

Whiteout!: A Book About Blizzards (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - What happens when snow is falling and wind is blowing? Readers will learn the answer to this question and more as they read about the conditions often found during a blizzard, include including whiteouts, strong winds, snowdrifts, and wind chills.

Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll (1999), written by Franklyn Branley and illustrated by True Kelley - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series focuses on thunder and lightning. Back matter includes 2 simple experiments and additional resource suggestions for learning more.

Lightning! (2006), written by Seymour Simon - With stunning pictures and clear engaging text, Simon describes how and why lightning occurs, different types of lightning, how scientists study it, how to stay safe during an electrical storm, and more.

Lightning, Hurricanes, and Blizzards: The Science of Storms (2010), written by Paul Fleisher - At nearly 50 pages, this book is filled with information about storms. It opens by explaining that "Storms are the most dramatic weather events." Five chapters include: (1) air masses, weather fronts, and mid-altitude cyclones; (2) thunderstorms; (3) tornadoes; (4) hurricanes; and (5) other storms. Back matter includes a glossary, selected bibliography, further reading, and web sites.

Nature's Fireworks: A Book About Lightning (2003), written by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Omarr Wesley - This book in the Amazing Science series describes the different ways lightning is created and what makes it flash across the sky. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Our Wonderful Weather: Thunderstorms (2014), written by Valerie Bodden - Using beautiful photos and clear, concise text, Bodden describes what thunderstorms are, the relationship of thunder and lightning, kinds of thunderstorms, and more. Back matter includes a glossary, titles for learning more, and helpful web sites.

Rumble, Boom!: A Book About Thunderstorms (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - This book in the Amazing Science series describes how thunderstorms form. Also included is information on phenomena such as thunder, lightning, storm cells, downdrafts, super cells, and more. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Before moving on to books about tornadoes and hurricanes, let's take a quick break to watch this terrific little Peep and the Big Wide World video on stormy weather.

Do Tornadoes Really Twist? (2000), written by Melvin and Gilda Berger and illustrated by Higgins Bond - In an engaging question and answer format, this book provides a good introduction to tornadoes and hurricanes. Illustrations, diagrams and maps accompany clearly written and engaging text.

Our Wonderful Weather: Tornadoes (2014), written by Valerie Bodden - Using beautiful photos and clear, concise text, Bodden describes what tornadoes are, their shapes and sizes, how they are measured, and more. Back matter includes a glossary, titles for learning more, and helpful web sites.

Tornado! The Story Behind these Twisting, Turning, Spinning, and Spiraling Storms (2011), written by Judy and Dennis Fradin - This National Geographic Kids book includes amazing photographs and a wealth of information on how tornadoes form and are categorized, their destructive power, information on storms of note, and more.

Tornado Alert (1990), written by Franklyn Branley and illustrated by Giulio Maestro - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series describes how, where, and when tornadoes happen and what to do during a tornado.

Tornadoes (2001), written by Seymour Simon - In stunning pictures and clear and engaging text, Simon provides a comprehensive look at tornadoes, including how they form, where they occur, and how they are studied.

Tornadoes! (2012), written by Marcie Aboff and illustrated by Aleksandar Sotirovski - This graphic novel uses text and illustrations to explain how tornadoes form, how they are measured, and how to stay safe during one.

Tornadoes! (2010), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - In this book, Gibbons uses text and images to help readers understand how tornadoes form, how they are classified, where they typically appear, safety procedures during a storm, and much more.

Twisters: A Book About Tornadoes (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - This book in the Amazing Science series describes how tornadoes form and provides explanations updrafts, downdrafts, thunderstorms, rotation, and funnel clouds. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Eye of the Storm: A Book About Hurricanes (2005), written by Rick Thomas and illustrated by Denise Shea - This book in the Amazing Science series describes how hurricanes form, what tropical storms are, and how storm surges occur. Back matter includes a glossary and helpful print and web resources.

Hurricane! (2008), written and illustrated by Celia Godkin - In a beautifully illustrated book, readers learn how coastal Florida has adapted to seasonal storms. With an eye to the flora and fauna, Godkin shows and tells readers how the opossum, fiddler crab, manatee, and many others (including humans), weather the storm.

Hurricanes (2007), written by Seymour Simon - With incredible photographs clear and concise text, Simon provides readers with an in-depth look at one of nature's most terrifying storm types: the hurricane. Included is information on how hurricanes develop, how they are studied, and safety measures for those faced with such a storm.

Hurricanes! (2012), written by Marcie Aboff and illustrated by Aleksandar Sotirovski - This graphic novel uses text and illustrations to explain how hurricanes form, how they are named and measured, and how to stay safe during one.

Hurricanes! (2010), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - In this book, Gibbons presents information about hurricanes in a kid-friendly manner using a combination of engaging water-color illustrations and simple text. Included are facts about the different types of hurricanes, where they occur, how meteorologists predict them, and more.

Our Wonderful Weather: Hurricanes (2014), written by Valerie Bodden - Using beautiful photos and clear, concise text, Bodden describes what tornadoes are, how they are measured, they eye of the storm, and more. Back matter includes a glossary, titles for learning more, and helpful web sites.

The Whirlwind World of Hurricanes with Max Axiom, Super Scientist (2010), written by Katherine Krohn and illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Al Milgrom - This graphic novel follows scientist Max Axiom as he explores the science and history behind hurricanes.

Picture Books

Flood (2013), written and illustrated by Alvaro Villa - This wordless picture book tells the story of the natural destruction that flooding can cause. Readers follow a family as they prepare for a storm, head to higher ground, and return to see the devastation brought by flood waters. Despite their despair at seeing their damaged home, the family rebuilds.

The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane (1996), written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen - Miss Frizzle leads her class on a field to visit a weather station, but of course, a great deal happens before they actually get there. The bus turns into a hot air balloon and rises into the sky. Once Ms. Frizzle hears a hurricane watch is in effect, they head south to the equator where the students watch the birth of a hurricane. Included is a great deal of information on how hurricanes form, their effects, and other tidbits on a range of weather-related topics.

Thunderstorm (2013), written and illustrated by Arthur Geisert - The illustrations for this wordless picture book were created in one 415 inch long panorama that beautifully details the effects of a passing storm and shows how a farm family and various animals weather the storm. The passing storm inflicts real damage, but Geisert wraps things ups by showing the community getting down to the work of repair once the skies clear.

Online Resources
For additional resources, consider these sites.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research has a kids site with a series of pages on dangerous weather.
National Geographic has a nice page devoted to extreme weather on our planet. You'll also find a terrific set of introductory videos on several extreme weather events here.

Surviving the Dust Bowl is a PBS film that tells the story of the farmers who came to the Southern Plains of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas dreaming of prosperity, and lived through ten years of drought, dust, disease and death.
Ready.Gov: Kids provides information to help families prepare for emergencies caused by extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.
Sky Diary KidStorm provides information about tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, and storm chasing.
The KidsAhead site has a page devoted to extreme weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes that includes activities, articles, and more.
Owlie Skwarn's Weather Book: Storms Ahead! is a free pdf download created by NOAA, FEMA, and the American Red Cross.
Try these book study pages for the Berger book on tornadoes.

That's it for now. This makes 4 separate lists all related to the water cycle and weather. Join me in two weeks for my next thematic list!

Aquileo | Thematic Book List - Weather (An Introduction)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:01:00 +0000

Weather describes the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place at a given point in time. Generally weather is described in terms temperature, pressure, wind conditions, moisture, etc. Because the weather is created by a mixture of factors, weather patterns change regularly. In contrast to this, climate refers to the "average" weather conditions for an area over a long period of time.

Here's an annotated list of books that provide an introduction to weather and weather forecasting.

Nonfiction Picture Books

Can It Rain Cats and Dogs? (1999), written by Melvin and Gilda Berger and illustrated by Robert Sullivan - In an engaging question and answer format, this book provides a nice introduction to a range of weather topics. The book is divided into three subject categories: (1) sun, air, and wind; (2) rain, snow, and hail; and (3) wild weather.

Feel the Wind (1990), written and illustrated by Arthur Dorres - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series provides fun book simplifies facts about wind so that they are easy to understand. Children will learn about what causes wind, its place in weather, and how we can use it. There are also instructions on how to make your own anemometer.

Gusts and Gales: A Book About Wind (2003), written by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Omarr Wesley - This book in the Amazing Science series describes many different types of winds, including global winds, trade winds, local winds, and breezes. The text also touches upon extreme wind weather, including hurricanes and tornadoes.

I Face the Wind (2003), written by Vicki Cobb and illustrated by Julia Gorton - This is a wonderful introduction to what wind is and how it works. It even debunks the popular idea that air weighs nothing. Readers simply need a few materials (a plastic bag, a hanger, balloons, etc.) in order to conduct the series of basic experiments within the book. Between experiments, readers are offered explanations of how wind does what it does and how we experience it. The simplicity of the language combined with the great illustrations and easy-to-do science experiments make this book a wonderful resource for teachers and parents alike.

The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting (2008), written by Mark Breen and Kathleen Friestad and illustrated by Michael Kline - This book opens with directions on keeping a weather log and does a great job of encouraging kids to make observations and predictions about the weather. Readers will find a wealth of information about weather, as well as directions on how to create simple versions of the most common instruments found in a weather station, including a rain gauge, hygrometer, psychrometer, barometer, and anemometer.

National Geographic Readers: Weather (2013), written by Kristin Baird Rattini - This level 1 reader describes weather in the simplest of terms. Written in short chapters with economical text, this is a perfect introduction to weather for the youngest students. Back matter includes a picture glossary.

Oh Say Can You Say What's the Weather Today? All About Weather (2004), written by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Aristides Ruiz - This book from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library is written in the style of Dr. Seuss. In it, Cat in the Hat and his friends travel by hot-air balloon and experience different types of weather and learn why we need to know what the weather is going to be. Back matter includes a glossary and list of additional resources.

Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather (1998), written by Jennifer Arena and illustrated by Heidi Petach - This book in the Penguin Young Readers series looks at strange and unusual weather occurrences, such as pink snow, hail frogs, raining jellyfish, and more.

Ready to Read: Wind (2003), written by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by John Wallace - This Level 1 text uses simple words and short sentence structures to introduce readers to wind and its role in creating weather.

W is for Wind: A Weather Alphabet (2006), written by Pat Michaels and illustrated by Melanie Rose - In two levels of text, one poetic and one informational, readers are lead through an alphabet of weather terms (a is for atmosphere, be is for barometer, c is for cloud, d is for dew, etc.). Written by a professional weatherman and storm tracker, Michaels explains weather phenomena, instruments, and more in clear, easy to understand language. Don't miss the helpful teaching guide that accompanies the text.

Weather (2006), written by Seymour Simon - In stunning pictures and clear and engaging text, Simon provides a comprehensive look at the weather. Beginning with the sun as the driver of our weather system, the text moves on to examine wind patterns, temperature, clouds, precipitation, smog, and the greenhouse effect.

Weather Forecasting (1993), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - In this book, Gibbons takes children through the four seasons and the weather that is associated with each one. She uses meteorologists at a weather station to explain how seasonal weather is predicted, observed and recorded. Some of the terms may be complicated for children, but Gibbons breaks them down so that they are easier to understand.

Weather: Whipping Up a Storm! (2012), written by Dan Green and designed and created by Basher - This book in the Basher Basics series presents a series of personified characters that describe their roles in creating weather. Chapters include World of Weather, Blue Sky Dreamers, Wet 'n' Wild, and Extreme Weather. Back matter includes a glossary. Learn more by thumbing through this sample.

Weather Words and What They Mean (1992), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons. - In text and pictures, Gibbons reviews an extensive list of vocabulary words related to weather including different types of precipitation, weather instruments, temperature and much more. The final page presents a number of interesting facts about weather.

What Will the Weather Be? (2002), written by Lynda Dewitt and illustrated by Carolyn Croll - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series explains the basic characteristics of weather and how meteorologists use a variety of tools to gather data for their forecasts. Readers will learn what scientists know about the weather and how they use this information to try and predict it.

Poetry

Make Things Fly: Poems About the Wind (1998, OP), edited by Dorothy M. Kennedy, illustrated by Sasha Meret - This collection of 27 poems devoted to the wind covers topics like the sound of wind, tornadoes, seasonal wind, windy nights, and much more. Includes poems by Russell Hoban, Eve Merriam, Myra Cohn Livingston, Karla Kuskin, and others.

Seed Sower, Hat Thrower: Poems about Weather (2008), written by Laura Purdie Salas - This collection of weather-themed poems was inspired by an amazing collection of photographs. The re are numerous poetic forms and the topics are wide ranging and cover all kinds of weather phenomena.

Weather: Poems for All Seasons (1995), collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Melanie Hall - This collection of poems in the I Can Read series covers topics like the sun, wind, clouds, rain, fog, and more.

Weather Report (1993, OP), collected by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Annie Gusman - This collection of more than 50 poems is divided into sections covering rain, sun, wind, snow, and fog. Each section begins with a brief folk rhyme, followed by a range of poem types written by a nice mix of classic and contemporary poets.

Online Resources
For additional resources, consider these sites.

The UCAR Center for Science Education provides site for students called Web Weather for Kids . You'll also find a wealth of resources for teachers.
NASA's Climate Kids site has a page devoted to weather and climate.
Treehouse Weather Kids is designed for teachers and students in the 5th – 8th grades. It provides basic information on weather topics such as winds, moisture, air pressure, seasons, and storms.
Weather Report for Kids is a site that creates a visual weather report for young children.
Weather Wiz Kids is a site created by meteorologist Crystal Wicker that provides comprehensive information on all types of weather phenomena.
The National Weather Service in Wichita has a produced a two-part video series for kids, Weather for Kids Part 1 and Weather for Kids Part 2.
The Interactive Weather Maker is a simulation where players adjust temperature and humidity to change weather conditions and create various weather phenomena.
Learn how to report and predict the weather at EdHeads Weather.
Find directions for building your own weather instruments at weather science projects.

I also have a Pinterest board on this topic with many ideas and activities for instruction.
Follow Tricia's board Weather/Earth's Atmosphere on Pinterest.

You'll notice that books on storms like hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards are missing from this post. That is the subject for the my next thematic list, so stay tuned!

Aquileo | Thematic Book List - Clouds, Rain, and Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 21:21:00 +0000

My last thematic list focused on water and the water cycle. It did not include books on clouds or any form of precipitation. These things are integral components in the water cycle and are necessary for returning water to the earth's surface.

Here's an annotated list of books that examine clouds and precipitation and the role they play in the water cycle and weather. You'll also find books here that celebrate rain and snow with lush images and sensory descriptions.

Nonfiction Picture Books

The Cloud Book (1984), written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola - This text focuses on different types of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and other combinations of these three main types. The cloud types are described and presented with illustrated examples. Also included are myths about clouds and popular sayings inspired by clouds and the weather.

Clouds (2008), written by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by Frane Lessac - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series describes clouds, what they are made of, what they are called, and much more. The simple, engaging text in this stage 1 book makes the content accessible to a range of age groups.

The Man Who Named the Clouds (2006, OP), written by Julie Hanna and Joan Holub and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye - This biography of Luke Howard tells the story the "father of meteorology." Readers will learn about his life and determination to find new ways to study the weather. After studying Linnaeus and his system for scientifically classifying plants and animals, he used these ideas and developed a system for classifying clouds.

Shapes in the Sky: A Book About Clouds (2003), written by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Omarr Wesley - This book will help readers understand that clouds come in different types and forms. The text explains how clouds are formed, how they are named, and how they are distinguished from one another.

Vapor, Rain, and Snow: The Science of Clouds and Precipitation (2011), written by Paul Fleisher - At nearly 50 pages, this book is filled with information about clouds and precipitation. It opens by explaining that "Weather is what happens in the air around us. But a lot of weather is really about water." In four chapters Fleisher describes water in the air, clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric phenomena like rainbows, halos, and sun dogs.

Down Comes the Rain (1997), written by Franklyn Branley and illustrated by James Graham Hale - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series follows the rain as it falls, evaporates, condenses, and falls again.

It's Raining! (2014), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - A perfect book for young readers, Gibbons explores rain with simple definitions, basic facts, and interesting bits of information. Readers will learn what rain is, where it comes from, and why it is necessary. Includes maps that show annual rainfall amounts around the world and information on storms.

Raindrops Roll (2015), by April Pulley Sayre - Gorgeous photographs accompany a lyrical text about water in the form of rain. Though the text is economical, it conveys a sense of wonder and beauty. Back matter examines the science of rain and includes facts about clouds, raindrop shapes, and the "abilities" of raindrops (hydrating insects, magnifying objects, and more). with facts about cloud formation, the shapes of raindrops and what they’re capable of—magnifying their surroundings, reflecting light, hydrating insects and more. Also included is a reading list for learning more.

Splish! Splash! A Book About Rain (2003), written by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Jeff Yesh - This book uses fun pictures and simple vocabulary to explain where rain comes from and why rain is important to the earth and to humans. Sherman also delves into what happens when too much rain (flooding) or not enough rain (drought) occurs.

It's Snowing! (2011), written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - A perfect book for young readers, Gibbons explores snow with simple definitions, basic facts, and interesting bits of information. Readers will learn what snow is, how it forms, regions where snow falls, and how to prepare for a snowstorm. Also includes information on the ways in which snow falls to the ground, such as sleet, flurries, and a winter storm.

The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up Close Look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes (2010), written by Kenneth Libbrecht - The author of this book is a physicist at Caltech known for his passion for snow crystals. In this book aimed at 9-12 year olds, but appropriate for a much broader (and older) audience, Libbrecht teaches readers what snow crystals and snowflakes are, where they come from, and how these amazing structures are created out of thin air. His own photographs beautifully complement the text.

All snowflakes begin with water vapor in air, but as they begin their journey toward the ground, changes in temperature and humidity determine their exact and unique shape. Libbrecht answers questions that many children (and adults) are apt to ask, such as "Why is snow white when the crystals that comprise snow are clear?" Libbrecht's web site, SnowCyrstals.com, provides a wealth of images and even more information for those readers who finish the book and want to learn more. I recommend starting with the Snowflake Primer and the Snow Crystal FAQs.

Snow is Falling (2000), written by Franklyn Branley and illustrated by Holly Keller - This book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series describes the benefits and importance of snow, as well as the danger of too much of it. Back matter includes experiments and activities for cold, snowy days.

Snowflake Bentley (1998), written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian - This Caldecott Medal winner tells the true story of Wilson Bentley, a farmer who spent the better part of his life studying and photographing snowflakes. Willie's story is told from his childhood through his death. Accompanying the biography are a series of sidebars that contain additional facts about Bentley. The last page of the book contains a photo of Bentley at his camera (the same one at the top of the Wilson Snowflake Bentley home page), a quote about his love for photography, and three of his renowned snowflake images. This is the story of a remarkable man who pushed the limits of science and technology to create groundbreaking images of snowflakes. If the book inspires an interest in further study, you can view a number of his amazing photographs at The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder (2009), written by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson - Mark Cassino is a fine art and natural history photographer. Jon Nelson is a teacher and physicist who studies ice crystals and clouds. Together they have given us a stunning volume on the formation of snow. A perfect mixture of art and science, Cassino's photographs are accompanied by clearly written text that explains a very complex process in terms kids will understand. Readers will learn what snow is made from, how it forms, what shapes it takes, and more! Photos of snow crystals are included with a comparison of the enlarged images to a snow crystal of actual size. In the back matter you will find directions on how to catch snow crystals and examine them. For more ideas for extending the text, download a teacher's guide for this title at the Chronicle web site.

Poetry Books

One Big Rain: Poems for a Rainy Days (2014), compiled by Rita Gray and illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke - This collection of 20 poems about rain through the seasons opens with a haiku about the season. Four additional poems follow. Gray includes eight haiku, two poems translated from other languages (Norwegian and Spanish), works by well-known poets like Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, and Eve Merriam, as well as works by poets whose names may not be familiar to readers. The illustrations in muted browns, grays, blacks and greens beautifully capture the mood and subject of the poems. The book opens with an introduction that describes rain through the seasons. Following the introduction is a note about haiku translations. Adapted from a work by poet and translator William J. Higginson, the emphasis is not on counting syllables, but on finding the best rhythm for the haiku in the new language.

Snow, Snow : Winter Poems for Children (2005), written by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple - This collection of 13 beautifully crafted poems, inspired by stunning photographs of snowy woods, skiers, a snowmobile, and much more, will lead readers to see snow the wonder of snow and maybe even view it in a new way. One of my favorite poems in the collection begins "Somebody painted/The trees last night,/ Crept in and colored them/White on white."

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (2001), written by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers - Frost's poem is beautifully imagined in this picture book adaptation.

Picture Books
There are many, many books about snow and rain, and far too many to mention here. Instead, I am sharing my very favorite on each subject.

Listen to the Rain (1988), written Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by James Endicott - This is a lyrically written and gorgeously illustrated book that celebrates the beauty, the mystery, the sounds, and the silences of the rain.

Snow (1998), written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz - Even though the adults believe that it will not snow, a boy and his dog don't give up hope. This is a Caldecott honor book that beautifully portrays the transformation of a city when it snows.

Online Resources

For additional resources, consider these sites.

Weather Wiz Kids has a page on clouds and cloud formation.
Discovery Kids has a simple page that explains what fog is.
NASA has a terrific downloadable Cloud Identification Guide.
Easy Science for Kids has a nice page of information on rain and how it forms.
Discovery Kids has a simple page explaining why it rains.
Plum Landing has a nice activity on building a rain barrel.
Weather Wiz Kids has a page on rain and floods that answers a variety of questions kids might have.
Easy Science for Kids has a nice page of information on snow and how it forms.
Weather Wiz Kids has a page on winter storms and all forms of snow.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has a nice video on snow science.
ABC News shares some science experiments with snow.
HowStuffWorks suggests 10 science experiments to do in the snow.

That's it for this essential part of the water cycle. Since we've hit upon important components of weather, that will be the topic of the next list. See you soon!

Aquileo | Thematic Book List - Water and the Water Cycle

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:01:00 +0000

Water is a miraculous substance. It is the only compound that commonly exists in all three phases (solid, liquid, gas) on Earth. The unique properties of water are a major factor in the ability of our planet to sustain life.

Here's an annotated list of books on our most precious natural resource.

Nonfiction Picture Books

A Cool Drink of Water (2002), written by Barbara Kerley - This gorgeous book from National Geographic highlights the importance of water in our daily lives while showing how people around the world use and conserve water.

Did A Dinosaur Drink This Water? (2006), written and illustrated by Robert E. Wells - Wells tackles the water cycle and the idea that the Earth's water has been recycled since before the time of the dinosaurs. Readers see water move through all three states as it moves through streams, rivers, oceans, clouds, rain, and more. The text is written in a kid-friendly, understandable manner and asks and answers good questions. For ideas related to using this book in the classroom, check out the Robert E. Wells Science Series Teachers' Guide.

A Drop Around the World (1998), written by Barbara McKinney and illustrated by Michael S. Maydak - Follow one drop of water as it makes its way on an amazing journey around the world emphasizing how essential water is every environment and how it is necessary for life. Traveling with Drop, readers see water underground, in plants and animals, clouds, ice and snow, and more. Told in verse, readers get a hefty dose of science and view water in all three forms as a solid, liquid, and gas. With four pages of back matter on the science of water, this book provides a good introduction to water and the water cycle.

A Drop in the Ocean: The Story of Water (2004), written by Jacqui Bailey and illustrated by Matthew Lilly - This title in the Science Works series follows a water droplet from the time when it evaporates from the ocean and becomes the water vapor that makes up clouds, to the moment it falls as rain. Readers learn how water is cleaned and used before being returned again to the water cycle. Back matter includes an experiment, facts about water, and useful websites.

A Drop of Water (2006, OP), written and illustrated by Gordon Morrison - This book begins with a child exploring the water in a creek and imagining how a drop on his finger made its journey through the water cycle. Water connects everything in the story. Without it there are no clouds, no stream, no pond, no rain, no meadow, and none of the living things that rely on water for life. An illustrated appendix in the back describes the plants and animals encountered in the text.

A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder (1997), written and photographed by Walter Wick - This book is a stunning exploration of water in its many forms. Inspired by science books written for children more than 100 years ago, Wick was inspired to try the experiments listed and photograph them. The photographs show readers water in a way most have certainly not seen before. Wick carries out a number of these "old" experiments and in doing so captures water in stop-motion and highly magnified. The text that accompanies these photos is clearly written and not only informs but encourages exploration. Photos and text explore water's elastic surface, floating and sinking, soap bubbles and bubble shapes, moving molecules, ice, water vapor, condensation, evaporation, how clouds form, snowflakes, and much more. There is so much to learn here! Back matter includes ideas for readers to carry out their own observations and experiments.

Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean (2000), written and illustrated by Arthur Dorros - This title in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series clearly illustrates where water comes from, how it travels, and where it goes. Readers will learn that water is always on the move, shaping our earth. They will also learn why it is important to keep water clean. (Check out this lesson from the Georgia Aquarium which contains good guiding questions to ask at specific points while reading the book.)

I Get Wet (2002), written by Vicki Cobb and illustrated by Julia Gorton - This title in the Science Play series looks at water. Using simple text and hands-on activities, Cobb encourages kids to explore and experiment to learn about the most basic properties of water. The boy in the book learns by pouring water into different containers, observing it drip and flow, and trying to absorb it with waxed paper and paper toweling. The interactive format of questions and answers guides readers through these activities using everyday objects.

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth (2007), written by Rochelle Strauss and illustrated by Rosemary Woods - In this book, Strauss tells the story of our planet's most precious resource and provides an instructive and often-times inspiring look at water. She reminds us that the amount of water on Earth hasn't ever changed. Since this water has been around for billions of year, it is entirely possible that the water you drink may have "quenched the thirst of a dinosaur" more than one hundred million years ago. The double page spreads provide both informational paragraphs and short, factual boxed insets, beginning with the distribution of water on earth, the water cycle, water's essential role in life on Earth and watery habitats. From here, the author looks at how people use, need and access water. The book concludes by looking at demands on the well, pollution, and saving our water.

The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story (2003), written and illustrated by Neil Waldman - In this book about the water cycle, water takes many different forms, but it's the form of snow in which this journey begins. In January a snowflake lands on the peak of a mountain. Over the course of year the snowflake changes both location and form. In February it's blown into a mountain pond, where it melts in March. This tiny droplet sinks into an underground stream where it continues its journey. That water drop travels to a farm and evaporates into the clouds before it comes back down to the ground to travel even further. Eventually it becomes a snowflake once more. This book emphasizes the idea that resources on Earth are finite. Kids have a hard time with this notion, but Waldman makes this message clear as readers learn that the water we drink, wash in, and play in is part of an amazing cycle that repeats itself over and over and over again.

This Is The Rain (2001), written by Lola Schaefer and illustrated by Jane Wattenberg - This picture book about the cycling and recycling of water uses the familiar cumulative pattern of "The House That Jack Built." Bold, vibrant photo-collages accompany the text. It begins this way. "This is the ocean,/ blue and vast,/ that holds the rainwater from the past." Can you guess where this goes? Next comes the sun to warm the oceans, which eventually forms vapor that fills the clouds, which produce the rain that falls. Here's the text from the page on rain. "This is the rain,/ falling all day,/ that forms in clouds,/ low and gray,/ full of vapor, moist and light/ made when sunshine,/ hot and bright,/ warms the ocean, blue and vast,/ that holds the rainwater from the past." After passing through all stages of the water cycle, Schaefer circles back to the rain falling "somewhere every day." The book ends with a short note about the water cycle on planet earth.

Water (2002), written by Emily Neye and illustrated by Cindy Revell - In this Penguin Young Reader, Neye introduces beginning readers to water in its many forms. The text combines simple words, repetition, and visual clues to help readers learn about the properties of water.

Water, Water Everywhere (1995), written by Cynthia Overbeck Bix and Mark Rauzon - This Reading Rainbow selection celebrates the many forms and properties of water. Easy to understand text is complemented by gorgeous color photographs. Readers learn about the water cycle, how moving water changes the earth’s surface, the importance of water to life on our planet, and why conserving water and keeping it free from pollution is so important.

Picture Books

The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks (1988), written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen - This very first book in the series takes Ms. Frizzle's students on a field trip to the waterworks. On their trip they learn that water is a substance that can naturally be found as a solid, liquid or gas. They also come to know the water cycle (personally!) and how water evaporates into a gas to form clouds, and how it later liquefies and falls to the ground as rain.

Poetry Books

All the Water in the World (2011), written by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson - Where does water come from and where does it go? In this book length poem using occasional rhyme, readers learn who uses water, what it's used for, and why all living things depend upon water. The language is this one is exquisite with lines like this: "Thirsty air / licks it from lakes / sips it from ponds / guzzles it from oceans . . ." A terrific title about all the water in our world.

How to Cross a Pond: Poems About Water (2003, OP), written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Meilo So - This collection of poems is one of three in a series of nature books. The trim size is small, but don't let that fool you. These little gems are filled with Meilo So's gorgeous India ink drawings on rice paper (all shades of blue in this work) and Singer's fabulous poems that in turn will make you laugh then nod and smile in agreement. Composed of 19 poems, Singer deftly captures water in a range of forms and places.

Splish Splash (2001), written by Joan Bransfield Graham and illustrated by Steve Scott - This collection of 21 concrete poems shows and describes water in a myriad of forms, including crocodile tears, ice cube, popsicle, snow, hail, dew and more. You can preview a number of the poems at Google Books.

Water Can Be... (2014), written by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Violeta - This is a book length poem that begins with spring and cycles through the four seasons looking at the importance of water. The text is economical, but it doesn't miss a beat in highlighting the important functions and characteristics of water. For example, otter feeder relates to the fact the water in rivers sustains many of the life forms that otters eat. Back matter in the book does a terrific job of explaining the meaning of each water "nickname."

Water Music (2003), written by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple - Inspired by gorgeous photos, this collection of 17 poems in a variety of forms lyrically examines water in a range of forms, including soap bubbles, icicles, rivers, waterfalls, rain showers, and more.

Water Rolls, Water Rises Water Rolls, Water Rises: El agua rueda, el agua sube (2014), written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Meilo So. In a series of free verse poems in English and Spanish, water rolls, rises, slithers, hums, twists, plunges, slumbers and moves across the Earth in varied forms and places. Mora’s three-line poems are filled with imagery and emotion. “Water rises/ into soft fog,/ weaves down the street, strokes and old cat.” (In Spanish: “El agua sube/ formando suave neblina/ que ondula pro la calle, acacia a un gate viejo.”) The lyrical movement of water described in verse is accompanied by Meilo So’s gorgeous mixed-media illustrations highlighting 16 landscapes from Iceland, to China, to Mexico, the United States and more. Back matter includes an author’s note and information about the images in the book. A joyous, bilingual celebration, this collection brings water to life.

Online Resources

For additional resources on water, consider these sites.

MESS (Marvelous Explorations Through Science and Stories) is a science-centered early childhood curriculum enhancement appropriate for 3- through 5-year-old children. Check out the guide entitled Investigating Water for a wealth of resources.
The USGS Water Science School offers a wealth of information on many aspects of water.
TeachUNICEF has a series of lessons and resources on water and the environment.
BrainPop Educators has some nice ideas for teaching about water.
Scholastic Study Jams has a video on water and the water cycle.
One of my amazing preservice teachers created a 3rd grade unit on water based on Strauss' book.
The EPA WaterSense Kids web site has a range of ideas about water conservation.
Water Use It Wisely has a kids site with games, activities and information on water conservation, the water cycle, the role of water, and more.
The Environmental Education for Kids (EEK!) sites has a Water Wonders page that explains where water comes from and how it gets dirty.
The Water Education Foundation Kids page that explains the Earth's water supply, water pollution, and more.

I also have a Pinterest board on this topic with many ideas and activities for instruction.
Follow Tricia's board Water/Water Cycle on Pinterest.

You'll notice that books on rain, snow, and clouds are sorely lacking in this list. That is the subject for the my next thematic list, so stay tuned!

P.S. - Put the following book on your TBR pile. It comes out in May and looks fabulous.

Water is Water, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin.

Aquileo | Finding Math in Van Gogh's Starry Night

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 18:42:00 +0000

Turbulence is a concept that is difficult to model and understand. Amazingly, Van Gogh captured it in his work Starry Night.

Learn more by viewing the complete TED Ed lesson by Natalya St. Clair.

Aquileo | Dead Stuff: The Secret Ingredient In Our Food Chain

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 22:11:00 +0000

Here's a terrific video on "the brown food chain." Watch it and learn how pond scum and animal poop contribute enormous amounts of energy to our ecosystems.

Learn more by viewing the complete TED Ed lesson by John C. Moore.

Aquileo | One Million (and One) Digits of Pi

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 02:34:00 +0000

The team at Numberphile printed one million decimal places of Pi onto a piece of paper. Can you guess how long it stretched? Or which digit appeared most often? Watch this video to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Once you've seen the video, check out the related TED Ed lesson.

Aquileo | Manic Monday - Part-Part-Whole Flip Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 05:01:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've created anything for my math class, but after spending two days at the NCTM regional conference in Richmond, I was inspired to make some new resources. Today I'm sharing two sets of flip cards for working on subitizing, part-part-whole, missing addend problems, and basic facts.

Each set contains 55 cards covering addition facts from 0+0 through 9+9. You can access all 100 facts by using the Commutative property and covering a different part of the flip card. Here's what the packet and cards look like.

Once you print these back-to-back and cut along the dotted lines, you can select which part of the card you wish to "hide." Here's what a finished card looks like.

These flip card sets can be used to meet the following Common Core Standards for Math.

K.OA.5. Fluently add and subtract within 5.
1.OA.3. Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract. Examples: If 8 + 3 = 11 is known, then 3 + 8 = 11 is also known. (Commutative property of addition.) To add 2 + 6 + 4, the second two numbers can be added to make a ten, so 2 + 6 + 4 = 2 + 10 = 12. (Associative property of addition.)
1.OA.4. Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem. For example, subtract 10 – 8 by finding the number that makes 10 when added to 8.
1.OA.5. Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).
1.OA.6. Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 – 4 = 13 – 3 – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 – 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).
2.OA.2. Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies. By end of Grade 2, know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers.

Download Part-Part-Whole Dot Pattern Flip Cards

Download Part-Part-Whole Ten Frame Flip Cards

I hope you get a chance to use these cards in your home or classroom. Please let me know if you try them and how you like them!

Aquileo | Binoculars for Young Citizen Scientists

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:38:00 +0000

Between September-November (2014) the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will be awarding a classroom set of binoculars to approximately 6 schools where educators have made outstanding efforts to engage their students in citizen science.

Begin by putting your citizen science actions on the Action Map within the Citizen Science category. The folks at Cornell will look through submissions monthly and select a handful to submit a formal application.

You can get more information about this at:
Binoculars for Young Citizen Scientists

Aquileo | Should We Eat Bugs?

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 19:38:00 +0000

Here's how this TEDEd lesson by Emma Bryce opens.

"What's tasty, abundant and high in protein? Bugs! Although less common outside the tropics, entomophagy, the practice of eating bugs, was once extremely widespread throughout cultures. You may feel icky about munching on insects, but they feed about 2 billion people each day (Mmm, fried tarantulas). They also hold promise for food security and the environment. Emma Bryce makes a compelling case for dining on bugs."

For more information, check out these resources.

Time for Kids: Good Enough To Eat
National Geographic: We Are What We Eat: Documenting Dinners Around the World
Hungry Planet Family Food Portraits
IAF: What is Entomophagy?
Why Eat Bugs?
7 Insects You'll Be Eating In the Future

I've eaten crickets (chocolate covered, so a bit of crunch and salt with sweet) and silkworms. I'm not much more adventurous than that, but maybe I should be. Imagine debating this topic in your science class!

Aquileo | Minecraft and Math

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 18:42:00 +0000

What happens when you combine math and Minecraft? Apparently, quite a lot.

In the webinar Mathcraft: How to Use Minecraft to Teach Common Core Math (53 minutes), third grade teacher Jim Pike demonstrates Mathcraft, a Common Core Math curriculum he developed that is centered around the popular video game Minecraft.

How much did Jim’s curriculum impact student learning? Jim's Mathcraft curriculum helped increase the math performance of his class from 18% correct at the beginning of the year to 84% correct at the end-of-year. Two areas in particular that saw immediate improvements were area and perimeter and multiplication.

This is a pretty interesting approach. The webinar does a great job explaining the activities. Do take some time to check it out.

Aquileo | Free Mini-Course on Polar Bears and Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Mon, 05 May 2014 19:23:00 +0000

The New Media Consortium is sponsoring a free mini-course on polar bears and climate change. Here is some information about the course.

Polar Bears in a Changing Climate
Polar Bears International will engage teachers through innovative STEMx educational activities and lessons designed to communicate concepts of global warming and its impact on keystone species. This mini-course will use integrative technologies to explore the relationship between polar bears and their dependency on sea ice. Teachers will learn to use STEMx education content and real–world application to bring climate change and polar bears into the classroom and inspire actions related to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Teachers will also learn how to take students into the field by connecting them to field biologists and researchers, analyzing data collected by field researchers, and introducing students to innovative technology and engineering tools used to study polar bears. Through the lessons, activities, and resources included in this mini–course, teachers will help students learn how their daily actions impact polar bears and their sea ice habitat. The polar bears are closer than you think.

Here's what participants will take away from this self-paced course.

Understand polar bears and their habitat. Basic information on polar bears will be presented, including physical characteristics, food sources, reproduction cycle and offspring, behaviors, and threats. Participants will join the Tundra Connections Academy Google+ community for communication and collaborative opportunities with fellow participants.
Understand the primary causes of climate change and the resulting effects. Information regarding the impact of CO2 emissions, greenhouse gases, and other variables that affect the climate will be included in this module. An understanding of environmental sustainability options and clean energy alternatives will complete the unit.
Gain an understanding of the Polar Bear Tracker and related data analysis. Teachers will learn how to “take students into the field” by connecting them to field biologists and researchers, analyzing data collected by field researchers, and introducing the use of innovative technology and engineering tools used to study polar bears. The importance of the relationship between polar bears and sea ice will be highlighted.
Capstone. Taking action is an important part of empowering students to make positive change in our world. Environmental sustainability and conservation opportunities will be the focal points of this final Quest, and action plans related to these topics will be developed by participants. Included in this module is Project Polar Bear, which is an exemplary unit that promotes the creation of sustainable action plans for environmental conservation.

Today is the last day for enrollment, so if you're interested follow the link below.

Polar Bears in a Changing Climate Course

Aquileo | Science Poetry Pairings - Posts From National Poetry Month

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Thu, 01 May 2014 17:04:00 +0000

During the month of April I celebrated National Poetry Month (at my other blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect) by posting a set of related poetry and children's books on science. Here's a list of my topics for the month with links. Enjoy!

Aquileo | For Earth Day - A Thematic List on Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Stohr-Hunt) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 04:01:00 +0000

I started this list back in early March when the trees outside my office were still absurdly naked. I was waiting for winter to relinquish its grip and thinking about blooming trees made me happy. A LOT of time has passed since then and spring has taken center stage in all its glory.

Now that Earth Day is finally here, it seems like the perfect time to share some of my favorite titles on trees.

Poetry
Poetrees, written and illustrated by Douglas Florian - A treerific book of 18 poems about all manner of trees (coconut palm, baobab, paper birch) and tree parts (seeds, leaves, bark). Includes a glossatree.

Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems, written by Kristine O'Connell George and illustrated by Kate Kiesler - This collection of 30 poems captures the beauty of trees in a range of settings and throughout the seasons. Nothing escapes George's notice in this volume, not even the materials of the beaver dam.

The Tremendous Tree Book, written by Barbara Brenner and May Garelick and illustrated by Fred Brenner - Tree history, tree facts, tree seeds, tree colors, tree treats and many other topics related to trees are covered in this simple introduction, written in rhyme and verse.

All About Trees
Tree (EYE KNOW), by DK Publishing - Written for younger readers but appropriate for all elementary grades, this title is PACKED with information and includes gatefold pages, cut outs to peer through, flaps to lift, and eye-catching photographs.

Trees (Field Guides), written and illustrated by Maria Angeles Julivert - Hands-down my favorite reference book on trees, this title has front endpapers on drawing trees and back endpapers on the tools needed to observe trees. In between readers will learn about the distinctive features of trees, from shape, bark, and leaves to flowers and fruits.

Are Trees Alive?, written by Debbie S. Miller and illustrated by Stacey Shuett - In the introduction the author explains how this book was inspired by her daughter asking the title question. When Miller answered yes, her daughter then asked "But how do they breathe; they don't have noses?" To answer the title question, Miller looks at the parts of trees and how they function to keep trees alive. The illustrations depict many different tree species. The back matter includes information about the trees pictured in the book.

Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids, written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - Gibbons has written a fairly neat guidebook to trees. While this volume contains basic information about trees, what they look like inside, their parts, and more, the real interesting piece here is the section on identifying trees. Each tree is identified with a sketch of its overall shape, its leaves, and bark. Seventeen common species are identified. There are also instructions making a tree identification book.

Be a Friend to Trees, written by Patricia Lauber and illustrated by Holly Keller - This stage 2 book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series explores the role of trees in the environment and the many uses of trees.

A Tree is a Plant, written by Clyde Robert Bulla and illustrated by Stacey Shuett - This stage 1 book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series looks at how trees grow and change through the seasons.

Seasonal Trees and Life Cycles

A Tree for All Seasons, written by Robin Bernard - This title from the National Geographic Society has gorgeous photos that document the life of a maple tree through the seasons.

Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art, written and illustrated by Thomas Locker - Over a series of fourteen paintings, Locker presents the same tree changing with the seasons. The text is short and lyrical. Beneath each section of text is a question about the painting that accompanies it. The back of the book has a section on connecting art and science which addresses the questions posed about each painting from the perspective of both disciplines.

A Grand Old Tree, written and illustrated by Mary Newell Depalma - This is terrific book for young readers that tells the life cycle story of a dogwood tree. We see the tree (given a female persona) grow through the seasons and years as she flowers, bears fruit, has many children, and ultimately dies. The simple text and gorgeous illustrations make for a winning combination.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert - In simple text and vibrant illustrations, Ehlert tells the story of a sugar maple and the child who planted it.

Winter Trees, written by Carole Gerber and illustrated by Leslie Evans - In this book a child and his dog share a walk through a snowy woods while observing six different species of tree. Each double-page spread contains four lines of simple verse and block prints decorated with watercolor and collage. The book ends with a description of the different characteristics of the trees in winter.

Fire!: The Renewal of a Forest, written and illustrated by Celia Godkin - Are all forest fires bad? Godkin's book looks at fire as a natural force that keeps the forest healthy. Fires are often times as essential to forests as rain, releasing the mineral nutrients locked up in old trees. This is an essential book for looking life stages of an ecosystem and how life returns to a forest after a fire.

Trees as Habitats
One Small Place in a Tree, written by Barbara Brenner and illustrated by Tom Leonard - What happens to a tree once a bear sharpens her claws on the trunk? Readers find out as they follow the growth of a microhabitat in the tree as the claw marks cut the bark and begin a hole. Over time the space is inhabited by a variety of creatures.

The Gift of the Tree, written by Alvin Tresselt and illustrated by Henri Sorensen - This is another story of the life cycle of a tree. This one focuses on an oak tree that has stood in a forest for more than 100 years. It grows weaker over time as it is feasted upon by termites and ants. Fungus enters the heartwood and rot spreads inside the healthy bark. Branches fall during winter storms and finally a hurricane splits the trunk. However, animals still make a home in the fallen trunk.

Oak Tree, written and illustrated by Gordon Morrison - This one focuses on an oak tree and its inhabitants. Two levels of text, a story of the life cycle of the tree and short informational bits describing the parts of the tree and the animals living in it, make this one a splendid introduction to trees as habitats.

Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab, written and illustrated by Barbara Bash - The life story of a baobab is told from the folklore of its planting (upside down by a hyena, which is why its branches look like gnarled roots), through its role as a home for many species in the savannah, to its death and the birth of a new tree.

The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle, written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry - When the propagule (seed) of a mangrove falls into the sea and finally comes to rest on the shore of a faraway lagoon, it takes root, sprouts and begins to grow. What follows is the story of that tree's life and the ecosystem that springs up around it.

Logs
What's Under the Log?, written and illustrated by Anne Hunter - This little gem fits nicely in your hands and begins by asking the question in the title. Hunter then introduces readers to ten animals living beneath the log. The book ends with a short description of a tree's life cycle, reminding us that a rotting log not only provides a home for many creatures, but also returns important nutrients to the soil as it decays.

A Log's Life, written by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Robin Brickman - An oak tree in the forest provides a home for many creatures. When the tree is felled during a storm it becomes a giant log and serves as a home for a whole host of new creatures. This one follows the log through several seasons until the rotting log becomes a mound of rich soil, and the perfect place for an acorn to take root and grow. (Take a closer look inside this book.)

People Who Planted Trees
Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story From Africa, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, is a biography of Mathaai told in clear, simple text and accompanied by vibrant acrylic illustrations. Readers see the landscape of Kenya change from barren to beautiful as a result of efforts by Wangari and the women who embraced her Green Belt Movement. It is a story full of hope and beauty. The author's note in the back provides more information about Wangari and the Green Belt Movement she started in 1977. (For more information, read my review.)

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Mathaai, written and illustrated by Claire Nivola, is a more detailed biography that is accompanied by intricate pen and watercolor illustrations. Nivola uses words and pictures to show Mathaai's connection with nature developed as a youth, and how this connection inspired her environmental practices as an adult. This one also includes an author's note with additional information on Wangari and her life.

Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth, written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jim Burke - Who was Johnny Appleseed? Legends and tall tales abound, but when it comes to separating fact from fiction, answers aren't always easy to find. Yolen explores the myth and brings some of that elusive truth to light. (For more information, read my review.)

Johnny Appleseed, written and illustrated by Steven Kellogg - The history and legend of Johnny Appleseed are told in this charming tale. The author's note at the end of the book attempts to clarify where history ends and legend begins. Also included is a map of Johnny Appleseed's life-long journey.

The Story of Johnny Appleseed, written and illustrated by Aliki - A very simple and kid-friendly text introducing readers to the life and legend of Johnny Appleseed.

The Man Who Planted Trees, written by Jean Giono and illustrated by Michael McCurdy - This is the story of Elzéard Bouffier, a man who planted trees after seeing the land was dying for lack of trees. He planted hundreds of thousands of trees and slowly saw the community of humans and animals come back to life around him.

Fiction
Redwoods, written and illustrated by Jason Chin - When a boy finds a book about redwoods and begins to read, he soon finds himself in a redwood forest. I hate to categorize this one as fiction, but the story told through the illustrations is fantasy. The text, however, is informational with tons of facts about redwoods. (Perhaps we could call this faction!) For more information about the book, see the review at Seven Imp and check out the book's web site.

Cherry Tree, written by Ruskin Bond and illustrated by Allan Eitzen - On the way home from the bazaar a young girl eats all of the cherries in her possession. Her grandfather suggests she plant one of the pits. The seed sprouts and after surviving rain, munching animals and other mishaps, the tree blossoms some years later.

Aani and the Tree Huggers, written by Jeannine Atkins and illustrated by Venantius J. Pinto - Based on a true story, Aani wraps herself around a when the tree cutters come to her village to take them down. The importance of trees to the environment is not lost in the midst of this powerful story.

Someday a Tree, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ronald Himler - When a family discovers the area around their favorite tree has been poisoned, they work with others in the community to try and save it. Despite their efforts, the tree dies. Don't worry though, the ending is hopeful as acorns are planted in healthy soil.

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree, written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons - In this story, Arnold and his dog play in and around their apple tree throughout the year. In the spring they build a swing and smell the apple blossoms, in summer they build a tree house, in fall they rake leaves and pick apples, and in winter they build a fort.

Once There Was a Tree, written by Natalia Romanova and illustrated by Gennady Spirin - When a woodsman finds a broken tree, he saws it down so that only a stump remains. However, that stump still serves a purpose and is used by ants, a bear, a titmouse, a frog, an earwig and others.

Additional Resources
Here are a few resources to expand your thinking about trees and the many things they give us.

The Arbor Day Foundation has some terrific resources for teaching about trees.
Maple Syrup: A Taste of Nature - This full color pdf explains how maple syrup makers create their product and traces each step of production from maple seed to breakfast table.
The Sustainable Forestry Teacher Resource Center has a series of lesson plans on forestry and natural resources.
The International Paper Company has posters and teacher's guides as well as a booklet on The Life of the Forest.
Try these online hidden picture activities where you must find paper products hidden in a forest scene and classroom scene. You can also download print versions for the forest scene (pdf) and the classroom scene.
The EarthAnswers page from Paper University answers questions about paper and the environment in a series of downloable pamphlets. Questions include "Are We Running Out of Trees?", "How is Paper Recycled?", "What's In a Tree?", and more.
The Minnesota DNR has a Teachers' Guide to Arbor Month that contains activities on trees and natural world for grades K-8. (In case you are wondering, Arbor month is May!)
What kind of products come from trees? Take this quiz and find out!

Have I missed one of your favorite tree books? If so, let me know so I can add it to the list. Anything but The Giving Tree (sorry, personal bias here!) will be added.