More Books for Kid Scientists...

My Kid Scientist Aiden, has been busy reading.  In fact, he's currently reading everything in sight.  We wanted to share some of his current favorite science books...

Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim  by Juliana Hatkoff.  This amazing story is about a young dolphin who became entangled in the lines of a crab pot.  Though she was rescued and survived, the blood supply to her tail was compromised and she ended up losing her tail.  Through the donations and work of many people, a prosthetic tail was built for Winter.  This is a fantastic story and the photographs throughout the book are amazing.  Aiden loves this book and I am sure you're Kid Scientists will as well.

The Magic Tree House - Research Guides by Mary Pope Osborne.  This is a brilliant series for young readers and Aiden is equally compelled by the Research Guides as the fictional stories.  The magic tree house allows the two young characters, Jack and Annie, to travel through time in search of various clues.  The best part of the story is the historical or geographical setting and the interesting information that is shared with young readers.  Many of the fictional books have research guide companions.  Here the author shares the background knowledge she learned while writing the fictional story.  These are great tools for helping young readers understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction, and the settings of the stories are extremely engaging.  Aiden asked me to pass on, "I think everybody should read these books because they teach you so much and they are fun to read."

What do your Kid Scientists enjoy reading?

Books for Kid Scientists...

The Science Mommy is a member of the NSTA  (National Science Teachers Association) and recently discovered a list of the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children.


This is a long list of some of the best books, with a science theme,  published for children in 2010.  On the list you'll find:
The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino and Jon Nelson

Face to Face with Penguins by Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott. 

Ice Scientist: Careers in the Frozen Antarctic by Sara L. Latta
























There are so many great books, and they don't all have a winter theme!  Check out the list for your Kid Scientists collection.

Is that Animal Real?

Last summer I took my Kid Scientists to the zoo.  We were having a great time...the oldest was particularly interested in the information regarding endangered statistics and my youngest just loves animals.  We were nearing the end of our visit, when Aiden (6 years old) asked if we could see the Werewolves before we left!  What a perfect teachable moment to talk about mythical animals.

You know the Science Mommy loves good books, but so often good books convey misinformation about real animals.  Learning to distinguish between Real and Not Real or Fiction and Non-Fiction is an important learning target.  This activity is prompted by my own Kid Scientist and is an adaptation of a Project Wild activity, "And the Wolf Wore Shoes."

Ages: Little Kid Scientists

Materials: 

• Lots of books that depict both real and imaginary animals (see the end of the post for ideas).  This can also be done at the library if you don't have many books at home.
• This activity sheet

Procedure:

• Share the books with your Kid Scientist.  Typically they enjoy looking at the pictures in the non-fiction books and listening to the fiction stories.
• Ask your Kid Scientist if she can divide the books into two piles...books about real animals and books about make-believe animals.
• Use the first part of the activity sheet to record these observations.  Depending on the age of your Kid Scientist:  mom can write the titles, mom can write the names of animals or characters, kids can draw pictures or kids can write the names of animals or characters.
• Using examples from the books, work together on the second part of the activity sheet.  This will introduce Kid Scientists to the idea that all animals have specific needs for food & shelter and have particular behaviors.  There are many ways to fill this out...conversation, dictating to mom, drawing pictures or writing on their own...the conversation and learning is more important than the finished page!
• This activity opens the door to having many conversations about Real / Not Real which is important, developmentally for Kid Scientists

Some of the Science Mommy's Favorite Books...

Real Animals:

Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedias

Albino Animals by Kelly Milner-Halls

Owen and Mzee by Isabella Hatkoff

Whose Tracks are These by James Nail

Owls by Gail Gibbons

Make-Believe Animals:

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

There's a Hair in My Dirt by Gary Larson

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Shark and Lobsters Amazing Undersea Adventure by Vivienne Schwarz

Chicken Little by Steven Kellogg

True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sceiszka and Lane Smith

Book Club...

The Science Mommy is joining the Book Club over at Chase-ing the Dream today...

My Science Kid, Aiden, loves this book.  The Dorling Kindersley First Animal Encyclopedia.  He keeps it in the car and shares fun facts about animals with us while he reads.  A favorite car game is "Guess Who" and Aiden has adapted that to use with his book.  He'll pick an animal and answer our "yes or no" questions until we can guess the animal.  This has been a great way to start teaching classification based on external characteristics (which is a state standard).  Aiden loves animals and has really learned a lot with this book.

My Science Kid, Connar, loves science fiction and this is the new series he's reading...The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.  This author combines a love of history with a few modern-day twists to create a very compelling story.  Connar read all the Percy Jackson books and this series uses a similar combination of history and fiction to keep readers engaged.

It doesn't matter what your Kid Scientists are reading, as long as they are reading...and being read-to also.

What are you reading?

Summer Reading for Big Kid Scientists...

 The Science Mommy believes that Kid Scientists should read, or be read to, every day.  Here are some favorite Science Fiction / Fantasy books for Big Kids to consider for summer reading...

The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander...this is a great fantasy adventure story.  Very well written, this would also make a fun bedtime read-aloud.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede...this is the first book in a series.  These books are so funny and well-written you will laugh out loud which means kids will connect reading to fun & entertaining.  One of my all-time favorite quotes comes from the first chapter of this book, "None of your nonsense please".

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle...oh, this is a classic.  The Science Mommy loves Madeleine L'Engle and still remembers being introduced to this book when she was in the 5th grade and meeting the author on more than one occasion! "It was a dark and stormy night..." This is an amazing adventure story through time and space to make a rescue, find a friendship and learn something important! 

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull...my Kid Scientists have met Brandon Mull and heard him speak about his books.  This is also the first in a series that will leave kids spellbound and hanging on the edge of their seats.  One of the Science Mommy's favorite tricks to getting kids hooked on a book is to read out loud the first book of a series and then make sure the kids have access to the rest of the series.  A well-written book like this one will have them begging for more!  Connar says, "If you like fantasy, you should read this book.  It's very fantastical!"

Books like these can also prompt great conversations.  While visiting the zoo my youngest Kid Scientist wondered where the werewolves if we could see the werewolves.  What fun to have a chat about the difference between real and mythical animals.  Science is everywhere!

The Science Mommy would love to hear about what you're reading this summer.  Any book reviews by Kid Scientists will be posted on The Science Mommy!

Book Club...

I decided to join the book club over at Chase-ing the Dream, and share a new favorite book for Kid Scientists...



Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship is an amazing story!  The book is illustrated in photographs much like the one on the front cover.  This book is more documentary than narrative, telling the story of a hippo separated from his pod.  Owen (the hippo) is relocated to an animal sanctuary and befriends Mzee, and ancient tortoise. 


My Kid Scientists love this book and I am sure yours will too!

Adventure Books for Big Kid Scientists...

Some of the best summer reading is curling up with a fantastic adventure.  Here are some of the Science Mommy's favorites...

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
A young boy finds himself stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash.  This story is about his survival and what he learns in the process.










 
Canyon Winter by Walt Morey
Very similar story to Hatchet.  A young boy finds himself stranded in the wilderness and discovers unlikely help in the form of an old recluse.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
This is a great adventure story about a boy who leaves home to live alone in the woods.  His survival is a bit more believable because of his use of the library and trial & error.  A main character is the hawk, tamed by the boy.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Girls can survive in the wilderness too!  This classic story tells the tale of a young girl abandoned on an island and her struggles to survive.

How do these characters use science in their survival?  What are your favorite adventure stories? 

Ooblek...

This is a fun kitchen counter exploration.  Kid Scientists can explore on their own, while mom's working on something else.

Ages:  All ages of Kid Scientists will enjoy this mixture

Materials:  Corn starch, water, plastic bowl

Procedure:

• Mix equal parts water with corn starch in a plastic bowl
• Use your fingers to explore the mixture
• When does this seem like a liquid?
• When does it seem like a solid?

Extensions:
- Big Kid scientists may be interested in exploring Non-Newtonian fluids as a way of describing Ooblek
- Little Kid scientists will have fun with this Dr. Seuss exploration of Ooblek

Bartholomew and the Ooblek by Dr. Seuss

Kid Scientists Reading...

Chloe, is a Kid Scientist who recently got her own copy of Albino Animals by Kelly Milner Halls. 

You can read what the Science Mommy had to say about this book, here.

What great books are you reading?

Books for Kid Scientists...

The Science Mommy and her Kid Scientists have more books to share...

Albino Animals by KellyMilner Halls - The author visited Connar's school this year and he chose this book.  It's so interesting, both boys enjoy reading it and looking at the pictures.  Kids learn about albinism in nature through photos and descriptions.  Not only will this encourage curiosity but it can also serve as a basis for learning about and appreciating differences.



Life Cycles of a Dozen Diverse Creatures by Paul Fleisher - This is another collection of diveristy in the natural world.  Understanding life cycles is a science standard that is often difficult to convey in classroom science.  This book helps kids gain a sense of the big idea of diversity and the idea that all living creatures have a unique life cycle.  Beautiful photos are accompanied by short, accessible text.






Science Verse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith - This will keep Kid Scientists laughing!  The authors take well known poems and retell them with hilarious science themes.  A great way to gain a little new understanding and have a laugh too!

Send the Science Mommy some of your favorite Kid Science books and I'll post them in the next book list!  Happy Reading!

Books for Kid Scientists...

Periodically, The Science Mommy will include her current favorite books for kids.  I believe some of the most important minutes we can spend with kids are spent  reading!

The teacher in me feels compelled to share..."By the time most children start school they will have been exposed to 5 million words and should know about 13, 000 of them.  By High School they should know about 60,000 to 100,000 words... Reading is one of the most important factors affecting the development of a child's brain.  Reading skills are not hardwired into the human brain; every subskill of reading...must be explicitly taught."  (Teaching With Poverty in Mind by Eric Jensen)  Children who don't have the advantage of reading and being read to at home enter school at a disadvantage and that disadvantage grows each year.  Keep reading with your Kid Scientists!

Here are three books my Kid Scientists LOVE...

The Pebble in My Pockettells the story of a pebble...any pebble you can pick up.  Read about the rock cycle and the story a pebble can tell in this beautifully illustrated book.  Then, go out and find rocks with your Kid Scientists...what stories do you imagine your rocks could tell?

Arrowhawk is the true story of a hawk that was shot with an arrow and survived.  Told from the perspective of the hawk, and illustrated with water colors, this story is amazing.   Not only will children learn about wildlife rehabilitation but also about courage and strength.

How Full is Your Bucket is not necessarily a science book, but it is a great book for kids.  Each person has an invisible bucket and our interactions either add to their buckets or dip from their buckets.  This book opens the conversation about compassion and understanding with even preschool age kids.  {It also lends itself well to sibling quarreling}

Happy Reading!