The Hunter
Ask a group of adults their opinions on hunting and you may receive responses across the spectrum. The same is true with students. Project WILD’s activity “The Hunter” allows students to take a closer look at their personal feelings regarding hunting, while respecting other points of view.
Explore more about the hunting debate. As a class choose natural resource organizations and find their stand on hunting. Check out a list of conservation organizations in Iowa http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/iowa_environment/environmental_groups/Environmental_groups.html
Assign students to serve as members of these organizations and hold a debate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wildlife Managment Book List
Grades 3-5
Chandler, G. 1997. Guardians of Wildlife. Lerner Publishing Group.
Patent, D.H. 1986. Buffalo: The American Bison Today. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Grades 6-8
Camp, W.G. 2000. Managing Our Natural Resources. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Grades 9-12
Bailey, J.A. 1984. Principles of Wildlife Management. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Deal, K.H. 1997. Wildlife and Natural Resource Management. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Dinsmore, J.J. 1994. A Country So Full of Game: The Story of Wildlife in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.
Feldhamer, G.A. 2004. Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
“People of the Forest”
For many people around the world the forest is home. They live under the green canopy of the trees and rely upon the bounty it provides to clothe, shelter and feed them. Whether you live in the forest, near the forest, or many miles away, we all rely upon the forest for the raw materials we use every day in our lives. How do you depend upon the forest? What items do you use that come from the forest? What other value does the forest provide other than goods? To explore these and other questions use Project Learning Tree’s “People of the Forest”. Learn about forests, the people that call it home, and the products that come from it!
Young Child Extension
Explore forests! Bring in pictures of indigenous people that live in forests, such as the Mbuti of Africa, or the Pesch of Latin America. Discuss how these people may live differently than we do but that we all rely upon the forest for many things. Have examples of products from forest to explore at center time. Read stories about people and forests. Who else uses the forest? Do animals need forests too?
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Crandell, R. 2009. Hands of the Rain Forest: The Embera People of Panama. Henry Holt and Co.
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Fonte, I. 2007. Animals of the Forest. Barnes & Noble Books.
Fowler, A. 1999. Our Living Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Gibbons, G. 1997. Nature's Green Umbrella : Tropical Rain Forests. New York: Harper Trophy.
Jeunesse, G. 2003. In The Forest. Scholastic, Inc.
Lindeen, C.K. 2003. Life in a Forest. Capstone Press.
McGehee, C. 2006. A Woodland Counting Book. University of Iowa Press.
Pyers, G. 2004. Forest Explorer. Raintree Publishers.
Rutten, J. 1998. Forests. Child's World, Incorporated.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Grades 3-5
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Fonte, I. 2007. Animals of the Forest. Barnes & Noble Books.
Fowler, A. 1999. Our Living Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Ganeri, A. 2003. Forests. World Almanac Books.
Gibbons, G. 1997. Nature's Green Umbrella : Tropical Rain Forests. New York: Harper Trophy.
Jeunesse, G. 2003. In The Forest. Scholastic, Inc.
Lindeen, C.K. 2003. Life in a Forest. Capstone Press.
Marvis, B. 1995. Plants of the Forest. Chelsea House Publishers.
McGehee, C. 2006. A Woodland Counting Book. University of Iowa Press.
Owens, C. 1998. Deforestation. Child's World, Incorporated.
Paul, T. 1997. In Woods and Forests. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Pyers, G. 2004. Forest Explorer. Raintree Publishers.
Rutten, J. 1998. Forests. Child's World, Incorporated.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Woods, M. 1999. People of the Rain Forest. ABDO Publishing Company.
Grades 6-8
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Lucas, E. 1994. The Ojibwas: People of the Northern Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Martin, P.A. 2000. Woods and Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Parker, J. 2002. Disappearing Forests. Weigl Publishers.
Woods, M. 1999. People of the Rain Forest. ABDO Publishing Company.
Grades 9-12
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Lucas, E. 1994. The Ojibwas: People of the Northern Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Rae, A. 2010. Trees and Timber Products. Black Rabbit Books.
Siy, A. 1993. The Waorani: People of the Ecuadoran Rain Forest. Silver Burdett Press.
Links
An Introduction to North America’s Native People: Northeast Woodlands Culture Area
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/noamer_newoodlands.html
People of the Forest
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/PDFs/pygmybg.pdf
People of the Rainforest
http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/people.html
Baka People
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baka_people_(Cameroon_and_Gabon)
Pygmy Peoples
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_peoples
People of the Amazon Rainforest: The Yanomami
http://library.thinkquest.org/27507/people.htm
Forest Products
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_product
Non-timber Forest Products
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-timber_forest_products
Forest Habitat
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/noamer_newoodlands.html
For many people around the world the forest is home. They live under the green canopy of the trees and rely upon the bounty it provides to clothe, shelter and feed them. Whether you live in the forest, near the forest, or many miles away, we all rely upon the forest for the raw materials we use every day in our lives. How do you depend upon the forest? What items do you use that come from the forest? What other value does the forest provide other than goods? To explore these and other questions use Project Learning Tree’s “People of the Forest”. Learn about forests, the people that call it home, and the products that come from it!
Young Child Extension
Explore forests! Bring in pictures of indigenous people that live in forests, such as the Mbuti of Africa, or the Pesch of Latin America. Discuss how these people may live differently than we do but that we all rely upon the forest for many things. Have examples of products from forest to explore at center time. Read stories about people and forests. Who else uses the forest? Do animals need forests too?
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Crandell, R. 2009. Hands of the Rain Forest: The Embera People of Panama. Henry Holt and Co.
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Fonte, I. 2007. Animals of the Forest. Barnes & Noble Books.
Fowler, A. 1999. Our Living Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Gibbons, G. 1997. Nature's Green Umbrella : Tropical Rain Forests. New York: Harper Trophy.
Jeunesse, G. 2003. In The Forest. Scholastic, Inc.
Lindeen, C.K. 2003. Life in a Forest. Capstone Press.
McGehee, C. 2006. A Woodland Counting Book. University of Iowa Press.
Pyers, G. 2004. Forest Explorer. Raintree Publishers.
Rutten, J. 1998. Forests. Child's World, Incorporated.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Grades 3-5
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Fonte, I. 2007. Animals of the Forest. Barnes & Noble Books.
Fowler, A. 1999. Our Living Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Ganeri, A. 2003. Forests. World Almanac Books.
Gibbons, G. 1997. Nature's Green Umbrella : Tropical Rain Forests. New York: Harper Trophy.
Jeunesse, G. 2003. In The Forest. Scholastic, Inc.
Lindeen, C.K. 2003. Life in a Forest. Capstone Press.
Marvis, B. 1995. Plants of the Forest. Chelsea House Publishers.
McGehee, C. 2006. A Woodland Counting Book. University of Iowa Press.
Owens, C. 1998. Deforestation. Child's World, Incorporated.
Paul, T. 1997. In Woods and Forests. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Pyers, G. 2004. Forest Explorer. Raintree Publishers.
Rutten, J. 1998. Forests. Child's World, Incorporated.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Woods, M. 1999. People of the Rain Forest. ABDO Publishing Company.
Grades 6-8
DK Publishing. 2004. Forest. DK Publishing, Inc.
Lucas, E. 1994. The Ojibwas: People of the Northern Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Martin, P.A. 2000. Woods and Forests. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Parker, J. 2002. Disappearing Forests. Weigl Publishers.
Woods, M. 1999. People of the Rain Forest. ABDO Publishing Company.
Grades 9-12
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Lucas, E. 1994. The Ojibwas: People of the Northern Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Rae, A. 2010. Trees and Timber Products. Black Rabbit Books.
Siy, A. 1993. The Waorani: People of the Ecuadoran Rain Forest. Silver Burdett Press.
Links
An Introduction to North America’s Native People: Northeast Woodlands Culture Area
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/noamer_newoodlands.html
People of the Forest
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/PDFs/pygmybg.pdf
People of the Rainforest
http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/people.html
Baka People
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baka_people_(Cameroon_and_Gabon)
Pygmy Peoples
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_peoples
People of the Amazon Rainforest: The Yanomami
http://library.thinkquest.org/27507/people.htm
Forest Products
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_product
Non-timber Forest Products
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-timber_forest_products
Forest Habitat
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/noamer_newoodlands.html
Monday, October 03, 2011
“Can It Be Real?”
A beetle that drinks fog? A flower that smells like rotten meat? A fish that “shoots down” its prey? Can these plants and animals possibly be real? The answer is yes! Many plants and animals have adaptations that might seem peculiar or even downright weird to us but which are essential to the plant or animal’s survival. An adaptation is a feature that has developed in a species over time and one which is important for the organism’s survival and reproduction. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Can It Be Real?” to discover extraordinary plants and animals with amazing adaptations!
Young Child Extension
Talk about the difference between real and imaginary animals. Use examples that young children might know about, for example, unicorns vs. horses, dragons vs. lizards. Use pictures, stories or songs to showcase the different animals. Talk about how some real animals have characteristics that might make them seem more like imaginary creatures but that are real. Show them the beetle that drinks fog, the fish that shoots water at its prey. Use pictures to show the children. Take children on a nature walk to look for animals and plants that might have “weird” characteristics.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Heller, R. 1999. Plants That Never Ever Bloom. Penguin Group (USA).
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 3-5
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Carmichael, N., J. Marsh, and R. Nicholson. 2000. Nature’s Wild!. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Heller, R. 1999. Plants That Never Ever Bloom. Penguin Group (USA).
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Polydoros, L. 2010. Strange but True Animals. Capstone Press.
Souza, D. M. 2004. Wacky Trees. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Wechsler, D. 2003. Bizarre Birds. Boyds Mills Press.
Wechsler, D. 2004. Bizarre Bugs. Boyds Mills Press.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 6-8
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Carmichael, N., J. Marsh, and R. Nicholson. 2000. Nature’s Wild!. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Polydoros, L. 2010. Strange but True Animals. Capstone Press.
Souza, D. M. 2004. Wacky Trees. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Wechsler, D. 2003. Bizarre Birds. Boyds Mills Press.
Wechsler, D. 2004. Bizarre Bugs. Boyds Mills Press.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 9-12
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Links
25 World’s Weirdest Animals
http://divaboo.info/
10 Most Bizarre Animals Recently Discovered
http://urbantitan.com/10-most-bizarre-animals-recently-discovered/
Bizarre Animals From Around the World (Photos)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/10/bizarre-animal-photos_n_796638.html#s207679
The Top 15 Most Bizarre Sea Animals
http://blog.rocketboom.com/post/102948092/the-top-15-most-bizarre-sea-animals
ABC News: Bizarre Plants
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/popup?id=4775232
World’s Most Weird and Bizarre Plants
http://ourfunnyplanet.com/world-most-weird-and-bizarre-plants/
A beetle that drinks fog? A flower that smells like rotten meat? A fish that “shoots down” its prey? Can these plants and animals possibly be real? The answer is yes! Many plants and animals have adaptations that might seem peculiar or even downright weird to us but which are essential to the plant or animal’s survival. An adaptation is a feature that has developed in a species over time and one which is important for the organism’s survival and reproduction. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Can It Be Real?” to discover extraordinary plants and animals with amazing adaptations!
Young Child Extension
Talk about the difference between real and imaginary animals. Use examples that young children might know about, for example, unicorns vs. horses, dragons vs. lizards. Use pictures, stories or songs to showcase the different animals. Talk about how some real animals have characteristics that might make them seem more like imaginary creatures but that are real. Show them the beetle that drinks fog, the fish that shoots water at its prey. Use pictures to show the children. Take children on a nature walk to look for animals and plants that might have “weird” characteristics.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Heller, R. 1999. Plants That Never Ever Bloom. Penguin Group (USA).
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 3-5
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Carmichael, N., J. Marsh, and R. Nicholson. 2000. Nature’s Wild!. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Heller, R. 1999. Plants That Never Ever Bloom. Penguin Group (USA).
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Polydoros, L. 2010. Strange but True Animals. Capstone Press.
Souza, D. M. 2004. Wacky Trees. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Wechsler, D. 2003. Bizarre Birds. Boyds Mills Press.
Wechsler, D. 2004. Bizarre Bugs. Boyds Mills Press.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 6-8
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Carmichael, N., J. Marsh, and R. Nicholson. 2000. Nature’s Wild!. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2007. Fake Out! Animals That Play Tricks. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Freak Out! Animals Beyond Your Wildest Imagination. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2009. Far Out! Animals That Do Amazing Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Clarke, G. L., and P. Mueller. 2006. Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. Grosset & Dunlap.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Polydoros, L. 2010. Strange but True Animals. Capstone Press.
Souza, D. M. 2004. Wacky Trees. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Wechsler, D. 2003. Bizarre Birds. Boyds Mills Press.
Wechsler, D. 2004. Bizarre Bugs. Boyds Mills Press.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Grades 9-12
Anderson, M. J. 1996. Bizarre Insects. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Fontanel, B. 2001. Bizarre Beasts. Hodder Wayland Childrens.
Ganeri, A. 1996. Bizarre Beasts And Other Oddities of Nature. Harry N Abrams.
Laman, J., and J. D. Wilhelm. 2008. 10 Most Bizarre Animal Behaviors. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Unwin, M. 2010. 100 Bizarre Animals. Brandt Travel Guides.
Whitfield, P. 2011. Show-Offs: Astonishing Animals, Bizarre Behavior. Kingfisher.
Links
25 World’s Weirdest Animals
http://divaboo.info/
10 Most Bizarre Animals Recently Discovered
http://urbantitan.com/10-most-bizarre-animals-recently-discovered/
Bizarre Animals From Around the World (Photos)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/10/bizarre-animal-photos_n_796638.html#s207679
The Top 15 Most Bizarre Sea Animals
http://blog.rocketboom.com/post/102948092/the-top-15-most-bizarre-sea-animals
ABC News: Bizarre Plants
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/popup?id=4775232
World’s Most Weird and Bizarre Plants
http://ourfunnyplanet.com/world-most-weird-and-bizarre-plants/
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
“From Bison to Bread: The American Prairie”
It’s Iowa Prairie Heritage Week! Prairies are ecosystems that are made up of mostly grasses and sedges with other flowering plants called forbs. Prairie is the French word for meadow. Prairie originally covered vast areas of North America, from Canada to Texas and from Indiana to the Rocky Mountains. Today, little original prairie is left in North America. Of the 30 million acres of prairie that once covered Iowa it is estimated that only 0.1% remains. Prairies are a diverse pool of plants species, are habitat for many wildlife species and are a protective buffer for ground and surface water supplies. Use Project WILD’s “From Bison to Bread: The American Prairie” to explore Iowa’s prairies.
Young Child Extension
Start by asking children about prairies. Have they ever been to a prairie? What did it look like? Look at pictures of prairie grasses, plants and wildlife. Read books together about prairies. If possible plan a trip to a local prairie so children can get a hands-on look at a prairie. Try bringing in prairie plants for kids to look at, touch and explore. Contact your local county conservation board for resources, such as naturalist programs and supplies, they are always happy to help! http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/ConservationLawEnforcement/CountyConservationBoards.aspx
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bannatyne-Cugnet, J. 1992. Prairie Alphabet. Tundra.
Butterfield, M. 1999. Animals on Plains and Prairies. Raintree Publishers.
Cefrey, H. 2003. Grasslands. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Chinery, M. 1992. Grassland Animals. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Cole, M.S. 2003. Prairies. Thomson Gale.
Fleming, D. 1991. In the Tall, Tall Grass. Henry Holt and Co.
Fowler, A. 2000. Lands of Grass. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Geisert, A. 1998. Prairie Town. Walter Lorraine Books.
Hirschi, R. 1992. Where Are My Prairie Dogs and Black-Footed Ferrets? Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
Hirschi,R. 1989. Who Lives On The Prairie? Putnam Publishing Group.
Howard, F. 2006. Grasslands. ABDO Publishing Company.
Johnson, R.L., P.V. Saroff and G. Braasch. 2000. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Publishing Group.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lerner, C. 1980. Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie. William Morrow & Co Library.
Mader, J. 2004. Living on a Prairie. Scholastic Library Publishing.
McGehee, C. 2004. A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet. University of Iowa Press.
McMillan, B. 1986. Counting Wildflowers. New York: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books.
Nichols, C. 2002. Grassy Lands. Benchmark Books.
Patent, D.H. 1996. Prairies. Holiday House.
Pattison, D., and K. Rietz. 2011. Prairie Storms. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Penny, M. 2003. Grasslands. Thameside Press.
Reynolds, M. 1999. Prairie Fire. Orca Book Publishers.
Rowan, J.P. 1983. Prairies and Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
St. Antoine, S. 2001. Stories from Where We Live -- The Great North American Prairie. Milkweed Editions.
Staub, F. 1993. America's Prairies. Lerner Publishing Group.
Taylor, D. 1992. Endangered Grassland Animals. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Thompson, L. 2004. People of the Plains and Prairies. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Wallace, M.D. 2001. America's Prairies and Grasslands: Guide to Plants and Animals. Fulcrum Publishing.
Wilder, L. I., and R. Graef. 1900. Prairie Day (My First Little House Books Series). HarperCollins Publishers.
Winner, C. 2004. Prairie Animals. T&N Children's Publishing.
Grades 3-5
Arnold, C. 1993. Through the Year with - Prairie Dogs. Scholastic, Inc.
Bannatyne-Cugnet, J. 2002. Heartland: A Prairie Sampler. Tundra.
Bouchard, D. 1998. If You're Not from the Prairie. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Chinery, M. 1992. Grassland Animals. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Cole, M.S. 2003. Prairies. Thomson Gale.
Cook, K.J. 1993. Disappearing Grasslands. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Dvorak Jr., D. 1994. A Sea of Grass. New York: Macmillan.
Erlic, L. 2005. Grasslands. Weigl Publishers, Incorporated.
George, M. 1994. Prairie. Creative Company.
Gray, S.H. 2000. Grasslands. Capstone Press.
Horton, C. 1982. Grasslands and People. Silver Burdett Press.
Horton, C. 1985. Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Jackson, K. and S. Mather. 2006. Explore the Grasslands. Capstone Press.
Johansson, P. 2004. Wide Open Grasslands: A Web of Life. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Johnson, R.L., P.V. Saroff and G. Braasch. 2000. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Publishing Group.
Johnson, S.A. 1976. Animals of the Grasslands. Lerner Publishing Group.
Khanduri, K. 1994. Grassland Wildlife. EDC Publishing.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lambert, D. 1988. Grasslands. Silver Burdett Press.
Langley, A. 1993. Grasslands. Reader's Digest Children's Publishing, Incorporated.
Levy, J. 2003. What Lives on a Prairie? Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Lynch, W. and A. Lang. 2006. Prairie Grasslands. T&N Children's Publishing.
Patent, D.H. 1996. Prairies. Holiday House.
Patent, D.H. 1998. Fire: Friend or Foe. Clarion Books.
Patent, D.H. 2003. Life in a Grassland. Lerner Publishing Group.
Pattison, D., and K. Rietz. 2011. Prairie Storms. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Pipes, R. 1998. Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Savage, S. 1997. Animals of the Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
St. Antoine, S. 2001. Stories from Where We Live -- The Great North American Prairie. Milkweed Editions.
Staub, F. 1993. America's Prairies. Lerner Publishing Group.
Steele, P. 1997. Grasslands. Lerner Publishing Group.
Stille, D.R. 1998. Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Grasslands. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Thompson, L. 2004. People of the Plains and Prairies. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Wallace, M.D. 2001. America's Prairies and Grasslands: Guide to Plants and Animals. Fulcrum Publishing.
Wilder, L. I., and R. Graef. 1900. Prairie Day (My First Little House Books Series). HarperCollins Publishers.
Winner, C. 2004. Prairie Animals. T&N Children's Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Busch, P.S. 1977. Wildflowers and the Stories Behind Their Names. Charles Scribner & Sons.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Collard, S.B. 2005. Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America’s Lost Grasslands. Houghton Mifflin.
Hoare, B. 2003. Temperate Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lerner, C. 1980. Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie. New York: William Morrow and Company.
Murray, P. 1997. Prairies: Biomes of Nature. The Child' World Inc.
Ricciuti, E.R. 1996. Grassland. Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Rotter, C. 2002. The Prairie. Creative Company.
Runkel, S. and D.M. Roosa. 1989. Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
Schwarm, L. 2003. On Fire. Duke Un Mentary.
Scullin, W.M. 2005. Young Person's Guide to the Prairie. South River Press.
Siy, A. 1991. Native Grasslands. Silver Burdett Press.
Stone, L.M. 1989. Prairies. Rourke Enterprises, Incorporated.
Tarbox, A. D. 2011. A Prairie Food Chain. The Creative Company.
Toupin, L.P. 2005. Life in the Temperate Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Vyn, K. 1978. The Prairie Community. New York: Julian Messener.
Grades 9-12
Boon, W. and H. Groe. 1990. Nature's Heartland: Native Plant Communities of the Great Plains. Ames:
Brown, L. 1979. Grasses: An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Collard, S. B. 2005. The Prairie Builders : Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company Trade & Reference Division.
Edsall, M.S. 1985. Roadside Plants and Flowers. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press.
Forey, P. and C. Fitzsimons. 1992. Instant Guide to Wildflowers. Random House Value Publishing, Incorporated.
Johnsgard, P.A. 2001. Prairie Birds: Fragile Splendor in the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas.
Johnsgard, P.A. 2005. Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie. University of Nebraska Press.
Kindscher, K. 1992. Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide. University Press of Kansas.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Kurtz, C. 1996. Iowa's Wild Places. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Madson, J. 1994. Where the Sky Began: Land of the Tallgrass Prairie. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Madson, J. 2005. The Elemental Prairie: Sixty Tallgrass Plants. University of Iowa Press.
Manning, R. 1997. Grassland: The History, Biology, Politics, and Promise of the American Prairie. Penguin Group.
Moul, F. 2006. The National Grasslands: A Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures. University of Nebraska Press.
Muller, M. 2000. Prairie in Your Pocket: A Guide to Plants of the Tallgrass Prairie. University of Iowa Press.
Packard, S. 2005. Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands. Island Press.
Peterson, R.T. and M. McKenny.1968. A Field Guide to the Wildflowers: Northeastern and North-Central North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Sherow, J.E. 2007. The Grasslands of the United States: An Environmental History. ABC-CLIO, Incorporated.
Shirley, S.1994. Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie : An Illustrated Manual for Iowa and the Upper Midwest. New York: University of Iowa P.
Smith, J. R., and Smith, B. S. 1980. A Prairie Garden : Seventy Native Plants You Can Grow in Town or Country. New York: University of Wisconsin P.
Thompson, J.R. 1992. Prairies, Forests and Wetlands: The Restoration of Natural Landscape Communities in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.
Waterlow, J. 1996. Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Links
ISU Extension: Iowa Prairies
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN203.pdf
What is a Prairie?
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/habitat/whatprai.htm
IDNR: Iowa County Conservation Boards
http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/ConservationLawEnforcement/CountyConservationBoards.aspx
Iowa Prairie Network
http://www.iowaprairienetwork.org/
INPS Website Calendar
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herbarium/inps/index.php
It’s Iowa Prairie Heritage Week! Prairies are ecosystems that are made up of mostly grasses and sedges with other flowering plants called forbs. Prairie is the French word for meadow. Prairie originally covered vast areas of North America, from Canada to Texas and from Indiana to the Rocky Mountains. Today, little original prairie is left in North America. Of the 30 million acres of prairie that once covered Iowa it is estimated that only 0.1% remains. Prairies are a diverse pool of plants species, are habitat for many wildlife species and are a protective buffer for ground and surface water supplies. Use Project WILD’s “From Bison to Bread: The American Prairie” to explore Iowa’s prairies.
Young Child Extension
Start by asking children about prairies. Have they ever been to a prairie? What did it look like? Look at pictures of prairie grasses, plants and wildlife. Read books together about prairies. If possible plan a trip to a local prairie so children can get a hands-on look at a prairie. Try bringing in prairie plants for kids to look at, touch and explore. Contact your local county conservation board for resources, such as naturalist programs and supplies, they are always happy to help! http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/ConservationLawEnforcement/CountyConservationBoards.aspx
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bannatyne-Cugnet, J. 1992. Prairie Alphabet. Tundra.
Butterfield, M. 1999. Animals on Plains and Prairies. Raintree Publishers.
Cefrey, H. 2003. Grasslands. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Chinery, M. 1992. Grassland Animals. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Cole, M.S. 2003. Prairies. Thomson Gale.
Fleming, D. 1991. In the Tall, Tall Grass. Henry Holt and Co.
Fowler, A. 2000. Lands of Grass. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Geisert, A. 1998. Prairie Town. Walter Lorraine Books.
Hirschi, R. 1992. Where Are My Prairie Dogs and Black-Footed Ferrets? Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
Hirschi,R. 1989. Who Lives On The Prairie? Putnam Publishing Group.
Howard, F. 2006. Grasslands. ABDO Publishing Company.
Johnson, R.L., P.V. Saroff and G. Braasch. 2000. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Publishing Group.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lerner, C. 1980. Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie. William Morrow & Co Library.
Mader, J. 2004. Living on a Prairie. Scholastic Library Publishing.
McGehee, C. 2004. A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet. University of Iowa Press.
McMillan, B. 1986. Counting Wildflowers. New York: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books.
Nichols, C. 2002. Grassy Lands. Benchmark Books.
Patent, D.H. 1996. Prairies. Holiday House.
Pattison, D., and K. Rietz. 2011. Prairie Storms. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Penny, M. 2003. Grasslands. Thameside Press.
Reynolds, M. 1999. Prairie Fire. Orca Book Publishers.
Rowan, J.P. 1983. Prairies and Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
St. Antoine, S. 2001. Stories from Where We Live -- The Great North American Prairie. Milkweed Editions.
Staub, F. 1993. America's Prairies. Lerner Publishing Group.
Taylor, D. 1992. Endangered Grassland Animals. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Thompson, L. 2004. People of the Plains and Prairies. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Wallace, M.D. 2001. America's Prairies and Grasslands: Guide to Plants and Animals. Fulcrum Publishing.
Wilder, L. I., and R. Graef. 1900. Prairie Day (My First Little House Books Series). HarperCollins Publishers.
Winner, C. 2004. Prairie Animals. T&N Children's Publishing.
Grades 3-5
Arnold, C. 1993. Through the Year with - Prairie Dogs. Scholastic, Inc.
Bannatyne-Cugnet, J. 2002. Heartland: A Prairie Sampler. Tundra.
Bouchard, D. 1998. If You're Not from the Prairie. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Chinery, M. 1992. Grassland Animals. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Cole, M.S. 2003. Prairies. Thomson Gale.
Cook, K.J. 1993. Disappearing Grasslands. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Dvorak Jr., D. 1994. A Sea of Grass. New York: Macmillan.
Erlic, L. 2005. Grasslands. Weigl Publishers, Incorporated.
George, M. 1994. Prairie. Creative Company.
Gray, S.H. 2000. Grasslands. Capstone Press.
Horton, C. 1982. Grasslands and People. Silver Burdett Press.
Horton, C. 1985. Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Jackson, K. and S. Mather. 2006. Explore the Grasslands. Capstone Press.
Johansson, P. 2004. Wide Open Grasslands: A Web of Life. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Johnson, R.L., P.V. Saroff and G. Braasch. 2000. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Publishing Group.
Johnson, S.A. 1976. Animals of the Grasslands. Lerner Publishing Group.
Khanduri, K. 1994. Grassland Wildlife. EDC Publishing.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lambert, D. 1988. Grasslands. Silver Burdett Press.
Langley, A. 1993. Grasslands. Reader's Digest Children's Publishing, Incorporated.
Levy, J. 2003. What Lives on a Prairie? Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Lynch, W. and A. Lang. 2006. Prairie Grasslands. T&N Children's Publishing.
Patent, D.H. 1996. Prairies. Holiday House.
Patent, D.H. 1998. Fire: Friend or Foe. Clarion Books.
Patent, D.H. 2003. Life in a Grassland. Lerner Publishing Group.
Pattison, D., and K. Rietz. 2011. Prairie Storms. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Pipes, R. 1998. Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Savage, S. 1997. Animals of the Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
St. Antoine, S. 2001. Stories from Where We Live -- The Great North American Prairie. Milkweed Editions.
Staub, F. 1993. America's Prairies. Lerner Publishing Group.
Steele, P. 1997. Grasslands. Lerner Publishing Group.
Stille, D.R. 1998. Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Grasslands. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Thompson, L. 2004. People of the Plains and Prairies. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Wallace, M.D. 2001. America's Prairies and Grasslands: Guide to Plants and Animals. Fulcrum Publishing.
Wilder, L. I., and R. Graef. 1900. Prairie Day (My First Little House Books Series). HarperCollins Publishers.
Winner, C. 2004. Prairie Animals. T&N Children's Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Busch, P.S. 1977. Wildflowers and the Stories Behind Their Names. Charles Scribner & Sons.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Collard, S.B. 2005. Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America’s Lost Grasslands. Houghton Mifflin.
Hoare, B. 2003. Temperate Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Lerner, C. 1980. Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie. New York: William Morrow and Company.
Murray, P. 1997. Prairies: Biomes of Nature. The Child' World Inc.
Ricciuti, E.R. 1996. Grassland. Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Rotter, C. 2002. The Prairie. Creative Company.
Runkel, S. and D.M. Roosa. 1989. Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
Schwarm, L. 2003. On Fire. Duke Un Mentary.
Scullin, W.M. 2005. Young Person's Guide to the Prairie. South River Press.
Siy, A. 1991. Native Grasslands. Silver Burdett Press.
Stone, L.M. 1989. Prairies. Rourke Enterprises, Incorporated.
Tarbox, A. D. 2011. A Prairie Food Chain. The Creative Company.
Toupin, L.P. 2005. Life in the Temperate Grasslands. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Vyn, K. 1978. The Prairie Community. New York: Julian Messener.
Grades 9-12
Boon, W. and H. Groe. 1990. Nature's Heartland: Native Plant Communities of the Great Plains. Ames:
Brown, L. 1979. Grasses: An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Christiansen, P. and M. Muller. 1999. An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Collard, S. B. 2005. The Prairie Builders : Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company Trade & Reference Division.
Edsall, M.S. 1985. Roadside Plants and Flowers. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press.
Forey, P. and C. Fitzsimons. 1992. Instant Guide to Wildflowers. Random House Value Publishing, Incorporated.
Johnsgard, P.A. 2001. Prairie Birds: Fragile Splendor in the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas.
Johnsgard, P.A. 2005. Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie. University of Nebraska Press.
Kindscher, K. 1992. Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide. University Press of Kansas.
Kirt, R.R. 1995. Prairie Plants of the Midwest: Identification and Ecology. Stipes Publishing, L.L.C.
Kurtz, C. 1996. Iowa's Wild Places. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
Ladd, D. 2005. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers and Plants of the Prairie Midwest. Globe Pequot Press.
Madson, J. 1994. Where the Sky Began: Land of the Tallgrass Prairie. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
Madson, J. 2005. The Elemental Prairie: Sixty Tallgrass Plants. University of Iowa Press.
Manning, R. 1997. Grassland: The History, Biology, Politics, and Promise of the American Prairie. Penguin Group.
Moul, F. 2006. The National Grasslands: A Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures. University of Nebraska Press.
Muller, M. 2000. Prairie in Your Pocket: A Guide to Plants of the Tallgrass Prairie. University of Iowa Press.
Packard, S. 2005. Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands. Island Press.
Peterson, R.T. and M. McKenny.1968. A Field Guide to the Wildflowers: Northeastern and North-Central North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Sherow, J.E. 2007. The Grasslands of the United States: An Environmental History. ABC-CLIO, Incorporated.
Shirley, S.1994. Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie : An Illustrated Manual for Iowa and the Upper Midwest. New York: University of Iowa P.
Smith, J. R., and Smith, B. S. 1980. A Prairie Garden : Seventy Native Plants You Can Grow in Town or Country. New York: University of Wisconsin P.
Thompson, J.R. 1992. Prairies, Forests and Wetlands: The Restoration of Natural Landscape Communities in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.
Waterlow, J. 1996. Grasslands. Raintree Publishers.
Links
ISU Extension: Iowa Prairies
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN203.pdf
What is a Prairie?
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/habitat/whatprai.htm
IDNR: Iowa County Conservation Boards
http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/ConservationLawEnforcement/CountyConservationBoards.aspx
Iowa Prairie Network
http://www.iowaprairienetwork.org/
INPS Website Calendar
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herbarium/inps/index.php
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
“Planet Diversity”
Imagine you are a scientist from the planet Deevoid and have been sent on an exploratory mission to Earth. Deevoid has very little biodiversity. You have been sent to explore the wonderful diversity on Earth. You are viewing life on Earth for the first time and need to describe every creature and plant you see in minute detail. You need to be able to share what you have found with your fellow Deevoidians when you return home. Fly your imaginary spaceships and land in your schoolyard, backyard or local park. Split into teams of scientists and explore and record a plot of land. Record and describe every life form that you find. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Planet Diversity” to explore the wonders of Earth’s biodiversity! Then further your study with Project Learning Tree’s “Charting Diversity”!
Young Child Extension
Take your little alien visitors from Deevoid on a nature walk. Make space hats before you go to get the children ready and excited to be aliens! Make a nature journal and/or chart of your life form findings on planet Earth.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pfeffer, W., and R. Brickman. 2007. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Rotner, S., and K. Kreisler. 1992. Nature Spy. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Grades 3-5
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 6-8
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 9-12
Gaston, K. J., and J. I. Spicer. 2004. Biodiversity: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Links
Iowa Biodiversity
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN407.pdf
Iowa NatureMapping
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
The Encyclopedia of Earth: Biodiversity
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Biodiversity?topic=49480
Wikipedia: Biodiversity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity
Biodiversity Hotspots
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
Imagine you are a scientist from the planet Deevoid and have been sent on an exploratory mission to Earth. Deevoid has very little biodiversity. You have been sent to explore the wonderful diversity on Earth. You are viewing life on Earth for the first time and need to describe every creature and plant you see in minute detail. You need to be able to share what you have found with your fellow Deevoidians when you return home. Fly your imaginary spaceships and land in your schoolyard, backyard or local park. Split into teams of scientists and explore and record a plot of land. Record and describe every life form that you find. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Planet Diversity” to explore the wonders of Earth’s biodiversity! Then further your study with Project Learning Tree’s “Charting Diversity”!
Young Child Extension
Take your little alien visitors from Deevoid on a nature walk. Make space hats before you go to get the children ready and excited to be aliens! Make a nature journal and/or chart of your life form findings on planet Earth.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pfeffer, W., and R. Brickman. 2007. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Rotner, S., and K. Kreisler. 1992. Nature Spy. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Grades 3-5
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 6-8
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 9-12
Gaston, K. J., and J. I. Spicer. 2004. Biodiversity: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Links
Iowa Biodiversity
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN407.pdf
Iowa NatureMapping
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
The Encyclopedia of Earth: Biodiversity
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Biodiversity?topic=49480
Wikipedia: Biodiversity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity
Biodiversity Hotspots
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Nature’s Recyclers
Have you ever heard of sow bugs and pill bugs? Did you know that they are not “bugs” at all but are more closely related to crabs and lobsters? Sow bugs (Oniscus asellus) and pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) are crustaceans that feed on dead plant material and “recycle” those materials back into the soil. They are usually found under rocks, logs or under leaf litter. Earthworms and other soil organisms also help recycle plants and other biodegradable organic wastes. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Nature’s Recyclers” to explore the fascinating world of decomposers!
Young Child Extension
Set up a container with sow bugs, pill bugs or earthworms and watch these fascinating decomposers in action! Make feeding them a part of every day. You can feed them your leftovers from snack time. Study which snacks they enjoy the best. Make charts and observations.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Brendler, C., and A. Hoyt. 2009. Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer. Farrar, Strau and Giroux.
Burnett, R. 1992. The Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation. National Science Teachers Association.
Chandler, C. 2008. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly. Leathers Publishing.
Coleman, G. and T. Gibbons. 1997. Worms. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
French, V., and J. Ahlberg. 2010. Yucky Worms. Candlewick Press.
Himmelman, J. 2001. An Earthworm’s Life. Children’s Press.
Himmelman, J. 2000. A Pill Bug’s Life. Children’s Press.
Hughes, M. 2003. Pill Bugs. Heinemann-Raintree.
Pyers, G. 2005. Pill Bugs Up Close. Heinemann-Raintree.
Smith, M. 2009. Roly-Poly Pillbugs. Bearport Publishing.
St. Pierre, S. 2008. Pillbug. Heinemann-Raintree.
Tokunda, Y., and K. Takahasi. 2006. I’m a Pill Bug. Kane Miller Book Publishers.
Grades 3-5
Burnett, R. 1992. The Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation. National Science Teachers Association.
Coleman, G. and T. Gibbons. 1997. Worms. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Chandler, C. 2008. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly. Leathers Publishing.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Himmelman, J. 2001. An Earthworm’s Life. Children’s Press.
Himmelman, J. 2000. A Pill Bug’s Life. Children’s Press.
Hughes, M. 2003. Pill Bugs. Heinemann-Raintree.
Pascoe, E. 2001. Pill Bugs & Sow Bugs and Other Crustaceans. Blackbirch Press.
Pyers, G. 2005. Pill Bugs Up Close. Heinemann-Raintree.
Smith, M. 2009. Roly-Poly Pillbugs. Bearport Publishing.
St. Pierre, S. 2008. Pillbug. Heinemann-Raintree.
Tokunda, Y., and K. Takahasi. 2006. I’m a Pill Bug. Kane Miller Book Publishers.
Grades 6-8
Pascoe, E. 2001. Pill Bugs & Sow Bugs and Other Crustaceans. Blackbirch Press.
Rustad, M. E. H. 2009. Pillbugs. Pebble Books.
Schaffer, D. 2000. Pillbugs. Coughlan Publishing.
Links
Sowbugs
http://www.organicgardeninfo.com/sow-bugs.html
Pillbugs
http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/INVERT1/Pillbu1.htm
Pillbug Printout
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/isopod/Pillbugprintout.shtml
Pillbugs and Sowbugs
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig093
How to Make a Habitat for a Roly Poly
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/how-to-make-a-habitat-for-a-rolly-poly/91e96b2b-0c15-4097-8602-5f5f055eec5b
What is the Gray Bug Found Under Bricks & Dirt?
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/what-is-the-gray-bug-found-under-bricks--dirt/a2027a66-e969-af70-c9ed-382588d7641b
Fun With Roly Poly Bugs
http://www.squidoo.com/pillbugs
Have you ever heard of sow bugs and pill bugs? Did you know that they are not “bugs” at all but are more closely related to crabs and lobsters? Sow bugs (Oniscus asellus) and pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) are crustaceans that feed on dead plant material and “recycle” those materials back into the soil. They are usually found under rocks, logs or under leaf litter. Earthworms and other soil organisms also help recycle plants and other biodegradable organic wastes. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Nature’s Recyclers” to explore the fascinating world of decomposers!
Young Child Extension
Set up a container with sow bugs, pill bugs or earthworms and watch these fascinating decomposers in action! Make feeding them a part of every day. You can feed them your leftovers from snack time. Study which snacks they enjoy the best. Make charts and observations.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Brendler, C., and A. Hoyt. 2009. Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer. Farrar, Strau and Giroux.
Burnett, R. 1992. The Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation. National Science Teachers Association.
Chandler, C. 2008. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly. Leathers Publishing.
Coleman, G. and T. Gibbons. 1997. Worms. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
French, V., and J. Ahlberg. 2010. Yucky Worms. Candlewick Press.
Himmelman, J. 2001. An Earthworm’s Life. Children’s Press.
Himmelman, J. 2000. A Pill Bug’s Life. Children’s Press.
Hughes, M. 2003. Pill Bugs. Heinemann-Raintree.
Pyers, G. 2005. Pill Bugs Up Close. Heinemann-Raintree.
Smith, M. 2009. Roly-Poly Pillbugs. Bearport Publishing.
St. Pierre, S. 2008. Pillbug. Heinemann-Raintree.
Tokunda, Y., and K. Takahasi. 2006. I’m a Pill Bug. Kane Miller Book Publishers.
Grades 3-5
Burnett, R. 1992. The Pillbug Project: A Guide to Investigation. National Science Teachers Association.
Coleman, G. and T. Gibbons. 1997. Worms. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Chandler, C. 2008. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly. Leathers Publishing.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Himmelman, J. 2001. An Earthworm’s Life. Children’s Press.
Himmelman, J. 2000. A Pill Bug’s Life. Children’s Press.
Hughes, M. 2003. Pill Bugs. Heinemann-Raintree.
Pascoe, E. 2001. Pill Bugs & Sow Bugs and Other Crustaceans. Blackbirch Press.
Pyers, G. 2005. Pill Bugs Up Close. Heinemann-Raintree.
Smith, M. 2009. Roly-Poly Pillbugs. Bearport Publishing.
St. Pierre, S. 2008. Pillbug. Heinemann-Raintree.
Tokunda, Y., and K. Takahasi. 2006. I’m a Pill Bug. Kane Miller Book Publishers.
Grades 6-8
Pascoe, E. 2001. Pill Bugs & Sow Bugs and Other Crustaceans. Blackbirch Press.
Rustad, M. E. H. 2009. Pillbugs. Pebble Books.
Schaffer, D. 2000. Pillbugs. Coughlan Publishing.
Links
Sowbugs
http://www.organicgardeninfo.com/sow-bugs.html
Pillbugs
http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/INVERT1/Pillbu1.htm
Pillbug Printout
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/isopod/Pillbugprintout.shtml
Pillbugs and Sowbugs
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig093
How to Make a Habitat for a Roly Poly
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/how-to-make-a-habitat-for-a-rolly-poly/91e96b2b-0c15-4097-8602-5f5f055eec5b
What is the Gray Bug Found Under Bricks & Dirt?
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/what-is-the-gray-bug-found-under-bricks--dirt/a2027a66-e969-af70-c9ed-382588d7641b
Fun With Roly Poly Bugs
http://www.squidoo.com/pillbugs
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Sunlight and Shades of Green
Trees and other green plants make their own food by harnessing the energy of the sun in a process called photosynthesis. Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color, is essential for photosynthesis. Without sunlight, leaves and plants turn yellow and photosynthesis stops. This occurs because without sunlight plants no longer produce chlorophyll. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Sunlight and Shades of Green” to explore what happens when you block sunlight from the leaves of a tree.
Young Child Extension
Take children on a nature hike to look at leaves and plants. Provide children with magnifying glasses to closely examine leaves. Ask children to describe the leaves. Ask what color the leaves and why they think they are green. Talk about how leaves are the “food factories” of trees and plants. Make leaf print t-shirts by using hammers or rocks to pound leaves on cloth to get the imprint from the chlorophyll!http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/decorate-kids-t-shirts5.htm
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Chisholm, P. and M. G. Bang. 2009. Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. Scholastic, Inc.
Claybourne, A. 2002. Plants. Raintree Publishers.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Florian, D. 2010. Poetrees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Goldish, M. 1990. How Plants Get Food. Steck-Vaughn.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Maestro, B. and L. Krupinski. 1996. Why Do Leaves Change Color?. HarperCollins Publishers.
Riley, P. 2003. Plants. World Almanac Books.
Sohi, M.E. 1995. Look What I Did With a Leaf. San Val.
Grades 3-5
Asimov, I. 1989. How Did We Find Out About Photosynthesis? Walker & Company.
Ball, J.A. 2002. Plants. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Burnie, D. 2004. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Chisholm, P. and M. G. Bang. 2009. Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. Scholastic, Inc.
Dow, L., S. Addario, and R. C. Carolin. Incredible Plants. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Ehlert, L. 2005. Leaf Man. Harcourt Trade Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 2000. Plant Life. Raintree Publishers.
Juettner, B. 2005. Photosynthesis. KidHaven Press.
Julivert, M.A. 1993. Life of Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Kalman, B. 2008. Photosynthesis: Changing Sunlight into Food. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
McEvoy, P. 2003. Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Meucci, A. 2002. Plants. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Notkin, L. 1997. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis. Scholastic Paperbacks.
O’Donnell, L., et al. 2007. Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Capstone Press.
Ross, B. 1995. Straight From the Bear’s Mouth: The Story of Photosynthesis. Atheneum.
Sohi, M.E. 1995. Look What I Did With a Leaf. San Val.
Spilsbury, L. 2002. Plant Parts. Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. 2003. Plants. Capstone Press.
Wyatt, V. 2000. Wacky Plant Cycles. Mondo Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Asimov, I. 1989. How Did We Find Out About Photosynthesis? Walker & Company.
DK Publishing. 1992. Plants. DK CHILDREN.
Howell, L. 2002. World of Plants. E.D.C. Publishing.
Juettner, B. 2005. Photosynthesis. Thomson Gale.
Kalman, B. 2008. Photosynthesis: Changing Sunlight into Food. Crabtree Publishing Company.
O’Donnell, L., et al. 2007. Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Capstone Press.
Ross, B. 1995. Straight From the Bear’s Mouth: The Story of Photosynthesis. Atheneum.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Staub, F.J. 2004. Photosynthesis. Creative Company.
Grades 9-12
Farndon, J. 2002. 1000 Things You Should Know about Plants. Mason Crest Publishers.
Parker, R. 2003. Introduction to Plant Science: Revised Edition. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Links
Wikipedia: Chlorophyll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll
Why Leaves Change Color in the Fall
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html
PBS: Illuminating Photosynthesis
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/photosynthesis.html
Real Trees 4 Kids: Let’s Eat! (Photosynthesis)
http://www.realtrees4kids.org/sixeight/letseat.htm
Arbor Day: Teaching Youth About Trees – Beat a Leaf
http://www.arborday.org/kids/beataleaf.pdf
Trees and other green plants make their own food by harnessing the energy of the sun in a process called photosynthesis. Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color, is essential for photosynthesis. Without sunlight, leaves and plants turn yellow and photosynthesis stops. This occurs because without sunlight plants no longer produce chlorophyll. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Sunlight and Shades of Green” to explore what happens when you block sunlight from the leaves of a tree.
Young Child Extension
Take children on a nature hike to look at leaves and plants. Provide children with magnifying glasses to closely examine leaves. Ask children to describe the leaves. Ask what color the leaves and why they think they are green. Talk about how leaves are the “food factories” of trees and plants. Make leaf print t-shirts by using hammers or rocks to pound leaves on cloth to get the imprint from the chlorophyll!http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/decorate-kids-t-shirts5.htm
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Chisholm, P. and M. G. Bang. 2009. Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. Scholastic, Inc.
Claybourne, A. 2002. Plants. Raintree Publishers.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Florian, D. 2010. Poetrees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Goldish, M. 1990. How Plants Get Food. Steck-Vaughn.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Maestro, B. and L. Krupinski. 1996. Why Do Leaves Change Color?. HarperCollins Publishers.
Riley, P. 2003. Plants. World Almanac Books.
Sohi, M.E. 1995. Look What I Did With a Leaf. San Val.
Grades 3-5
Asimov, I. 1989. How Did We Find Out About Photosynthesis? Walker & Company.
Ball, J.A. 2002. Plants. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Burnie, D. 2004. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Chisholm, P. and M. G. Bang. 2009. Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. Scholastic, Inc.
Dow, L., S. Addario, and R. C. Carolin. Incredible Plants. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Ehlert, L. 2005. Leaf Man. Harcourt Trade Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 2000. Plant Life. Raintree Publishers.
Juettner, B. 2005. Photosynthesis. KidHaven Press.
Julivert, M.A. 1993. Life of Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Kalman, B. 2008. Photosynthesis: Changing Sunlight into Food. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
McEvoy, P. 2003. Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Meucci, A. 2002. Plants. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Notkin, L. 1997. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis. Scholastic Paperbacks.
O’Donnell, L., et al. 2007. Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Capstone Press.
Ross, B. 1995. Straight From the Bear’s Mouth: The Story of Photosynthesis. Atheneum.
Sohi, M.E. 1995. Look What I Did With a Leaf. San Val.
Spilsbury, L. 2002. Plant Parts. Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. 2003. Plants. Capstone Press.
Wyatt, V. 2000. Wacky Plant Cycles. Mondo Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Asimov, I. 1989. How Did We Find Out About Photosynthesis? Walker & Company.
DK Publishing. 1992. Plants. DK CHILDREN.
Howell, L. 2002. World of Plants. E.D.C. Publishing.
Juettner, B. 2005. Photosynthesis. Thomson Gale.
Kalman, B. 2008. Photosynthesis: Changing Sunlight into Food. Crabtree Publishing Company.
O’Donnell, L., et al. 2007. Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Capstone Press.
Ross, B. 1995. Straight From the Bear’s Mouth: The Story of Photosynthesis. Atheneum.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Staub, F.J. 2004. Photosynthesis. Creative Company.
Grades 9-12
Farndon, J. 2002. 1000 Things You Should Know about Plants. Mason Crest Publishers.
Parker, R. 2003. Introduction to Plant Science: Revised Edition. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Links
Wikipedia: Chlorophyll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll
Why Leaves Change Color in the Fall
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html
PBS: Illuminating Photosynthesis
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/photosynthesis.html
Real Trees 4 Kids: Let’s Eat! (Photosynthesis)
http://www.realtrees4kids.org/sixeight/letseat.htm
Arbor Day: Teaching Youth About Trees – Beat a Leaf
http://www.arborday.org/kids/beataleaf.pdf
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Water We Eating?
Do you like to go fishing and eat fish? If so, then you harvest food from a local aquatic resource. In Iowa, anglers harvest millions of fish each year for consumptive use. Species harvested include bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish. Other aquatic animals such as frogs and crayfish are also harvested. Iowa is also home to aquatic plants such as wild rice and cattails, which are edible. Explore the fascinating world of aquatic food sources and their origins with Project WILD Aquatic’s “Water We Eating”! Then take a trip to your local lake, pond or river and catch your own fish to eat!
Young Child Extension
Bring in a variety of foods from aquatic sources for children to see and taste (be sure to check for food allergies) such as fish, shellfish, and wild rice. Take children fishing to catch their own fish to eat.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Fish Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Clements, A. and Yoshi. 1997. Big Al. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Cook, B. 2005. The Little Fish that Got Away. HarperCollins.
Gall, C. 2006. Dear Fish. Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
Gallimard, J. 1998. Fish. Scholastic.
Harris, T. 2000. Pattern Fish. Millbrook Press.
Heinrichs, A.R. 2003. Fish. Coughlan Publishing.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Lionni, L. 1973. Swimmy. Random House Children's Books.
Long, E. 1987. Gone Fishing. Houghton Mifflin.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What's it Like to be a Fish? (Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science 1). Harper Trophy.
Pfister, M. and J.A. James. 1999. Rainbow Fish. North-South Books.
Prosek, J. 2004. A Good Day’s Fishing. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Quigley, M. 2007. Granddad’s Fishing Buddy. Dial.
Sayre, P. 2007. Trout, Trout, Trout: A Fish Chant. Northword Books for Young Readers.
Stockdale, S. 2008. Fabulous Fishes. Peachtree Publishers.
Turnage, S. and J. Stevens. 1984. Trout the Magnificent. Harcourt Children's Books.
Wells, E. 2006. Wishing I was Fishing. Beaver’s Pond Press.
Winner, C. and B. Lehnhausen. 1998. Trout. Lerner Publishing Group.
Wood, A. and B.R. Wood. 2004. Ten Little Fish. Blue Sky Press (AZ).
Yoo, T. 2007. The Little Red Fish. Dial.
Grades 3-5
Amdahl, P. 2000. The Barefoot Fisherman: A Fishing Book for Kids. Clearwater Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Fish Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Brewster, B. 1988. Discovering Freshwater Fish. The Bookwright Press.
Burger, C. 1960. All About Fish. Random House.
Gallimard, J. 1998. Fish. Scholastic.
Heinrichs, A.R. 2003. Fish. Coughlan Publishing.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Long, E. 1987. Gone Fishing. Houghton Mifflin.
Parker, S. 2005. Fish. DK Publishing, Inc.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What's it Like to be a Fish? (Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science 1). Harper Trophy.
Sayre, P. 2007. Trout, Trout, Trout: A Fish Chant. Northword Books for Young Readers.
Schaefer, L.M. 2001. What Is a Fish?. Coughlan Publishing.
Sill, C. 2005. About Fish: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Sobol, R. 2010. The Life of Rice: From Seedling to Supper. Candlewick Press.
Stockdale, S. 2008. Fabulous Fishes. Peachtree Publishers.
Wells, E. 2006. Wishing I was Fishing. Beaver’s Pond Press.
Winner, C. and B. Lehnhausen. 1998. Trout. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 6-8
Fletcher, A.M. 1971. Fishes That Travel. Addison-Wesley.
Harvey, B. 2004. Fish. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Parker, S. 2005. Fish. DK Publishing, Inc.
Grades 9-12
Greenberg, P. 2010. Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food. Penguin Group (USA).
Matsen, B. 2001. Faces of Fishing: People, Food and the Sea at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century. Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Do you like to go fishing and eat fish? If so, then you harvest food from a local aquatic resource. In Iowa, anglers harvest millions of fish each year for consumptive use. Species harvested include bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish. Other aquatic animals such as frogs and crayfish are also harvested. Iowa is also home to aquatic plants such as wild rice and cattails, which are edible. Explore the fascinating world of aquatic food sources and their origins with Project WILD Aquatic’s “Water We Eating”! Then take a trip to your local lake, pond or river and catch your own fish to eat!
Young Child Extension
Bring in a variety of foods from aquatic sources for children to see and taste (be sure to check for food allergies) such as fish, shellfish, and wild rice. Take children fishing to catch their own fish to eat.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Fish Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Clements, A. and Yoshi. 1997. Big Al. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Cook, B. 2005. The Little Fish that Got Away. HarperCollins.
Gall, C. 2006. Dear Fish. Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
Gallimard, J. 1998. Fish. Scholastic.
Harris, T. 2000. Pattern Fish. Millbrook Press.
Heinrichs, A.R. 2003. Fish. Coughlan Publishing.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Lionni, L. 1973. Swimmy. Random House Children's Books.
Long, E. 1987. Gone Fishing. Houghton Mifflin.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What's it Like to be a Fish? (Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science 1). Harper Trophy.
Pfister, M. and J.A. James. 1999. Rainbow Fish. North-South Books.
Prosek, J. 2004. A Good Day’s Fishing. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Quigley, M. 2007. Granddad’s Fishing Buddy. Dial.
Sayre, P. 2007. Trout, Trout, Trout: A Fish Chant. Northword Books for Young Readers.
Stockdale, S. 2008. Fabulous Fishes. Peachtree Publishers.
Turnage, S. and J. Stevens. 1984. Trout the Magnificent. Harcourt Children's Books.
Wells, E. 2006. Wishing I was Fishing. Beaver’s Pond Press.
Winner, C. and B. Lehnhausen. 1998. Trout. Lerner Publishing Group.
Wood, A. and B.R. Wood. 2004. Ten Little Fish. Blue Sky Press (AZ).
Yoo, T. 2007. The Little Red Fish. Dial.
Grades 3-5
Amdahl, P. 2000. The Barefoot Fisherman: A Fishing Book for Kids. Clearwater Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Fish Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Brewster, B. 1988. Discovering Freshwater Fish. The Bookwright Press.
Burger, C. 1960. All About Fish. Random House.
Gallimard, J. 1998. Fish. Scholastic.
Heinrichs, A.R. 2003. Fish. Coughlan Publishing.
Lionni, L. 1974. Fish is Fish. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Long, E. 1987. Gone Fishing. Houghton Mifflin.
Parker, S. 2005. Fish. DK Publishing, Inc.
Pfeffer, W. 1996. What's it Like to be a Fish? (Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science 1). Harper Trophy.
Sayre, P. 2007. Trout, Trout, Trout: A Fish Chant. Northword Books for Young Readers.
Schaefer, L.M. 2001. What Is a Fish?. Coughlan Publishing.
Sill, C. 2005. About Fish: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Sobol, R. 2010. The Life of Rice: From Seedling to Supper. Candlewick Press.
Stockdale, S. 2008. Fabulous Fishes. Peachtree Publishers.
Wells, E. 2006. Wishing I was Fishing. Beaver’s Pond Press.
Winner, C. and B. Lehnhausen. 1998. Trout. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 6-8
Fletcher, A.M. 1971. Fishes That Travel. Addison-Wesley.
Harvey, B. 2004. Fish. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Parker, S. 2005. Fish. DK Publishing, Inc.
Grades 9-12
Greenberg, P. 2010. Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food. Penguin Group (USA).
Matsen, B. 2001. Faces of Fishing: People, Food and the Sea at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century. Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Surprise Terrarium
Create a “surprise terrarium” for your classroom with an animal that is hard to spot because of its camouflage. Have students observe the terrarium and describe what they see. Then take a walk on the wild side and go on a nature hike to look for camouflaged animals. Keep a nature journal of what you observe. Choose an animal that uses camouflage (preferably one that you saw one your hike) and do a class study of it. For more great ideas and info on how to create a surprise terrarium use Project WILD’s “Surprise Terrarium”.
Young Child Extension
Create a surprise terrarium for your classroom. Then take young children on a nature hike to look for camouflaged animals. Play a game of animal hide and seek with toy animals, have children hide animals by placing them where they are camouflaged, take turns being the “predator” and finding them! Read books about animal camouflage, try “Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed” by David Schwartz, Yael Schy, and Dwight Kuhn.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Dewey, J. 1994. Can You Find Me? A Book About Animal Camouflage. Scholastic Trade.
Donati, A. 1995. Animal Camouflage: Fun Facts for Curious Kids. Random House Children’s Books.
Donati, A. 2001. I Wonder Why Crocodiles Float Like Logs and Other Neat Facts About Animal Camouflage. Graymont.
Gilpin, D. 2010. 3-D Close Up: Animal Camouflage. Silver Dolphin Books.
Foley, C. 2000. Find the Wild Animal. Children’s Press (CT).
Heller, R. 1994. How to Hide a Crocodile and Other Reptiles. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1995. How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1992. How to Hide a Butterfly and Other Insects. Penguin Group (USA).
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
McDonnell, J. 1997. Animal Camouflage. Child’s World, Inc.
O’Mara, K. 2009. Camouflage: Survival in the Wild. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Otto, C. B. 1996. What Color is Camouflage? HarperCollins Publishers.
Peterson, M. C. 2010. Camouflage Clues: A Photo Riddle Book. A+ Books.
Schwartz, D. M., Y. Schy, and D. Kuhn. 2011. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed. Random House Children’s Books.
Smith, P. 2006. Animal Hide and Seek. DK Children.
Tildes, P. L. 2000. Animals in Camouflage. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Weber, B. 2004. Animal Disguises. Kingfisher.
Wood, A. J., and N. Palin. 1996. Hidden Pictures: Find a Feast of Camouflaged Creatures. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Dewey, J. 1994. Can You Find Me? A Book About Animal Camouflage. Scholastic Trade.
Donati, A. 1995. Animal Camouflage: Fun Facts for Curious Kids. Random House Children’s Books.
Donati, A. 2001. I Wonder Why Crocodiles Float Like Logs and Other Neat Facts About Animal Camouflage. Graymont.
Gilpin, D. 2010. 3-D Close Up: Animal Camouflage. Silver Dolphin Books.
Foley, C. 2000. Find the Wild Animal. Children’s Press (CT).
Heller, R. 1994. How to Hide a Crocodile and Other Reptiles. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1995. How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1992. How to Hide a Butterfly and Other Insects. Penguin Group (USA).
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Kalman, B. 2005. Camouflage: Changing to Hide. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Mettler, R. 2008. Animal Camouflage. Moonlight Publishing.
McDonnell, J. 1997. Animal Camouflage. Child’s World, Inc.
O’Mara, K. 2009. Camouflage: Survival in the Wild. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Otto, C. B. 1996. What Color is Camouflage? HarperCollins Publishers.
Peterson, M. C. 2010. Camouflage Clues: A Photo Riddle Book. A+ Books.
Powzyk, J. 1990. Animal Camouflage. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., Y. Schy, and D. Kuhn. 2011. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed. Random House Children’s Books.
Smith, P. 2006. Animal Hide and Seek. DK Children.
Tildes, P. L. 2000. Animals in Camouflage. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Weber, B. 2004. Animal Disguises. Kingfisher.
Wood, A. J., and N. Palin. 1996. Hidden Pictures: Find a Feast of Camouflaged Creatures. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 6-8
Harland, J. 1993. Invisible Animals: A Close-Up Look at Animals and Their Camouflage. Running Press Book Publishers.
Mitchell, S. K. 2008. Animals with Crafty Camouflage: Hiding in Plain Sight. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Petty, K. 2005. Animal Camouflage and Defense. Chelsea House Publishers.
Woodward, J. 2005. Clever Camouflage. Heinemann Library Paperbacks.
Grades 9-12
Owen, D. 1982. Camouflage and Mimicry. University of Chicago Press.
Stevens, M., and S. Merilaita. 2011. Animal Camouflage: Mechanisms and Function. Cambridge University Press.
Create a “surprise terrarium” for your classroom with an animal that is hard to spot because of its camouflage. Have students observe the terrarium and describe what they see. Then take a walk on the wild side and go on a nature hike to look for camouflaged animals. Keep a nature journal of what you observe. Choose an animal that uses camouflage (preferably one that you saw one your hike) and do a class study of it. For more great ideas and info on how to create a surprise terrarium use Project WILD’s “Surprise Terrarium”.
Young Child Extension
Create a surprise terrarium for your classroom. Then take young children on a nature hike to look for camouflaged animals. Play a game of animal hide and seek with toy animals, have children hide animals by placing them where they are camouflaged, take turns being the “predator” and finding them! Read books about animal camouflage, try “Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed” by David Schwartz, Yael Schy, and Dwight Kuhn.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Dewey, J. 1994. Can You Find Me? A Book About Animal Camouflage. Scholastic Trade.
Donati, A. 1995. Animal Camouflage: Fun Facts for Curious Kids. Random House Children’s Books.
Donati, A. 2001. I Wonder Why Crocodiles Float Like Logs and Other Neat Facts About Animal Camouflage. Graymont.
Gilpin, D. 2010. 3-D Close Up: Animal Camouflage. Silver Dolphin Books.
Foley, C. 2000. Find the Wild Animal. Children’s Press (CT).
Heller, R. 1994. How to Hide a Crocodile and Other Reptiles. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1995. How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1992. How to Hide a Butterfly and Other Insects. Penguin Group (USA).
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
McDonnell, J. 1997. Animal Camouflage. Child’s World, Inc.
O’Mara, K. 2009. Camouflage: Survival in the Wild. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Otto, C. B. 1996. What Color is Camouflage? HarperCollins Publishers.
Peterson, M. C. 2010. Camouflage Clues: A Photo Riddle Book. A+ Books.
Schwartz, D. M., Y. Schy, and D. Kuhn. 2011. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed. Random House Children’s Books.
Smith, P. 2006. Animal Hide and Seek. DK Children.
Tildes, P. L. 2000. Animals in Camouflage. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Weber, B. 2004. Animal Disguises. Kingfisher.
Wood, A. J., and N. Palin. 1996. Hidden Pictures: Find a Feast of Camouflaged Creatures. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Dewey, J. 1994. Can You Find Me? A Book About Animal Camouflage. Scholastic Trade.
Donati, A. 1995. Animal Camouflage: Fun Facts for Curious Kids. Random House Children’s Books.
Donati, A. 2001. I Wonder Why Crocodiles Float Like Logs and Other Neat Facts About Animal Camouflage. Graymont.
Gilpin, D. 2010. 3-D Close Up: Animal Camouflage. Silver Dolphin Books.
Foley, C. 2000. Find the Wild Animal. Children’s Press (CT).
Heller, R. 1994. How to Hide a Crocodile and Other Reptiles. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1995. How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians. Penguin Group (USA).
Heller, R. 1992. How to Hide a Butterfly and Other Insects. Penguin Group (USA).
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Kalman, B. 2005. Camouflage: Changing to Hide. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Mettler, R. 2008. Animal Camouflage. Moonlight Publishing.
McDonnell, J. 1997. Animal Camouflage. Child’s World, Inc.
O’Mara, K. 2009. Camouflage: Survival in the Wild. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Otto, C. B. 1996. What Color is Camouflage? HarperCollins Publishers.
Peterson, M. C. 2010. Camouflage Clues: A Photo Riddle Book. A+ Books.
Powzyk, J. 1990. Animal Camouflage. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., Y. Schy, and D. Kuhn. 2011. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed. Random House Children’s Books.
Smith, P. 2006. Animal Hide and Seek. DK Children.
Tildes, P. L. 2000. Animals in Camouflage. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Weber, B. 2004. Animal Disguises. Kingfisher.
Wood, A. J., and N. Palin. 1996. Hidden Pictures: Find a Feast of Camouflaged Creatures. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 6-8
Harland, J. 1993. Invisible Animals: A Close-Up Look at Animals and Their Camouflage. Running Press Book Publishers.
Mitchell, S. K. 2008. Animals with Crafty Camouflage: Hiding in Plain Sight. Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Petty, K. 2005. Animal Camouflage and Defense. Chelsea House Publishers.
Woodward, J. 2005. Clever Camouflage. Heinemann Library Paperbacks.
Grades 9-12
Owen, D. 1982. Camouflage and Mimicry. University of Chicago Press.
Stevens, M., and S. Merilaita. 2011. Animal Camouflage: Mechanisms and Function. Cambridge University Press.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Bursting Buds
Trees buds, though actually formed during the previous summer, begin to swell and open the following spring. Until the buds start to open they are covered by scales, specialized leaves that keep the miniature leaves inside protected until they are ready to grow.
Go outside and go on a nature walk around your schoolyard or neighborhood. Look for buds on trees and shrubs. Do the buds still have their scales? Are they starting to open? Compare buds from several different types of trees and shrubs. See if you can identify the different parts of the buds and twigs.
Have each student choose a tree. Visit the tree weekly to observe the buds and to cut a bud open. Dry the buds each week and mount chronologically so show the bud development and growth.
For more fun ideas and the full activity use Project Learning Tree’s “Bursting Buds”.
Young Child Extension
Take children on walk to look for buds on trees, and shrubs. Do any of the plants have new leaves or flowers? Do any of them have buds? What do they look like? Describe them (color, texture, size). What do you think the buds will grow into? What do you think they will look like? Make plans to periodically return to the plants that have unopened buds over the next few weeks to watch for new growth.
Collect twigs with buds from plants that have been pruned. Using plastic knives encourage the children to take the buds apart. Provide magnifying glasses. Questions to ask: What do you think the buds will grow into? Leaves or flowers? Why? What do the plant materials smell like? Feel like? Describe the inside of the buds. What do you think would happen if we put the twigs with buds in water? Try putting a few of the twigs in water. Observe what happens.
For more great ideas use Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood’s “Bursting Buds”.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Dow, L., S. Addario, and R. C. Carolin. Incredible Plants. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 2000. Plant Life. Raintree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Julivert, M.A. 1993. Life of Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
McEvoy, P. 2003. Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Notkin, L. 1997. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis. Scholastic Paperbacks.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Spilsbury, L. 2002. Plant Parts. Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. 2003. Plants. Capstone Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Wyatt, V. 2000. Wacky Plant Cycles. Mondo Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
DK Publishing. 1992. Plants. DK CHILDREN.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Howell, L. 2002. World of Plants. E.D.C. Publishing.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Parker, R. 2003. Introduction to Plant Science: Revised Edition. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Massa, R. 1997. Breathing Earth. Steck-Vaughn.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Staub, F.J. 2004. Photosynthesis. Creative Company.
Walker, Alan. 1999. A Leaf in Time. Portland Press.
Grades 9-12
Farndon, J. 2002. 1000 Things You Should Know about Plants. Mason Crest Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 1999. Plant Kingdom: A Guide to Plant Classification and Biodiversity. Raintree Publishers.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Trees buds, though actually formed during the previous summer, begin to swell and open the following spring. Until the buds start to open they are covered by scales, specialized leaves that keep the miniature leaves inside protected until they are ready to grow.
Go outside and go on a nature walk around your schoolyard or neighborhood. Look for buds on trees and shrubs. Do the buds still have their scales? Are they starting to open? Compare buds from several different types of trees and shrubs. See if you can identify the different parts of the buds and twigs.
Have each student choose a tree. Visit the tree weekly to observe the buds and to cut a bud open. Dry the buds each week and mount chronologically so show the bud development and growth.
For more fun ideas and the full activity use Project Learning Tree’s “Bursting Buds”.
Young Child Extension
Take children on walk to look for buds on trees, and shrubs. Do any of the plants have new leaves or flowers? Do any of them have buds? What do they look like? Describe them (color, texture, size). What do you think the buds will grow into? What do you think they will look like? Make plans to periodically return to the plants that have unopened buds over the next few weeks to watch for new growth.
Collect twigs with buds from plants that have been pruned. Using plastic knives encourage the children to take the buds apart. Provide magnifying glasses. Questions to ask: What do you think the buds will grow into? Leaves or flowers? Why? What do the plant materials smell like? Feel like? Describe the inside of the buds. What do you think would happen if we put the twigs with buds in water? Try putting a few of the twigs in water. Observe what happens.
For more great ideas use Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood’s “Bursting Buds”.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Society.
Blackaby, S., and C. Delage. 2003. Bud and Blossoms. Coughlan Publishing.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burnie, D. 2005. Plant. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dixon, M. 1998. Plants around Us. Smart Apple Media.
Dow, L., S. Addario, and R. C. Carolin. Incredible Plants. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Downden, A.O. 1984. From Flower to Fruit. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Eckroat, L. W. 2009. The Life of Bud. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 2000. Plant Life. Raintree Publishers.
Hewitt, S. 1999. Plants and Flowers. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Julivert, M.A. 1993. Life of Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Kalman, B. 2000. What Is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lyon, G. 1996. ABCedar: an Alphabet of Trees. Scholastic Inc..
Orme, H. 2003. Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? Gareth Stevens Audio.
McEvoy, P. 2003. Plants. Chelsea House Publishers.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Notkin, L. 1997. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis. Scholastic Paperbacks.
Royston, A. 2001. Plants, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. Heinemann.
Saunders-Smith, G. 1997. From Bud to Blossom. Coughlan Publishing.
Schwartz, D. M., and D. Kuhn. 1998. Plant Blossoms. Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Spilsbury, L. 2002. Plant Parts. Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. 2003. Plants. Capstone Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Wyatt, V. 2000. Wacky Plant Cycles. Mondo Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
DK Publishing. 1992. Plants. DK CHILDREN.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Howell, L. 2002. World of Plants. E.D.C. Publishing.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Parker, R. 2003. Introduction to Plant Science: Revised Edition. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Massa, R. 1997. Breathing Earth. Steck-Vaughn.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Photosynthesis. Lerner Publishing Group.
Staub, F.J. 2004. Photosynthesis. Creative Company.
Walker, Alan. 1999. A Leaf in Time. Portland Press.
Grades 9-12
Farndon, J. 2002. 1000 Things You Should Know about Plants. Mason Crest Publishers.
Greenaway, T. 1999. Plant Kingdom: A Guide to Plant Classification and Biodiversity. Raintree Publishers.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Monday, April 04, 2011
Soil Stories
Soil is the foundation for life on Earth. It is a wonderful mix of living and non-living organic matter in which most of the plants on our planet grow. There are different classifications of soils and these classifications can tell us whether or not the soil can sustain plant life, which plants can grow there, and even which soils are good for withstanding erosion and for building houses on. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Soil Stories” to explore the fascinating world of soil!
Young Child Extension
Bring in samples of the three main soil textures, sand, silt and clay. Allow children time to play with and feel each of the soil textures. Ask: What do each of the soils feel like? How do the soils differ from one another? Why do you think they are different? Try growing seeds in each of the soils and in a mixture of the three. Record what happens in a chart.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bial, R. 2001. A Handful of Dirt. Walker & Company.
Bourgeois, P. 1990. The Amazing Dirt Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bourgeois, P., M. Newbigging, and K. Vanderlinden. 2008. The Dirt on Dirt. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bryant-Mole, K. 1996. Soil. Steck-Vaughn.
De Bourgoing, P. and G. Jeunesse. 1995. Under the Ground. Scholastic, Inc.
Oxlade, C. 2002. Soil. Heinemann Library.
Richardson, A.D. 2001. Soil. Capstone Press.
Rosinsky, N. M., and S. Williams. 2002. Dirt: The Scoop on Soil. Coughlan Publishing.
Siddals, M. M., and A. Wolff. 2010. Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth. Random House Children’s Books.
Woodman, N. 2007. Dirt. National Geographic Society.
Grades 3-5
Aloian, M. 2010. Different Kinds of Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Bial, R. 2001. A Handful of Dirt. Walker & Company.
Bourgeois, P., M. Newbigging, and K. Vanderlinden. 2008. The Dirt on Dirt. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Hyde, N. 2010. Micro Life in Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lindeen, C. K. 2007. Soil Basics. Pebble Books.
Montgomery, H. L. 2010. How is Soil Made? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Tomecek, S. 2002. Dirt: Jump into Science. National Geographic Society.
Grades 6-8
Aloian, M. 2010. Different Kinds of Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Gurney, B. 2004. Sand and Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Montgomery, H. L. 2010. How is Soil Made? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Silverstein, A., V. Silverstein, and C. E. Silverstein. 2000. Life in a Bucket of Soil. Dover Publications.
Grades 9-12
Graham, I. 2004. Soil: A Resource Our World Depends On. Heinemann Library.
Janice, R. 2006. Land Abuse and Soil Erosion. Wiegel Publishers.
Nardi, J.B. 2005. World beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil. Oxford University Press.
Soil is the foundation for life on Earth. It is a wonderful mix of living and non-living organic matter in which most of the plants on our planet grow. There are different classifications of soils and these classifications can tell us whether or not the soil can sustain plant life, which plants can grow there, and even which soils are good for withstanding erosion and for building houses on. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Soil Stories” to explore the fascinating world of soil!
Young Child Extension
Bring in samples of the three main soil textures, sand, silt and clay. Allow children time to play with and feel each of the soil textures. Ask: What do each of the soils feel like? How do the soils differ from one another? Why do you think they are different? Try growing seeds in each of the soils and in a mixture of the three. Record what happens in a chart.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bial, R. 2001. A Handful of Dirt. Walker & Company.
Bourgeois, P. 1990. The Amazing Dirt Book. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bourgeois, P., M. Newbigging, and K. Vanderlinden. 2008. The Dirt on Dirt. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Bryant-Mole, K. 1996. Soil. Steck-Vaughn.
De Bourgoing, P. and G. Jeunesse. 1995. Under the Ground. Scholastic, Inc.
Oxlade, C. 2002. Soil. Heinemann Library.
Richardson, A.D. 2001. Soil. Capstone Press.
Rosinsky, N. M., and S. Williams. 2002. Dirt: The Scoop on Soil. Coughlan Publishing.
Siddals, M. M., and A. Wolff. 2010. Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth. Random House Children’s Books.
Woodman, N. 2007. Dirt. National Geographic Society.
Grades 3-5
Aloian, M. 2010. Different Kinds of Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Bial, R. 2001. A Handful of Dirt. Walker & Company.
Bourgeois, P., M. Newbigging, and K. Vanderlinden. 2008. The Dirt on Dirt. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Hyde, N. 2010. Micro Life in Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Lindeen, C. K. 2007. Soil Basics. Pebble Books.
Montgomery, H. L. 2010. How is Soil Made? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Tomecek, S. 2002. Dirt: Jump into Science. National Geographic Society.
Grades 6-8
Aloian, M. 2010. Different Kinds of Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Gurney, B. 2004. Sand and Soil. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Montgomery, H. L. 2010. How is Soil Made? Crabtree Publishing Company.
Silverstein, A., V. Silverstein, and C. E. Silverstein. 2000. Life in a Bucket of Soil. Dover Publications.
Grades 9-12
Graham, I. 2004. Soil: A Resource Our World Depends On. Heinemann Library.
Janice, R. 2006. Land Abuse and Soil Erosion. Wiegel Publishers.
Nardi, J.B. 2005. World beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil. Oxford University Press.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tree Lifecycle
All living things have a lifecycle that includes, birth, growth, aging, and death. Trees go through these stages over the course of their life even though we may not be here to witness the full cycle. As trees go through their lifecycle their role in the ecosystem changes. Visit a local forest, park or explore your schoolyard for trees in different stages of their lifecycle from acorns to rotting logs. Observe the animals and insects that use them at each. Then use Project Learning Tree’s “Tree Lifecycle” to investigate the lifecycle of trees and their varying role in the forest ecosystem.
Young Child Extension
Ask children: Are trees alive? How do they know? How do trees start life? Go for a walk outside and find trees at different stages of their lifecycle, such as an acorn under a tree, a sapling just starting to grow, a mature tree and a log on the ground. As a class act out the lifecycle of a tree: curl into a ball (you’re a seed), slowing uncurl and kneel (you’ve sprouted), stick your arms up (you’ve grown branches), wiggle your fingers (you grew leaves), stand up (you grew tall), wiggle your toes (you grew lots of roots), sway around and sigh (you are now a mature tree and home to wildlife), make a creaking sound and fall over (you grew old and fell down during a storm), curl into a ball (you are one of your seeds growing from under your rotting wood), slowly uncurl and kneel (you are sprouting again)…and so the tree lifecycle goes around.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Anthony, J. and C. Arbo. 1999. In a Nutshell (Sharing Nature with Children Book Series). Dawn Publications.
Aston, D. 2007. A Seed Is Sleepy. Chronicle Books LLC.
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Berger, M. 1994. All about Seeds: A Hands-on Science Book. Scholastic, Inc.
Buscagalia, L.F. 1982. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages. SLACK, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts,and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Canizares, S., D. Moreton and B. Chessen. 1997. Who Lives in a Tree? Scholastic, Inc.
Carle, E. 1991. The Tiny Seed. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Cole, J. 1995. The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow. Scholastic, Inc.
DePalma, M.N. 2005. A Grand Old Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Fowler, A. 2001. From Seed to Plant. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Gackenbach, D. 1996. Mighty Tree. Harcourt Children's Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Hankin, R. 1995. Up the Tall Tree. Steck-Vaughn.
Hickman, P. 1996. A Seed Grows: My First Look at a Plant's Life Cycle. Kids Can Press, Ltd.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Moss, M. and A. Kennaway. 2005. This is the Tree. Random House Adult Trade Publishing Group.
Nayer, J. 1994. A Tree Can Be. Scholastic, Inc.
Pascoe, E. and D. Kuhn. 2003. Ecosystem of a Fallen Tree. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Peck, J. and V. Petrone. 2005. Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Silverstein, S. 2004. The Giving Tree. HarperCollins Publishers.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Udry, J.M. and M. Simont. 1987. A Tree is Nice. HarperCollins Publishers.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. Morrow/Avon.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burns, D. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds. Northwood Press.
Canizares, S. 1997. Look at This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Dorros, A. 1997. A Tree is Growing.
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Green, J. 1999. A Dead Log. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Hiscock, B. 1991. The Big Tree. Atheneum Books-MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Locker, T. 1995. Sky Tree. Harper Collins Publishers.
Lyons, D. 2002. The Tree. Illumination Arts Publishing.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Morrison, G. 2005. Oak Tree. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees. Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Company.
Pascoe, E. and D. Kuhn. 2003. Ecosystem of a Fallen Tree. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Staub, F.J. 1998. America's Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Bates, J.W. 1991. Seeds to Plants: Projects with Biology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Grades 9-12
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
All living things have a lifecycle that includes, birth, growth, aging, and death. Trees go through these stages over the course of their life even though we may not be here to witness the full cycle. As trees go through their lifecycle their role in the ecosystem changes. Visit a local forest, park or explore your schoolyard for trees in different stages of their lifecycle from acorns to rotting logs. Observe the animals and insects that use them at each. Then use Project Learning Tree’s “Tree Lifecycle” to investigate the lifecycle of trees and their varying role in the forest ecosystem.
Young Child Extension
Ask children: Are trees alive? How do they know? How do trees start life? Go for a walk outside and find trees at different stages of their lifecycle, such as an acorn under a tree, a sapling just starting to grow, a mature tree and a log on the ground. As a class act out the lifecycle of a tree: curl into a ball (you’re a seed), slowing uncurl and kneel (you’ve sprouted), stick your arms up (you’ve grown branches), wiggle your fingers (you grew leaves), stand up (you grew tall), wiggle your toes (you grew lots of roots), sway around and sigh (you are now a mature tree and home to wildlife), make a creaking sound and fall over (you grew old and fell down during a storm), curl into a ball (you are one of your seeds growing from under your rotting wood), slowly uncurl and kneel (you are sprouting again)…and so the tree lifecycle goes around.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Anthony, J. and C. Arbo. 1999. In a Nutshell (Sharing Nature with Children Book Series). Dawn Publications.
Aston, D. 2007. A Seed Is Sleepy. Chronicle Books LLC.
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Berger, M. 1994. All about Seeds: A Hands-on Science Book. Scholastic, Inc.
Buscagalia, L.F. 1982. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages. SLACK, Inc.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burns, D.L. and J.F. McGee. 1996. Berries, Nuts,and Seeds (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Canizares, S., D. Moreton and B. Chessen. 1997. Who Lives in a Tree? Scholastic, Inc.
Carle, E. 1991. The Tiny Seed. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Cole, J. 1995. The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow. Scholastic, Inc.
DePalma, M.N. 2005. A Grand Old Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Fowler, A. 2001. From Seed to Plant. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Gackenbach, D. 1996. Mighty Tree. Harcourt Children's Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Hankin, R. 1995. Up the Tall Tree. Steck-Vaughn.
Hickman, P. 1996. A Seed Grows: My First Look at a Plant's Life Cycle. Kids Can Press, Ltd.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Moss, M. and A. Kennaway. 2005. This is the Tree. Random House Adult Trade Publishing Group.
Nayer, J. 1994. A Tree Can Be. Scholastic, Inc.
Pascoe, E. and D. Kuhn. 2003. Ecosystem of a Fallen Tree. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Peck, J. and V. Petrone. 2005. Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Silverstein, S. 2004. The Giving Tree. HarperCollins Publishers.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Udry, J.M. and M. Simont. 1987. A Tree is Nice. HarperCollins Publishers.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. Morrow/Avon.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burns, D. 1996. Berries, Nuts, and Seeds. Northwood Press.
Canizares, S. 1997. Look at This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Dorros, A. 1997. A Tree is Growing.
Dundy, M.R., and K. Richardson. 2010. Forests For All. MDCT Publishing.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Green, J. 1999. A Dead Log. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Hiscock, B. 1991. The Big Tree. Atheneum Books-MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Kalman, B.1996. How a Plant Grows. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Locker, T. 1995. Sky Tree. Harper Collins Publishers.
Lyons, D. 2002. The Tree. Illumination Arts Publishing.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Morrison, G. 2005. Oak Tree. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees. Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Company.
Pascoe, E. and D. Kuhn. 2003. Ecosystem of a Fallen Tree. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Staub, F.J. 1998. America's Forests. Lerner Publishing Group.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Bates, J.W. 1991. Seeds to Plants: Projects with Biology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Grades 9-12
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Stone, L.M. 2004. Forests. Rourke Publishing, LLC.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Web of Life
Life is dependent on life. Without sunlight there would be no plants, without plants there would be no animals. Learn how plants and animals are connected to each other with Project Learning Tree’s “Web of Life”. Then head out to your schoolyard, backyard or local park and study the ecosystem and food webs right outside your door.
Young Child Extension
Ask children if they have eaten any sunshine today. Share with children various food items, such as apples, whole-grain bagels and orange juice. Serve the snack and talk about where food comes from. Talk about how the food we eat gives us energy to play and grow. For more information and for snack and craft ideas use Growing Up WILD’s “Show Me the Energy” activity!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bradley, K. B. Energy Makes Things Happen (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2).
Godkin, C. 2006. Wolf Island. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Limited.
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Company.
Hickman, P. 1997. Hungry Animals: My First Look at a Foodchain. Kids Can Press Ltd.
Johansson, P. 2004. Wide Open Grasslands: A Web of Life. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Kitchen, B. 1994. When Hunger Calls. Candlewick Press.
Lauber, P. 1995. Who Eats What?: Food Chains and Food Webs. HarperCollins Publishers.
Maestro, B. and G. Maestro. 1993. How Do Apples Grow? HarperCollins Publishers.
Mckinney, B.S. 2000. Pass the Energy, Please! Dawn Publications.
Relf, P. 1996. Magic School Bus Gets Eaten: A Book about Food Chains. Scholastic, Inc.
Rosenfeld, D. and R. Lyampe. 2002. Where Does Food Come From? Hachai Publishing.
Sayre, A.P. and K. Endle. 2008. Trout Are Made of Trees. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Grades 3-5
Cole, J. 1996. The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten. A Book About Food Chains. Scholastic Inc.
Ellis, B.F. 2006. Web at Dragonfly Pond. Dawn Publications.
Greenaway, T. 2001. Cycles in Nature Food Chain. Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers.
Heinz, B.J. 2006. Butternut Hollow Pond. Lerner Publishing Group.
Kalman, B. and J. Langille. 1998. What Are Food Chains and Webs? Crabtree.
Mason, C. 2003. Everybody's Somebody's Lunch: The Role of Predator and Prey in Nature. Tilbury House Publishers.
Nadeau, I. 2001. Food Chains in a Pond Habitat. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Nadeau, I. 2002. Food Chains in a Meadow Habitat. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Norsgaard, E.J. 1990. Nature's Great Balancing Act: In Our Own Backyard. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Penny, M. 1998. The Foodchain. The Bookwright Press.
Pringle, L.P. 1975. Chains, Webs and Pyramids: The Flow of Energy in Nature. HarperCollins Publishers.
Riley, P. 2002. Food Chains. Franklin Watts.
Grades 6-8
Capeci, A. 2003. Food Chain Frenzy (The Magic School Bus Chapter Book). Scholastic Inc.
Hemsley, W. 1992. Feeding to Digestion: Projects with Biology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Food Chains. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 9-12
Ballard, C. 2010. Food Webs. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Gray, S. H. 2008. Food Webs: Interconnecting Food Chains. Coughlan Publishing.
Life is dependent on life. Without sunlight there would be no plants, without plants there would be no animals. Learn how plants and animals are connected to each other with Project Learning Tree’s “Web of Life”. Then head out to your schoolyard, backyard or local park and study the ecosystem and food webs right outside your door.
Young Child Extension
Ask children if they have eaten any sunshine today. Share with children various food items, such as apples, whole-grain bagels and orange juice. Serve the snack and talk about where food comes from. Talk about how the food we eat gives us energy to play and grow. For more information and for snack and craft ideas use Growing Up WILD’s “Show Me the Energy” activity!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bradley, K. B. Energy Makes Things Happen (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2).
Godkin, C. 2006. Wolf Island. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Limited.
Jenkins, S. 2001. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? Houghton Mifflin Company.
Hickman, P. 1997. Hungry Animals: My First Look at a Foodchain. Kids Can Press Ltd.
Johansson, P. 2004. Wide Open Grasslands: A Web of Life. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
Kitchen, B. 1994. When Hunger Calls. Candlewick Press.
Lauber, P. 1995. Who Eats What?: Food Chains and Food Webs. HarperCollins Publishers.
Maestro, B. and G. Maestro. 1993. How Do Apples Grow? HarperCollins Publishers.
Mckinney, B.S. 2000. Pass the Energy, Please! Dawn Publications.
Relf, P. 1996. Magic School Bus Gets Eaten: A Book about Food Chains. Scholastic, Inc.
Rosenfeld, D. and R. Lyampe. 2002. Where Does Food Come From? Hachai Publishing.
Sayre, A.P. and K. Endle. 2008. Trout Are Made of Trees. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Grades 3-5
Cole, J. 1996. The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten. A Book About Food Chains. Scholastic Inc.
Ellis, B.F. 2006. Web at Dragonfly Pond. Dawn Publications.
Greenaway, T. 2001. Cycles in Nature Food Chain. Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers.
Heinz, B.J. 2006. Butternut Hollow Pond. Lerner Publishing Group.
Kalman, B. and J. Langille. 1998. What Are Food Chains and Webs? Crabtree.
Mason, C. 2003. Everybody's Somebody's Lunch: The Role of Predator and Prey in Nature. Tilbury House Publishers.
Nadeau, I. 2001. Food Chains in a Pond Habitat. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Nadeau, I. 2002. Food Chains in a Meadow Habitat. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Norsgaard, E.J. 1990. Nature's Great Balancing Act: In Our Own Backyard. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Penny, M. 1998. The Foodchain. The Bookwright Press.
Pringle, L.P. 1975. Chains, Webs and Pyramids: The Flow of Energy in Nature. HarperCollins Publishers.
Riley, P. 2002. Food Chains. Franklin Watts.
Grades 6-8
Capeci, A. 2003. Food Chain Frenzy (The Magic School Bus Chapter Book). Scholastic Inc.
Hemsley, W. 1992. Feeding to Digestion: Projects with Biology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Silverstein, A. 1998. Food Chains. Lerner Publishing Group.
Grades 9-12
Ballard, C. 2010. Food Webs. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Gray, S. H. 2008. Food Webs: Interconnecting Food Chains. Coughlan Publishing.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Water’s Going On?
Every molecule of water that was present when the Earth’s oceans were formed millions of years ago is still present today. That means the water you drink is the same water dinosaurs drank! Most of the water consumed in the United States comes from groundwater. Groundwater takes hundreds or even thousands of years to replenish. Water is important to every living thing on Earth which is why it is so important to conserve and protect our water resources. Use Project WILD Aquatic’s “Water’s Going On?” to track your own water consumption!
Young Child Extension
Set up stations for children to explore water. Supply scoops, cups and other tools for filling, dumping and exploring. Supply cold water, warm water and ice. If possible, boil water to show children water in its gas form – steam. Ask children: Do you use water? What do you use water for? Who else uses water? Do animals use water? Where is there water? At your home? Outside? What do you like about water?
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Base, G. 2001. The Water Hole. Harry N Abrams, Inc.
Branley, F.M. 1997. Down Comes the Rain. HarperCollins Children's Books.
Brimner, L.D. 1999. Raindrops. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cole, J. and B. Degen. 1988. The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks. Scholastic, Inc.
Curry, D.L. 1999. The Water Cycle. Capstone Press.
DK Publishing. 2007. Water Everywhere. DK Publishing, Inc.
Edom, H. 2007. Science with Water. EDC Publishing.
Falwell, C. 2001. Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fourment, T. 2004. My Water Comes from the Mountains. Roberts Rinehart Publishers.
Greenfield, E. and J.S. Gilchrist. 1999. Water, Water. HarperCollins Publishers.
Hooper, M. The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet. Viking Press.
Jango-Cohen, J. 2005. Why Does It Rain? Lerner Publishing Group.
Jarnow, J. and E. Hathon. 2000. Splish! Splash! Penguin Group, Inc. (USA).
Kerley, B. 2006. A Cool Drink of Water. National Geographic Society.
Olien, R. 1999. Splish Splash Science, Grades 1-3: Learning about Water with Easy Fun-Filled Activities. Scholastic, Inc.
Pluckrose, H. 2001. Water. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Seuling, B. 2000. Drip! Drop!: How Water Gets to Your Tap. Holiday House, Inc.
Swanson, D. 2005. Wonder in Water. Annick Press, Limited.
Tresselt, A.R. 1990. Rain Drop Splash. HarperCollins Publishers.
Waldman, N. 2003. Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story. Millbrook Press.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Weininger, B. and A. Moller. 2003. Precious Water. North-South Books.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 3-5
Berger, M. 1995. Water, Water Everywhere. Ideals Publications.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1998. Water. June 1998.
Cobb, V. 1986. Trip of a Drip. Little, Brown & Company.
Ditchfield, C. 2001. Water. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Dorros, A. 2000. Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean. HarperCollins.
Flanagan, A.K. 2000. Water. Capstone Press.
Goodrich, R.S. 2004. Hydro's Adventure Through the Water Cycle. Geoquest Pubns.
Hughes, M. 2004.Water Cycle. Heinemann Library.
Jervis, P. 1997. How Science Works: Water. Barnes & Noble Books.
Kerley, B. 2006. A Cool Drink of Water. National Geographic Society.
Mckinney, B.S. 1998. A Drop around the World. Dawn Publications.
Moor, J.E. 1998. Water. Evan-Moor Educational Publishers.
Olien, R. 2006. Making Water Clean. Capstone Press.
Olien, R. 1999. Splish Splash Science, Grades 1-3: Learning about Water with Easy Fun-Filled Activities. Scholastic, Inc.
Olien, R. 2006. Water Cycle. Capstone Press.
Royston, A. 2006. The Life And Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Raintree.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Wick, W. 1997. Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder. Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 6-8
Bailey, G. and S. Way. 2009. Water. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Baker, L.W. 2004. Encyclopedia of Water Science. Thomson Gale.
Barss, K.J. 1992. Clean Water. Chelsea House Publishers.
Day, T. 2007. Water. DK Publishing, Inc.
Markert, J. 1992. Water. The Creative Company.
McKinney, B.S. and M.S. Maydak. 1998. A Drop Around the World. Dawn Publications.
Morgan, S. 2009. The Water Cycle. Rosen Publishing Group.
Royston, A. 2005. The Life and Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Heinemann-Raintree.
Swanson, D. 2005. Wonder in Water. Annick Press, Limited.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 9-12
Barss, K.J. 1992. Clean Water. Chelsea House Publishers.
Cossi, O. 1993. Water Wars. Silver Burdett Press.
Gardner, R. 2004. Experimenting with Water. Dover Publications.
Harman. 2005. The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation & Erosion. Heinemann-Raintree.
Lucas, E. 1991. Water: A Resource in Crisis. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Newton, Lisa H., C.K. Dillingham and J.H. Choly. 2005. Watersheds 4: Ten Cases in Environmental Ethics.
Wadsworth Publishing.
Rice, W.B., and M. Sullivan. 2010. Inside the Water Cycle. Compass Point Books.
Royston, A. 2005. The Life and Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Heinemann-Raintree.
Ryerson, M. 2003. Water Music. University of Michigan Press.
Every molecule of water that was present when the Earth’s oceans were formed millions of years ago is still present today. That means the water you drink is the same water dinosaurs drank! Most of the water consumed in the United States comes from groundwater. Groundwater takes hundreds or even thousands of years to replenish. Water is important to every living thing on Earth which is why it is so important to conserve and protect our water resources. Use Project WILD Aquatic’s “Water’s Going On?” to track your own water consumption!
Young Child Extension
Set up stations for children to explore water. Supply scoops, cups and other tools for filling, dumping and exploring. Supply cold water, warm water and ice. If possible, boil water to show children water in its gas form – steam. Ask children: Do you use water? What do you use water for? Who else uses water? Do animals use water? Where is there water? At your home? Outside? What do you like about water?
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Base, G. 2001. The Water Hole. Harry N Abrams, Inc.
Branley, F.M. 1997. Down Comes the Rain. HarperCollins Children's Books.
Brimner, L.D. 1999. Raindrops. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cole, J. and B. Degen. 1988. The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks. Scholastic, Inc.
Curry, D.L. 1999. The Water Cycle. Capstone Press.
DK Publishing. 2007. Water Everywhere. DK Publishing, Inc.
Edom, H. 2007. Science with Water. EDC Publishing.
Falwell, C. 2001. Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fourment, T. 2004. My Water Comes from the Mountains. Roberts Rinehart Publishers.
Greenfield, E. and J.S. Gilchrist. 1999. Water, Water. HarperCollins Publishers.
Hooper, M. The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet. Viking Press.
Jango-Cohen, J. 2005. Why Does It Rain? Lerner Publishing Group.
Jarnow, J. and E. Hathon. 2000. Splish! Splash! Penguin Group, Inc. (USA).
Kerley, B. 2006. A Cool Drink of Water. National Geographic Society.
Olien, R. 1999. Splish Splash Science, Grades 1-3: Learning about Water with Easy Fun-Filled Activities. Scholastic, Inc.
Pluckrose, H. 2001. Water. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Seuling, B. 2000. Drip! Drop!: How Water Gets to Your Tap. Holiday House, Inc.
Swanson, D. 2005. Wonder in Water. Annick Press, Limited.
Tresselt, A.R. 1990. Rain Drop Splash. HarperCollins Publishers.
Waldman, N. 2003. Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story. Millbrook Press.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Weininger, B. and A. Moller. 2003. Precious Water. North-South Books.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 3-5
Berger, M. 1995. Water, Water Everywhere. Ideals Publications.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1998. Water. June 1998.
Cobb, V. 1986. Trip of a Drip. Little, Brown & Company.
Ditchfield, C. 2001. Water. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Dorros, A. 2000. Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean. HarperCollins.
Flanagan, A.K. 2000. Water. Capstone Press.
Goodrich, R.S. 2004. Hydro's Adventure Through the Water Cycle. Geoquest Pubns.
Hughes, M. 2004.Water Cycle. Heinemann Library.
Jervis, P. 1997. How Science Works: Water. Barnes & Noble Books.
Kerley, B. 2006. A Cool Drink of Water. National Geographic Society.
Mckinney, B.S. 1998. A Drop around the World. Dawn Publications.
Moor, J.E. 1998. Water. Evan-Moor Educational Publishers.
Olien, R. 2006. Making Water Clean. Capstone Press.
Olien, R. 1999. Splish Splash Science, Grades 1-3: Learning about Water with Easy Fun-Filled Activities. Scholastic, Inc.
Olien, R. 2006. Water Cycle. Capstone Press.
Royston, A. 2006. The Life And Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Raintree.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Wick, W. 1997. Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder. Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 6-8
Bailey, G. and S. Way. 2009. Water. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Baker, L.W. 2004. Encyclopedia of Water Science. Thomson Gale.
Barss, K.J. 1992. Clean Water. Chelsea House Publishers.
Day, T. 2007. Water. DK Publishing, Inc.
Markert, J. 1992. Water. The Creative Company.
McKinney, B.S. and M.S. Maydak. 1998. A Drop Around the World. Dawn Publications.
Morgan, S. 2009. The Water Cycle. Rosen Publishing Group.
Royston, A. 2005. The Life and Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Heinemann-Raintree.
Swanson, D. 2005. Wonder in Water. Annick Press, Limited.
Wells, R.E. 2006. Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water? Albert Whitman & Company.
Yolen, J. 1995. Water Music: Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 9-12
Barss, K.J. 1992. Clean Water. Chelsea House Publishers.
Cossi, O. 1993. Water Wars. Silver Burdett Press.
Gardner, R. 2004. Experimenting with Water. Dover Publications.
Harman. 2005. The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation & Erosion. Heinemann-Raintree.
Lucas, E. 1991. Water: A Resource in Crisis. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Newton, Lisa H., C.K. Dillingham and J.H. Choly. 2005. Watersheds 4: Ten Cases in Environmental Ethics.
Wadsworth Publishing.
Rice, W.B., and M. Sullivan. 2010. Inside the Water Cycle. Compass Point Books.
Royston, A. 2005. The Life and Times of a Drop of Water: The Water Cycle. Heinemann-Raintree.
Ryerson, M. 2003. Water Music. University of Michigan Press.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Bird Song Survey
Inventorying wildlife populations is a technique that is used by wildlife professionals to gather information about the number and kinds of wildlife in a given area. People who are interested in wildlife can assist conservation professionals by helping to inventory wildlife populations. Use Project WILD’s “Bird Song Survey” to inventory a local bird population. Use this activity in conjunction with the annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 18-21 and make your survey really count! Visit the GBBC website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ for more information.
Young Child Extension
Young children can participate in the GBBC too! Plan a hike around the school yard to inventory the local bird population. Setting up a bird feeder close to your classroom windows would be a wonderful opportunity to observe and inventory birds. As a class you could create your own bird feeders and set up a bird feeding station that the students can enjoy every day!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.
Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.
Bushnell, J. 1996. Sky Dancer. HarperCollins Publishers.
Collard, S.B. 2002. Beaks! Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Garelick, M. 1995. What Makes a Bird a Bird? Mondo Publishing.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Oppenheim, J.F. and B. Reid. 1987. Have You Seen Birds?. Scholastic, Inc.
Pascoe, E., et al. 2000. How and Why Birds Use Their Bills (How and Why Series). Creative Teching Press, Inc.
Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.
Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.
Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.
Grades 3-5
Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.
Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.
Burnie, D. 2005. Birdwatcher. DK Publishing, Inc.
Cortright, S. 1995. Birding Basics. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dawe, N. 1988. Bird Book and the Bird Feeder. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
Fitcher, G.S. 1982. Birds of North America. Random House, Incorporated.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
Hume, R. 1993. Birdwatching. Random House, Incorporated.
Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kress, S.W. 2001. Bird Life. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lerner, C. 1994. Backyard Birds of Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.
Lindsey, T. 1999. Birding. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Mania, C. 2000. Woodpecker in the Backyard. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Maslowski, S. 2001. Birds in Winter. Smart Apple Media.
Peterson, R.T. 1999. Backyard Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds. HarperCollins Children's Books.
Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.
Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.
Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.
Grades 6-8
Burgess, T.W. 2003. Burgess Bird Book for Children. Dover Publications.
Burnie, D. 2004. Bird. DK Publishing, Inc.
Ganeri, A. 1993. Birds. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lee, F. 2005. Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide and Activities. Gibbs Smith.
Robbins, C.S. 2001. Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.
Spaulding, D.T. 1997. Watching Our Feathered Friends. Lerner Publishing Group.
Ward, A. 2004. Pocket Factfiles: Birds. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Grades 9-12
Dobson, C. 1981. Feeding Wild Birds in Winter. Firefly Books.
Gardner, D. and N. Overcott. 2003. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Winter Birds of the Great Plains. University of Iowa Press.
Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.
Johnson, J. 2003. 1000 Facts on Birds. Barnes & Noble Books.
Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.
Peterson, R. T. and L. A. Peterson. 2010. Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Roth, S. 2000. Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible. Rodale Press, Incorporated.
Sibley, D. A. 2000. National Aububon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
Stokes, D. and L. Stokes. 2010. The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown & Company.
Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.
Inventorying wildlife populations is a technique that is used by wildlife professionals to gather information about the number and kinds of wildlife in a given area. People who are interested in wildlife can assist conservation professionals by helping to inventory wildlife populations. Use Project WILD’s “Bird Song Survey” to inventory a local bird population. Use this activity in conjunction with the annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 18-21 and make your survey really count! Visit the GBBC website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ for more information.
Young Child Extension
Young children can participate in the GBBC too! Plan a hike around the school yard to inventory the local bird population. Setting up a bird feeder close to your classroom windows would be a wonderful opportunity to observe and inventory birds. As a class you could create your own bird feeders and set up a bird feeding station that the students can enjoy every day!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.
Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.
Bushnell, J. 1996. Sky Dancer. HarperCollins Publishers.
Collard, S.B. 2002. Beaks! Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Garelick, M. 1995. What Makes a Bird a Bird? Mondo Publishing.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Oppenheim, J.F. and B. Reid. 1987. Have You Seen Birds?. Scholastic, Inc.
Pascoe, E., et al. 2000. How and Why Birds Use Their Bills (How and Why Series). Creative Teching Press, Inc.
Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.
Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.
Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.
Grades 3-5
Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.
Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.
Burnie, D. 2005. Birdwatcher. DK Publishing, Inc.
Cortright, S. 1995. Birding Basics. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dawe, N. 1988. Bird Book and the Bird Feeder. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
Fitcher, G.S. 1982. Birds of North America. Random House, Incorporated.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
Hume, R. 1993. Birdwatching. Random House, Incorporated.
Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kress, S.W. 2001. Bird Life. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lerner, C. 1994. Backyard Birds of Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.
Lindsey, T. 1999. Birding. Time-Life Custom Publishing.
Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Mania, C. 2000. Woodpecker in the Backyard. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Maslowski, S. 2001. Birds in Winter. Smart Apple Media.
Peterson, R.T. 1999. Backyard Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds. HarperCollins Children's Books.
Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.
Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.
Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.
Grades 6-8
Burgess, T.W. 2003. Burgess Bird Book for Children. Dover Publications.
Burnie, D. 2004. Bird. DK Publishing, Inc.
Ganeri, A. 1993. Birds. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lee, F. 2005. Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide and Activities. Gibbs Smith.
Robbins, C.S. 2001. Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.
Spaulding, D.T. 1997. Watching Our Feathered Friends. Lerner Publishing Group.
Ward, A. 2004. Pocket Factfiles: Birds. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Grades 9-12
Dobson, C. 1981. Feeding Wild Birds in Winter. Firefly Books.
Gardner, D. and N. Overcott. 2003. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Winter Birds of the Great Plains. University of Iowa Press.
Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.
Johnson, J. 2003. 1000 Facts on Birds. Barnes & Noble Books.
Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.
Peterson, R. T. and L. A. Peterson. 2010. Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Roth, S. 2000. Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible. Rodale Press, Incorporated.
Sibley, D. A. 2000. National Aububon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
Stokes, D. and L. Stokes. 2010. The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown & Company.
Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tracks!
Animal tracks are a wonderful way to learn about wildlife. By observing wildlife tracks you can learn what kind of animal species live in a certain area, how many there may be and what they are doing. Other signs of wildlife such as burrows, droppings, nests and food litter can also tell us many things about wildlife. Animal tracks are easily found in mud and snow. Take advantage of all of our Iowa snow and get outside to look for animal tracks! Use Project WILD’s “Tracks!” to delve into the wonder of animal tracks!
Young Child Extension
Young children can look for animal tracks too! Take children on a walk through the snow to observe animal tracks. Encourage them to make observations about what they see. How big are the tracks? What kind of animal do they think they are from? Do they themselves also make tracks in the snow? Upon returning to the classroom allow children to make their own track pictures using tracks stencils or rubber tracks stamp, or remove their shoes and let them make their own tracks with their own bare feet! For more fun ideas with young children use Project WILD’s Growing Up WILD “Tracks!”.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1994. Crinkleroot's Twenty-Five Mammals Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Boring, M. and L. Garrow. 1996. Rabbits, Squirrels, and Chimpmunks (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Dingwall, L. 1994. Deer (Getting to Know Nature's Children Series). Grolier Academic Reference.
Dorros, A. 1991. Animal Tracks. Scholastic, Inc
George, L. B. 1999. In the Snow: Who's Been Here?. HarperCollins Publishers.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
MacLulich, C. 1996. Animal Feet. Scholastic, Inc.
Nail, J.D. and H. Skudder. 1994. Whose Tracks Are These? A Clue Book for Familiar Forest Animals. Rinehart Publishing.
Ricci, C. and S. Hall. 2003. Follow Those Feet! (Dora the Explorer Ready-to-Read, Level 1). Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart.
Rockwell, A. 1992. Our Yard is Full of Birds. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishers.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Selsam, M. E. and M.D. Hill. 1999. Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints. HarperCollins Publishers.
Selsam, M.E. and J. Hunt. 1991. Keep Looking! Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Wiesmuller, D. 2003. In the Blink of an Eye. Walker & Company.
Wolff, A. 2006. Stella and Roy Go Camping. Yosemite Association.
Yee, W.H. 2007. Tracks in the Snow. Square Fish.
Grades 3-5
Amato, C.A. 2002. Backyard Pets: Activities for Exploring Wildlife Close to Home. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 2002. Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking. HarperCollins.
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1983. Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher. HarperCollins Publishers.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Bair, D. and P. Wright. 1999. Deer Watching. Capstone Press.
Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Norsgaard, E.J. 1990. Nature's Great Balancing Act: In Our Own Backyard. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds (HarperCollins Nature Study Book). Harper Collins.
Ross, M.E. 1997. Wildlife Watching with Charles Eastman. Lerner Publishing Group.
Russo, M. 1998. Watching Nature: A Beginner's Field Guide. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Shedd, W. 2002. Kids' Wildlife Book. Williamson Kids Can Series.
Squire, A.O. 1996. 101 Questions and Answers about Backyard Wildlife. Walker & Company.
Sterry, P. 2005. Nature Explorer. Running Press Book Publishers.
Grades 6-8
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Grassy, J. 1998. Mammals (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., R. P. Grossenheider, and O. J. Murie. 1996. Peterson Flash Guides: Animal Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Grades 9-12
Bang, P., P. Dahlstrom, and R. Mears. 2006. Animal Tracks and Signs. Oxford University Press, USA.
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Kavanagh, J., and R. Leung. 2000. Animal Tracks. Waterford Press, Ltd.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., O. J. Murie, and M. Elbroch. 2005. Peterson Field Guide to Animals Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Animal tracks are a wonderful way to learn about wildlife. By observing wildlife tracks you can learn what kind of animal species live in a certain area, how many there may be and what they are doing. Other signs of wildlife such as burrows, droppings, nests and food litter can also tell us many things about wildlife. Animal tracks are easily found in mud and snow. Take advantage of all of our Iowa snow and get outside to look for animal tracks! Use Project WILD’s “Tracks!” to delve into the wonder of animal tracks!
Young Child Extension
Young children can look for animal tracks too! Take children on a walk through the snow to observe animal tracks. Encourage them to make observations about what they see. How big are the tracks? What kind of animal do they think they are from? Do they themselves also make tracks in the snow? Upon returning to the classroom allow children to make their own track pictures using tracks stencils or rubber tracks stamp, or remove their shoes and let them make their own tracks with their own bare feet! For more fun ideas with young children use Project WILD’s Growing Up WILD “Tracks!”.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1994. Crinkleroot's Twenty-Five Mammals Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Boring, M. and L. Garrow. 1996. Rabbits, Squirrels, and Chimpmunks (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Dingwall, L. 1994. Deer (Getting to Know Nature's Children Series). Grolier Academic Reference.
Dorros, A. 1991. Animal Tracks. Scholastic, Inc
George, L. B. 1999. In the Snow: Who's Been Here?. HarperCollins Publishers.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
MacLulich, C. 1996. Animal Feet. Scholastic, Inc.
Nail, J.D. and H. Skudder. 1994. Whose Tracks Are These? A Clue Book for Familiar Forest Animals. Rinehart Publishing.
Ricci, C. and S. Hall. 2003. Follow Those Feet! (Dora the Explorer Ready-to-Read, Level 1). Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart.
Rockwell, A. 1992. Our Yard is Full of Birds. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishers.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Selsam, M. E. and M.D. Hill. 1999. Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints. HarperCollins Publishers.
Selsam, M.E. and J. Hunt. 1991. Keep Looking! Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Wiesmuller, D. 2003. In the Blink of an Eye. Walker & Company.
Wolff, A. 2006. Stella and Roy Go Camping. Yosemite Association.
Yee, W.H. 2007. Tracks in the Snow. Square Fish.
Grades 3-5
Amato, C.A. 2002. Backyard Pets: Activities for Exploring Wildlife Close to Home. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 2002. Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking. HarperCollins.
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1983. Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher. HarperCollins Publishers.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Bair, D. and P. Wright. 1999. Deer Watching. Capstone Press.
Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Norsgaard, E.J. 1990. Nature's Great Balancing Act: In Our Own Backyard. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds (HarperCollins Nature Study Book). Harper Collins.
Ross, M.E. 1997. Wildlife Watching with Charles Eastman. Lerner Publishing Group.
Russo, M. 1998. Watching Nature: A Beginner's Field Guide. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Shedd, W. 2002. Kids' Wildlife Book. Williamson Kids Can Series.
Squire, A.O. 1996. 101 Questions and Answers about Backyard Wildlife. Walker & Company.
Sterry, P. 2005. Nature Explorer. Running Press Book Publishers.
Grades 6-8
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Grassy, J. 1998. Mammals (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., R. P. Grossenheider, and O. J. Murie. 1996. Peterson Flash Guides: Animal Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Grades 9-12
Bang, P., P. Dahlstrom, and R. Mears. 2006. Animal Tracks and Signs. Oxford University Press, USA.
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Kavanagh, J., and R. Leung. 2000. Animal Tracks. Waterford Press, Ltd.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., O. J. Murie, and M. Elbroch. 2005. Peterson Field Guide to Animals Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Adopt a Tree We All Need
Get out those mittens, hats, boots and coats; it’s time to go outside! It is the heart of winter and time to explore the great outdoors in the snow. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Adopt a Tree” and “We All Need Trees” to explore the wonder of trees in the winter. Take a winter walk around the schoolyard or backyard and have each student choose a tree to “adopt”. Have students make observations about their tree and/or take measurements of height, girth etc. Take a picture of each student with their tree. Make plans to visit the trees during the spring. Then, have each student learn more about their tree. Can they figure out what kind of tree it is? What animals use their tree for food or shelter? Do we use their tree for food or what products do we get from this kind of tree? Explore and learn more!
Young Child Extension
Take young children out to explore the schoolyard and let them “adopt” a tree! Encourage them to learn all they can about their tree. What does it feel like? Smell like? What animals do they think might use their tree? Once back in the classroom have children draw pictures or write stories about their tree. Discuss different ways in which we use trees. Eat fruit or nuts from trees or make hot cocoa which comes from trees!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Barasch, L. 1993. A Winter Walk. Ticknor & Fields.
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Berger, M. 1995. What Do Animals Do in Winter?: How Animals Survive the Cold. Ideals Publications.
Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Canizares, S., D. Moreton and B. Chessen. 1997. Who Lives in a Tree? Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Costian, M. 2001. Life in a Tree: Focus, Habitat. Tandem Library.
DePalma, M.N. 2005. A Grand Old Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Evans, L. 2002. Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Finnegan, M.P. 2002. Winter: Signs of the Season around North America. Capstone Press.
Freedman, R. 1981. When Winter Comes. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Gackenbach, D. 1996. Mighty Tree. Harcourt Children's Books.
Gaff, J. 2005. I Wonder Why Pine Trees Have Needles and Other Questions about Forests. Roaring Brook Press.
George, J.C. 2001. Winter Moon. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Jones, J.B. 2001. Who Lives in the Snow? Rinehart P.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
Lawlor, E.P. 1998. Discover Nature in Winter: Things to Know and Things to Do. Stackpole Books.
Llewellyn, C. 2004. Tree. T&N Children's Publishing.
Miller, D.S. and S. Schuett. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker & Company.
Sams, C.R. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Sams, Carl, R. II, Photography.
Thomson, R. 1989. Winter. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.
Wildsmith, B. 1991. Animal Seasons. Oxford University Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 3-5
Albert, T. 1998. A Kid's Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities for Exploring the Season. Trickle Creek Books.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burton, J. and K. Taylor. 1999. Nature and Science of Winter. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Canizares, S. 1997. Look at This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Dowden, A. The Blossom on the Bough: A Book of Trees. Thomas Y. Crowell.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion Books.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Hiscock, B. 1991. The Big Tree. Atheneum Books-MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America.. Dawn Publications.
Meyer, M.L. 2002. Winter. Smart Apple Media.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees. Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Company.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Jones, A. 2006. Four Seasons: Uncovering Nature. Firefly Books, Limited.
Santrey, L. 1982. Winter. Troll Communications L.L.C.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Watts, M.T. 1970. Winter Tree Finder. Nature Study Guild.
Grades 9-12
Arnosky, J. 1988. Sketching Outdoors in Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.
Bastedo, J. 2003. Falling for Snow: A Naturalist's Journey Into the World of Winter. Red Deer Press.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Marchand, P.J. 1987. Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology. University Press of New England.
Stokes, D.W. 1979. Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter. Little, Brown & Company.
Trelease, W. 1967. Winter Botany: An Identification Guide to Native Trees and Shrubs. Dover Publications.
Get out those mittens, hats, boots and coats; it’s time to go outside! It is the heart of winter and time to explore the great outdoors in the snow. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Adopt a Tree” and “We All Need Trees” to explore the wonder of trees in the winter. Take a winter walk around the schoolyard or backyard and have each student choose a tree to “adopt”. Have students make observations about their tree and/or take measurements of height, girth etc. Take a picture of each student with their tree. Make plans to visit the trees during the spring. Then, have each student learn more about their tree. Can they figure out what kind of tree it is? What animals use their tree for food or shelter? Do we use their tree for food or what products do we get from this kind of tree? Explore and learn more!
Young Child Extension
Take young children out to explore the schoolyard and let them “adopt” a tree! Encourage them to learn all they can about their tree. What does it feel like? Smell like? What animals do they think might use their tree? Once back in the classroom have children draw pictures or write stories about their tree. Discuss different ways in which we use trees. Eat fruit or nuts from trees or make hot cocoa which comes from trees!
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Barasch, L. 1993. A Winter Walk. Ticknor & Fields.
Behn, H. and J. Endicott. 1994. Trees. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Berger, M. 1995. What Do Animals Do in Winter?: How Animals Survive the Cold. Ideals Publications.
Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. 1998. Leaves, Trees and Bark (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Canizares, S. and P. Chanko. 1997. Look At This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Canizares, S., D. Moreton and B. Chessen. 1997. Who Lives in a Tree? Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Charman, A. 2003. I Wonder Why Trees Have Leaves and Other Questions about Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Costian, M. 2001. Life in a Tree: Focus, Habitat. Tandem Library.
DePalma, M.N. 2005. A Grand Old Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Evans, L. 2002. Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Finnegan, M.P. 2002. Winter: Signs of the Season around North America. Capstone Press.
Freedman, R. 1981. When Winter Comes. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Gackenbach, D. 1996. Mighty Tree. Harcourt Children's Books.
Gaff, J. 2005. I Wonder Why Pine Trees Have Needles and Other Questions about Forests. Roaring Brook Press.
George, J.C. 2001. Winter Moon. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Gove, D. and M. H. Mallory. My Mother Talks to Trees. Peachtree Publishers.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
Jones, J.B. 2001. Who Lives in the Snow? Rinehart P.
Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
Lawlor, E.P. 1998. Discover Nature in Winter: Things to Know and Things to Do. Stackpole Books.
Llewellyn, C. 2004. Tree. T&N Children's Publishing.
Miller, D.S. and S. Schuett. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker & Company.
Sams, C.R. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Sams, Carl, R. II, Photography.
Thomson, R. 1989. Winter. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.
Wildsmith, B. 1991. Animal Seasons. Oxford University Press.
Worth, B. 2006. I Can Name 50 Trees Today!: All about Trees. Random House Publishing Group.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 3-5
Albert, T. 1998. A Kid's Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities for Exploring the Season. Trickle Creek Books.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Bernard, R. 2001. A Tree for All Seasons. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Bourgoing, P. 1992. The Tree. Scholastic First Discovery Books.
Burns, D.L. and L. Garrow. 1998. Trees, Leaves and Bark. T&N Children’s Publishing.
Burton, J. and K. Taylor. 1999. Nature and Science of Winter. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Canizares, S. 1997. Look at This Tree. Scholastic, Inc.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Dowden, A. The Blossom on the Bough: A Book of Trees. Thomas Y. Crowell.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion Books.
Gibbons, G. 1984. The Season of Arnold’s Apple Tree. Voyager Books.
Gibbons, G. 2002. Tell Me Tree: All About Trees for Kids. Little, Brown Young Readers.
Hiscock, B. 1991. The Big Tree. Atheneum Books-MacMillan.
Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America.. Dawn Publications.
Meyer, M.L. 2002. Winter. Smart Apple Media.
Miller, D. 2003. Are Trees Alive? Walker Books for Young Readers.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees. Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Company.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.
Yolen, J. 2005. Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children. Boyds Mills Press.
Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Cassie, B. and M. Burns. 1999. Trees. Scholastic, Inc.
Garelick, M. & Brenner, B. 1979. The Tremendous Tree Book. Four Winds Press.
Jones, A. 2006. Four Seasons: Uncovering Nature. Firefly Books, Limited.
Santrey, L. 1982. Winter. Troll Communications L.L.C.
Simon. S. 1973. A Tree on Your Street. Holiday House Inc.
Watts, M.T. 1970. Winter Tree Finder. Nature Study Guild.
Grades 9-12
Arnosky, J. 1988. Sketching Outdoors in Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.
Bastedo, J. 2003. Falling for Snow: A Naturalist's Journey Into the World of Winter. Red Deer Press.
Heinrich, B. 1998. The Trees in My Forest. HarperCollins Publishers.
Kershner, B., et al. 2008. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. Sterling Publishing.
Marchand, P.J. 1987. Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology. University Press of New England.
Stokes, D.W. 1979. Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter. Little, Brown & Company.
Trelease, W. 1967. Winter Botany: An Identification Guide to Native Trees and Shrubs. Dover Publications.
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