Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Description

Why is the ocean important for humans and for the Earth? Did you know that the ocean covers 70 percent of the surface of the earth? And scientists have only explored a very small part of it! In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean's tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They'll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an umbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish. Through fun facts, engaging illustrations, links to primary sources, timeline, glossary, and resources, readers will be challenged to think about how ocean creatures and plants survive and depend on each other from the sunlit surface to the seafloor, where sunlight does not exist. Student-led STEAM activities, such as building a submarine and creating an ocean in a bottle, use the framework of the scientific method to reinforce learning and enhance critical and creative thinking skills as kids learn about efforts to conserve these incredible creatures and their habitats.

Anita Yasuda is the author of many books for young readers. In 2013, she won the Honor Book award, Science for grades K-12, Society of School Librarians International for Explore Flight! With 25 Great Projects and in 2012, she won the gold Moonbeam award for her book Explore The Wild West! 25 Great Activities. She is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). Anita lives with her family in California. Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist with a master's degree from the Center for Cartoon Studies. Tom has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Explore Ancient Chinese Myths! With 25 Great Projects and The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country from Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad. He is working on his first graphic novel.

Nonfiction Mondays- Janetsquires.blogspot.com Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids by Anita Yasuda with illustrations by Tom Casteel invites readers from 7-10 to explore the amazing world beneath the sea. Six well-organized chapters introduce young oceanographers to the basic concepts of oceans and seas from ancient mythologies to the modern challenges of conservation in an aquatic frontier that is still largely unexplored. . . .Cartoon-style illustrations, augmented here and there with photographs, create visual interest. Text boxes set out challenges labeled INVESTIGATE or CONSIDER AND DISCUSS. WORDS TO KNOW defines important vocabulary. DID YOU KNOW? highlights special facts. Each chapter concludes with a series of hands-on STEM projects to enable students to reinforce learning, enhance understanding, and develop critical thinking skills. Recommended as a useful STEM resource for home, school, and library collections. Green Teacher Magazine This resource by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Tom Casteel, brings the traditional textbook into the world of the tech-savvy youth. Most suitable for Grades 4-6, the book allows learners to explore the marine world's history, biology, oceanography, and conservation problems and solutions. The layout of the book supports diverse inquiry approaches, including reading, questioning, experimenting, and researching via scanned QR codes. A useful template for using the scientific method is provided, and science journaling is encouraged. The emphasis on scientific literacy, with a words to know section and a strong glossary, is valuable. Praise for other books in the Explore Your World! series: Explore Forces and Motion! With 25 Great Projects School Library Connection "Looking for ways to introduce, reinforce, and build on abstract physics concepts for young children? The author manages to make physics concepts simple in a light, accessible tone that will keep readers engaged. This very colorful text includes a timeline (not often seen in a book on physics), glossary, resources, essential questions, QR codes, primary source icons, and more. The real strength is the suggested projects that are simple to conduct yet essential in understanding concepts such as force, buoyancy, and magnetism. This would make an excellent addition to a classroom textbook to reinforce and demonstrate concepts. Librarians will love the focus on primary sources and scientific process." Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Media Recommended -- Superior in style, liveliness, integrity and format. "This series, each book subtitled "With 25 Great Projects" is one that merits a place in every library serving children. Each book begins with a timeline, and a solid introduction. "Words to know" are defined throughout the book, and QR codes lead to interesting videos. (If the QR codes don't work the book provides keyword prompts to lead young researchers to the right information.) Science practices are defined, and interesting projects follow that teach important principles. An extensive index, bibliography, and glossary follow. This book focuses on physics, introducing Newton, Einstein, Galileo and more. The basic forces around us are defined, explained, and explored through hands-on projects. Much of the information is on an advanced level, but explained so younger students can understand it. There's interesting information to be found here, and the projects are unique and STEM oriented. Buy the whole series." National Science Teachers Association (NSTA Recommends) "Physics is fun with this colorful and informative book for students ages 7-10. Using the theme of motion, the book encourages readers to push, pull, spin, twist, and turn their way to learning basic concepts of force and motion. There are ample activities and projects throughout the book that provide the reader with ways to explore forces and motion and learn basic concepts while having loads of fun. . . Students will enjoy the fun graphics in the book. A cartoon turtle and chicken lead students through the reading and activities by providing comedy and demonstrations on how to do the activities in the book. The color and design graphics are bright and capture the interest of the reader." Explore Solids and Liquids! With 25 Great Projects Booklist ". . . The accessible text takes a friendly tone, providing ample background information and easily recognizable everyday examples. Cartoon illustrations, inset boxes with facts, and occasional jokes help keep readers engaged. . . This should provide inspiration and insights into scientific exploration for students, teachers, and budding mad scientists." Explore Comets and Asteroids! National Science Teachers Association Recommends "Not just a book, an adventure! As you pick up and flip through Explore Comets and Asteroids! you begin to engage in a print experience that opens your eyes and mind to exploration in our galaxy and beyond. While this is print based, it is linked to the extraordinary volume of additional resources of the internet while firmly grounded with study information that one holds in the hand. The pages include QR codes with key word prompts to facilitate research on the content, 25 projects to engage the learner, vocabulary boxes within the content to assist with understanding, and abundant graphics to visually illustrate the concepts. There are also the important element of comic relief in the form of kid friendly "asides" that use play on words. "Did you Know?" and "Time to Discuss" prompts entice memory of key events in astronomy. "This paper bound book could be considered a mini course in the subject of comets and asteroids that serve to either develop knowledge or review it. The writing is clear and well organized into 6 chapters. The overview, in the form of a timeline, sets the stage for the understanding of our advancement of knowledge and understanding of these celestial bodies as our technology that is used to study them improved. Facts, figures, and concepts are addressed in an entertaining, yet educational manner, to engage the learner in the learning process and reward him/her with insights, understanding, and even encourage career planning. While it may appear to be a book for young readers, do not let it fool you. There is something for everyone as there is more to learn than first meets the eye. Want to read a book to your child, grandchild. or class? This might be a welcome change that increases interest in the study of the skies and beyond."