About this time last year, Melissa Stewart wrote an excellent series on children's book preferences in which she argued that we are underserving a group of children who enjoy expository nonfiction: casting it as broccoli, when kids see it as chocolate cake. I was thrilled to see her strong research basis for an idea that … Continue reading Melissa Stewart, On Chocolate Cake
I am sometimes asked how I come up with the activities for my books. Here's a story to illustrate the process. In general, an activity begins with an interesting tidbit of information, and a thought of something it might cause in the real world. Then come rounds of tests to try to find … Continue reading A Research Story
Today is the official publication date for Dog Science Unleashed: fun activities to do with your canine companion. Let me take this opportunity to invite any and all to my book launch party on September 8 at CityDog Market (Brookhaven). I have all kinds of cool experiments and activities planned. Hope to see you there!
With all the time I've spent lapping up dog research in the last couple of years, I've dug up several fun science books. I'm pawsitive one of these will make your young dog-lover howl with delight.* *Four dog puns in two sentences. I should win a prize--or perhaps get beaned in the head with a … Continue reading Great Books for Young Scientists and Their Dogs
You've seen the cool experiments you can do with a vacuum system on Youtube. Here's your chance to get your own unit. The American Vacuum Society is holding a two-day, all-expense-paid workshop in Long Beach California (October 22-23), and at the end, you'll take home your own vacuum system. This is for high school teachers … Continue reading Vacuum Society Workshop (doesn’t) Suck
One of the best parts of working on Dog Science Unleashed was getting to work with the extremely talented Matthew Rakola at our photo shoot. Not only is he an excellent photographer in general, but he specializes in photos of kids doing science--and he digs into the science until he understands what the concepts are, … Continue reading Matthew Rakola, Photographer Extraordinaire
I LOVE the work of the Reading Apprenticeship group (Schoenbach, et. al.). I was delighted to discover that they are now producing content modules, which are available online for free. These modules are similar to what I'm trying to do in my Once Upon a Science Books--they provide all the resources you need, with step-by-step … Continue reading GREAT resource for teaching reading for academic texts
Who knows more about your dog than anybody? You do! And scientists want to know what you know! As I researched Dog Science Unleashed (available for pre-order! buy it now!), I kept coming across cool citizen science projects you can do with your dog. I wrote up a whole group of them for The Bark … Continue reading Your Dog Wants to Do Science
Here's a random bit of news that might lead to a little summer get-away: teachers in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands can get an "Educators Pass" to get in to the Kennedy Space Center for free. You need a note on letterhead from your principal, so secure that before the school year … Continue reading Take a Trip to the Kennedy Space Center
My team is assembled...our outline is done...the writing has begun...and (drum roll, please...) it is time to recruit field test teachers for Once Upon a PHYSICAL science book! Field testing will take place over the 2018-2019 school year. If you will be teaching physical science, or have physical science as a part of your curriculum, … Continue reading Field Test Teachers Needed!
