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Extreme Survivors: Animals That Time Forgot (How Nature Works #0)
By Kimberly Ridley. 2017
Selected for the 2018 Bank Street College of Education Best STEM Children’s Books of the Year What do the goblin…
shark, horseshoe crab, the “indestructible” water bear, and a handful of other bizarre animals have in common? They are all “extreme survivors,” animals that still look much like their prehistoric ancestors from millions of years ago. Meet ten amazing animals that appear to have changed little in more than 100 million years. They are the rare exceptions to the rule. More than 99 percent of all life forms have gone extinct during the 3.6-billion-year history of life on Earth. Other organisms have changed dramatically, but not our extreme survivors. Evolution may have altered their physiology and behavior, but their body plans have stood the test of time. How have these living links with Earth’s prehistoric past survived? The search for answers is leading scientists to new discoveries about the past—and future—of life on Earth. The survival secrets of some of these ancient creatures could lead to new medicines and treatments for disease. Written in a lively, entertaining voice, Extreme Survivors provides detailed life histories and strange “survival secrets” of ten ancient animals and explains evolution and natural selection. Extensive back matter includes glossary, additional facts and geographic range for each organism and a geologic timeline of Earth. F&P Level V Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. To explore further access options with us, please contact us through the Book Quality link. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.Junk Drawer Physics: 50 Awesome Experiments That Don't Cost a Thing
By Bobby Mercer. 2014
A children's instructional book on how to use readily available materials to turn the house into a science lab Physics…
teacher Bobby Mercer provides readers with more than 50 great hands-on experiments that can be performed for just pennies, or less. Turn a plastic cup into a pinhole camera using waxed paper, a rubber band, and a thumbtack. Build a swinging wave machine using a series of washers suspended on strings from a yardstick. Or construct your own planetarium from an empty potato chip canister, construction paper, scissors, and a pin. Each project has a materials list, detailed step-by-step instructions with illustrations, and a brief explanation of the scientific principle being demonstrated. Junk Drawer Physics also includes sidebars of fascinating physics facts, such as did you know the Eiffel Tower is six inches taller in summer than in winter because its steel structure expands in the heat? Educators and parents will find this title a handy resource to teach children about physics topics that include magnetism, electricity, force, motion, light, energy, sound, and more, and have fun at the same time.The Racecar Book: Build and Race Mousetrap Cars, Dragsters, Tri-Can Haulers & More
By Bobby Mercer. 2013
A project book for young readers with a need for speed, this work provides instruction on 25 easy-to-construct racecars that…
can be driven both indoors and out. They will learn how to use mousetraps, rubber bands, chemical reactions, gravity, and air pressure to power the cars that are made for little or no cost using recycled and repurposed materials. Readers will discover how to turn a potato chip can, a rubber band, and weights into a Chip-Can Dancer; retrofit a car with a toy plane propeller to make an air-powered Prop Car; and use an effervescent tablet in a small canister to make an impressive rocket engine for a Mini Pop Car. Each project is accompanied by a materials list, detailed step-by-step instructions with photos, and explanations of the science behind each racecar, including concepts such as friction, Newton's laws of motion, and kinetic and potential energy.Tracing the evolution of humankind's pursuit of astronomical knowledge, this resource looks deep into the furthest reaches of space. Children…
will follow along as the realization that the Earth is not at the center of the universe leads all the way up to recent telescopic proof of planets orbiting stars outside the solar system. In addition to its engaging history, this book contains 21 hands-on projects to further explore the subjects discussed. Readers will build a three-dimensional representation of the constellation Orion, see how the universe expands using an inflating balloon, and construct a reflecting telescope out of a makeup mirror and a magnifying glass. It also includes small biographies of famous astronomers, a time line of major scientific discoveries, a glossary of technical terms, and dozens of full-color images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.Awesome Snake Science!: 40 Activities for Learning About Snakes (Young Naturalists)
By Cindy Blobaum. 2012
From cobras and copperheads to pythons and boas, all types of snakes are covered in this book of 40 science…
experiments, art projects, and games that help budding herpetologists gain a greater appreciation for these slithering reptiles. Activities include making foldable fangs to learn how snakes' teeth and jaws work together; simulating cytotoxic snake venom while making a tasty snack using an everyday enzyme found in pineapple; and mimicking the sound a rattlesnake makes using a rubber band, a paper clip, and an envelope. Engaging, simple, and safe experiments teach kids about the biology of snakes, such as how they use their tongues and nostrils to detect smells, how they are cold-blooded and sensitive to subtle changes in temperature, and how they can detect the slightest vibrations or tremors. Kids do not need a snake for any of the activities and will delight in all the strange snake facts and gross-out projects such as Snake Stink--where they create their own signature stink and test how well it repels potential predators. Did you know . . . * Snakes do not need to be coiled to strike. They can strike from any position, even underwater! * Cobras and coachwhips are two of the few snakes that can move in a straight line forward while keeping their upper body raised off the ground. *Snake venom can actually help humans too! A blood pressure medicine was developed from the venom of a Brazilian pit viper, and over 60 other treatments have been created from snake venoms.Galileo for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 25 Activities (For Kids series)
By Buzz Aldrin, Richard Panchyk. 2005
Galileo, one of history's best-known scientists, is introduced in this illuminating activity book. Children will learn how Galileo's revolutionary discoveries…
and sometimes controversial theories changed his world and laid the groundwork for modern astronomy and physics. This book will inspire kids to be stargazers and future astronauts or scientists as they discover Galileo's life and work. Activities allow children to try some of his theories on their own, with experiments that include playing with gravity and motion, making a pendulum, observing the moon, and painting with light and shadow. Along with the scientific aspects of Galileo's life, his passion for music and art are discussed and exemplified by period engravings, maps, and prints. A time line, glossary, and listings of major science museums, planetariums, and web sites for further exploration complement this activity book.A detailed reference on the latest craze in lightweight aeronautics, this manual shows how to build and throw paper boomerangs.…
Techniques for mastering the basics will help beginners, while techniques for impressive throws--such as the behind-the-back toss; the boomerang juggle; the under-the-leg catch; and the dreaded double-handed, backward, double-boomerang throw--will thrill even the most advanced boomeranger. A history of the device and the physics behind its circuitous flight are also included, making this the only comprehensive reference on this fascinating toy.Amazing Rubber Band Cars: Easy-to-Build Wind-Up Racers, Models, and Toys
By Mike Rigsby. 2006
Combining fun and interactive activities, this guide will have kids captivated for hours constructing fantastic racing cars with the basics…
of only rubber bands, cardboard, and glue. These simple instructions with templates allow budding engineers to gain hands-on experience as they learn not only how to build a basic racer, but how to make modifications such as aluminum foil axle bearings, steering mechanisms, hinges, cam shafts, and wheels made out of old CDs. This helpful resource has step-by-step instructions for making a basic rubber-band model, a railroad push-car, and a high-speed racer. Other unique projects include Oscar the Laughing Clown, which has a jaw mechanism that opens and closes when it moves, and Spot the Dog, which has a moving tail. Children can even learn how to build a rubber band car big enough for a human. Exploring wheels, bearings, and friction, kids will learn not only how to make speedy racers but also the science that makes the process work.The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills
By Gretchen Woelfle. 2012
Explaining how the wind works, what windmills have contributed to the past, and why they offer environmental promise today as…
a source of clean, renewable energy, this revised and updated edition offers a glimpse into all the current and historical uses for wind power. Featuring new information on wind energy technology and wind farms, new photographs, and 24 wind-related activities--from keeping track of household energy use and conducting science experiments to cooking traditional meals and creating arts and crafts--this handy resource offers kids interested in the science of energy and green technologies an engaging, interactive, and contemporary overview of wind power.Doable Renewables: 16 Alternative Energy Projects for Young Scientists
By Mike Rigsby. 2010
Kids will learn valuable hands-on lessons from this guide by constructing working models that generate renewable, alternative energy. Budding scientists…
learn how to build their own Kelvin water-drop generator out of six recycled cans and alligator-clip jumpers; a solar-powered seesaw from a large dial thermometer and a magnifying glass; and a windmill from eight yardsticks, PVC pipe, cardboard, and a converter generator. Children will investigate the energy-generating properties of a solar cell, a radiometer, a Nitinol heat engine, and a Peltier cell--there are even plans to build a human-powered desk lamp. Each project includes a materials and tools list as well as online information on where to find specialized components.Deserts: An Activity Guide for Ages 6–9
By Nancy Castaldo. 2004
This activity guide introduces children to the wild and often misunderstood environment of the desert and the people and cultures…
that thrive in and around them. Information is included on all types of deserts--hot and dry, coastal, semiarid, and polar. Kids learn what defines a desert and the creative ways plants and animals have adapted to survive in harsh desert environments. Also discussed are urban sprawl and its effects on desert habitats and how children can help protect this delicate environment by conserving energy and reducing consumption of petroleum-based products. Engaging activities include drawing a petroglyph, making a coral snake bracelet, frying prickly pears, conducting a gerbil study, and making sand art.With detailed, step-by-step instructions, this richly illustrated science project book shows how to construct and safely launch homemade balloons. Some…
designs, including the Solar Tetroon or the Giant Solar Sausage, are made from garbage bags and tape, while others, such as the Khom Loi, are created from tissue paper and wire; yet all of the projects use inexpensive, readily available materials and are easy to construct with only basic crafting skills. Ever safety conscious, this manual provides detailed guidelines for various methods to heat the interior air that lifts the balloons, including when and where open flames are appropriate, and the proper weather conditions to launch these creations. With a full chapter on troubleshooting, should a design fail to fly, this book will make balloon engineers of just about anyone.Calling all future Amelia Earharts and Chuck Yeagers--there's more than one way to get off the ground. Author and physics…
teacher Bobby Mercer will show readers 35 easy-to-build and fun-to-fly contraptions that can be used indoors or out. Better still, each of these rockets, gliders, boomerangs, launchers, and helicopters are constructed for little or no cost using recycled materials. The Flying Machine Book will show readers how to turn rubber bands, paper clips, straws, plastic bottles, and index cards into amazing, gravity-defying flyers. Learn how to turn a drinking straw, rubber band, and index card into a Straw Rocket, or convert a paper towel tube into a Grape Bazooka. Empty water bottles can be transformed into Plastic Zippers and Bottle Rockets, and ordinary paper can be cut and folded to make a Fingerrangs--a small boomerang--or a Maple Key Helicopter. Each project contains a material list and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos. Mercer also includes explanations of the science behind each flyer, including concepts such as lift, thrust, and drag, the Bernoulli effect, and more. Readers can use this information to modify and improve their flyers, or explain to their teachers why throwing a paper airplane is a mini science lesson. Bobby Mercer has been sharing the fun of free flight for over two decades as a high school physics teacher. He is the author of several books and lives with his family outside of Asheville, North Carolina.Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series)
By Kristan Lawson. 2003
Darwin and Evolution for Kids traces the transformation of a privileged and somewhat scatterbrained youth into the great thinker who…
proposed the revolutionary theory of evolution. Through 21 hands-on activities, young scientists learn about Darwin's life and work and assess current evidence of evolution. Activities include going on a botanical treasure hunt, keeping field notes as a backyard naturalist, and tying knots for ship sails like those on the HMS Beagle. Children also learn how fossils are created, trace genetic traits through their family trees, and discover if acquired traits are passed along to future generations. By encouraging children, parents, and teachers to define the differences between theories and beliefs, facts and opinions, Darwin and Evolution for Kids does not shy away from a theory that continues to spark heated public debate more than a century after it was first proposed.Insectigations: 40 Hands-on Activities to Explore the Insect World (Young Naturalists)
By Cindy Blobaum. 2005
From butterflies and beetles to crickets and katydids, these experiments, art projects, and games will bring out the entomologist in…
every kid. Activities include collecting and sketching insects, making a terrarium for observation, raising mealworms, using math to measure bug strength, gardening to attract butterflies and other insects, and making an insect amplifier. A unique insect board game helps kids learn fascinating bug facts while they play. Sidebars offer a look into the world of professional entomology, as well as gross facts about insects that will provide great playground trivia, including the USDA's guidelines for allowable insect parts per cup of food. Kids will learn that science is not just something to read about, but something they can observe and study in the world around them.Junk Drawer Chemistry: 50 Awesome Experiments That Don't Cost a Thing
By Bobby Mercer. 2016
A children's instructional book on how to use readily available materials to turn the house into a science lab Science…
teacher Bobby Mercer provides readers with more than 50 great hands-on experiments that can be performed for just pennies, or less. Each project has a materials list, detailed step-by-step instructions with illustrations, and a brief explanation of the scientific principle being demonstrated. From turning three pennies and two galvanized washers into a simple battery to crushing a soda can using atmospheric pressure, the experiments in this book call for materials that are recycled or repurposed--crayons, plastic drink bottles, balloons, ice cubes, and other basic items found around the house. Junk Drawer Chemistry also includes sidebars of fascinating chemistry facts. Educators and parents will find this title a handy resource to teach children about chemistry topics that include atoms, compounds, solutions, mixtures, reactions, thermodynamics, acids and bases, and more, while having fun at the same time.Sandbox Scientist: Real Science Activities for Little Kids
By Mary Anne Lloyd, Michael Ross. 1995
Young children are natural scientists at play. While they bake mud pies and pour and measure water, they are observing,…
theorizing and developing science skills, as well as having fun. Children two to eight years old will thrive on the many open-ended science experiences including: ice and bubbles, compost and seeds, magnets and gears, potions and plant prints and more.The Art of Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery
By William Gurstelle. 2004
Whether playing at defending their own castle or simply chucking pumpkins over a fence, wannabe marauders and tinkerers will become…
fast acquainted with Ludgar, the War Wolf, Ill Neighbor, Cabulus, and the Wild Donkey--ancient artillery devices known commonly as catapults. Building these simple yet sophisticated machines introduces fundamentals of math and physics using levers, force, torsion, tension, and traction. Instructions and diagrams illustrate how to build seven authentic working model catapults, including an early Greek ballista, a Roman onager, and the apex of catapult technology, the English trebuchet. Additional projects include learning how to lash and make rope and how to construct and use a hand sling and a staff sling. The colorful history of siege warfare is explored through the stories of Alexander the Great and his battle of Tyre; Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and the Third Crusade; pirate-turned-soldier John Crabbe and his ship-mounted catapults; and Edward I of England and his battle against the Scots at Stirling Castle.Women Invent!: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World
By Susan Casey. 1997
The Robot Book: Build & Control 20 Electric Gizmos, Moving Machines, and Hacked Toys
By Bobby Mercer. 2014
How to use reuse and recycle components and supplies to build a variety of devices The 20 easy-to-build robots in…
this project book can be constructed for little or no cost using common household objects and repurposed materials. From learning how to turn a toothbrush, an old cell phone or pager, and scrap wire into a Brush Bot, or how to hack a toy car to hotwire a Not-So-Remote Bot, each hands-on project contains a materials list and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos. Explanations of the science and technology behind each robot--including concepts such as friction, weight and mass, center of gravity, kinetic and potential energy, electric circuitry, DC vs. AC current, and more--are also included.