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Spring Books!

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Nature Did It First: Engineering Through Biomimicry
Got a problem? More than likely, Nature has already solved it! Part playful poetry, part nonfiction information, discover seven remarkable plants and animals that have inspired extraordinary innovations.
What’s This Tail Saying?
Animal tails are talking! Every shake and shiver, rattle and splash is saying something. Even the youngest readers will get a glimpse into the fascinating world of animal behavior.

Karen Ansberry, author of Nature Did It First, is the right person for the job when it comes to writing about a complex science topic for children. As a former curriculum specialist and elementary school teacher, she has taught workshops on how to teach science effectively. She’s also a nature lover, picture-book fan, STEM enthusiast, and mom of four young reading addicts. Ansberry is the co-author of the bestselling Picture-Perfect Science and Picture-Perfect STEM series.

One of the seeds for the creation of the book was planted during author Carolyn Combs’s childhood when she camped next to a noisy beaver dam in the New Hampshire woods. She remembers wondering what all the ruckus was about! While doing the research for this book, she learned not only that beavers smack their tails on water to warn about predators but also that animals are communicating all of the time! Writing the book gave her a new appreciation for the inner world of animals.

A Kid-Friendly Introduction to Birding

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It’s that time of year again for birders of all skill levels: the Christmas Bird Count has begun! There is still time to sign up for a one-day count happening now through January 6th. Go to Audubon’s website to find out more about this easy citizen science project for the whole family!

Whether you take part in this year’s Christmas Bird Count or not, birding is a great way to encourage kids to tune in to the natural world. Birds are everywhere, from cities to suburbs. And we have the perfect series to introduce young children (ages 5-9) to the joys of seeking, spotting, and identifying wild birds.

The BLUES Go Birding series features five cartoon bluebirds with spunky personalities. In The BLUES Go Birding Across America, Eggbert, Sammi, and the rest of the BLUES launch a cross-country journey to discover an amazing variety of birds—from the eagle in Alaska, to the woodpecker in Michigan, to the mockingbird in Georgia.

More than just a fun and imaginative travelogue—The BLUES Go Birding Across America is also a young person’s primer to birdwatching, including Eggbert’s helpful birding tips! Co-written by Dawn’s very own avid birder and editorial director Carol Malnor, this goofy picture picture book is a delightful way to introduce young children to birds and birding…

Who Are Your Environmental Heroes?

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Are you fascinated by the climate crisis leadership of Greta Thunberg? What does it take to turn an ordinary person into an environmental hero?

If you’ve noticed that young people in your lives are waking up and paying attention, now is a great time to share about other heroes who have led the way in changing our relationship to nature and the earth. From Jane Goodall to Jacques Cousteau, Wangari Maathai to Henry David Thoreau, these charismatic heroes grew up (for the most part) just like you or me. What made them stand up for wild things?

Gobble Gobble–A Wild Turkey Read aloud

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Have wild turkeys ever appeared in your backyard? In Gobble Gobble, a young girl discovers odd arrow-shaped footprints near her home. She hears a gobble gobble from the trees. What are those funny looking birds? Wild turkeys!

Gobble Gobble takes us on a journey through the seasons as the turkeys raise their adorable young in the spring and leave tracks in the snow in the winter.

This bright, delightful picture book invites its readers to become backyard naturalists, noticing animal tracks, listening for bird calls, and observing the changes in the seasons…

3 Picture Books that Teach the Water Cycle

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Do you need to teach the water cycle in class? Energize students with one of these delightful picture books that make water fascinating in all its forms. Each of these book is 40% off for the month of October.

A Drop Around the World takes us around the globe following a single raindrop as it morphs from puddle to vapor to snowflake and back. Written by a science teacher, it perfectly suits the needs of an elementary teacher, which is why it is one of our bestselling picture books…

Social Emotional Learning in 3 Fun Read Alouds

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Set a positive tone as you prepare students for the school year! Each of these three books has a special message that encourages social emotional learning–while also making a captivating read aloud for storytime.

“Students who feel better about themselves, their relationships, and their ability to constructively contribute to their community perform better academically and socially at school.” – Education Week

Bring Nature into the Classroom with 3 STEM Activities

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As we launch our fall book, Silent Swoop: An Owl, an Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket, we’ve gathered some fabulous, engaging STEM activities for the home or classroom that will give kids a taste for science.

Silent Swoop is the story of a rescued Great Horned Owl named Coal, so each of these STEM activities features the wonders of birds—from examining owl pellets to learning how feathers are made for flying.

#1 Owl Pellet Exploration

This hands-on activity will definitely hold kids’ attention! Our lesson plan gives easy-to-use instructions about how to pre-order owl pellets and set up a fascinating investigation.

Kids will examine owl pellets for evidence of rodent, vole, shrew, or bird bones and then classify and identify bones. They can even reconstruct a rodent skeleton!

Team Kid Versus Team Animal—A New Book For Reluctant Readers

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Would you win a wrestling competition with an anaconda? Or a game of tag with a porcupine? How about a pie-eating contest with a hippo?

If You Played Hide-and-Seek with a Chameleon entices reluctant readers with goofy sports competitions, Team Kid vs. Team Animal.

Twelve animals take on kid challengers in a variety of games from Twister to tag to basketball. This energetically illustrated picture book will be sure to capture the attention of readers who love fascinating facts about animals, hilarious competitions, and math and engineering challenges. And win or lose, every kid in the book models excellent sportsmanship!

“Absolutely fascinating.” – Kirkus

An Animal Rescue Tale for Storytime

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“A story I won’t forget.” – Jane Yolen, author of Owl Moon

Animal rescue tales are perennial favorites among young children—and this humorous, heartwarming story of the rescue and raising of a great horned owlet, named Coal, will definitely enthrall your listeners at storytime.

Based on a true story of the founder of the World Bird Sanctuary, Walter Crawford, Silent Swoop has a powerful message of how one person can make a huge difference.

Crawford, warmly evoked by Deb Hoeffner’s lovely ‘soft realism,’ started rescuing injured bird in the basement of his home before going on to found the nationally known World Bird Sanctuary.

So, when workers at a coal yard discovered two eggs precariously placed under a conveyor belt, they knew just who to call. Walter Crawford took the eggs to work with him, tucked in his warm shirt pocket…

Get Children Excited about the Universe!

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Recommended by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Universe Tells Our Story series gives children a sense of belonging in the universe while featuring impeccable science.

In three volumes, the series covers everything from the Big Bang to the beginnings of life on earth to the rise of humans while speaking directly to children in a unique, compelling voice: the universe tells its own story.

“Readers young and old will be intrigued and informed by this science-based tale from Mother Universe.” – Foreword Review

5 Fun Ways to Teach the Solar System

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What’s the easiest way to learn the solar system? Sing it! Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes features a catchy tune that will give kids a leg up in their science lessons. We suggest it as a read-aloud (or sing-along) at home or in the classroom to make learning the planets truly memorable.

In addition to a read-aloud, we have 5 excellent free solar system activities that are creative, kinesthetic, and incredibly easy to prepare…

A Magical Moon Read Aloud

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Do you notice that the moon follows you wherever you go? In A Moon of My Own (by Jennifer Rustgi, illustrated by Alison White) a young girl magically crosses continents, recognizing the familiar face of the moon (in all its phases) in scenes from the Taj Mahal to the Northern Lights.

Capturing the wonders of imagination in a charming conversation between a child and the moon, A Moon of my Own invites kids to pay attention to the nighttime sky and the larger forces at work that affect us no matter where we are from.

The Birds and the Bees in our Backyards

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Backyard creatures like creepy crawlies, American robins, and busy honey bees are the perfect lure to entice young kids not just to get outside (and off their screens) but also to start taking a closer look at nature.

You can make backyard discovery extra enticing with storytime that brings commonly seen creatures into focus. Here’s a sampling of our birds- and bees-themed picture books, which might just spark a child’s lifelong interest in nature and science…

Let’s Go on a Bug Hunt!

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From building bug hotels to imitating bug noises to taking a bug walk around the backyard, there are a whole lot of activities that will keep kids enthralled and inquisitive about nature this summer. We’ve included some of our favorite activities, beginning with two rip-roaring bug books from a bug club graduate, writer, and naturalist, John Himmelman!

A Father’s Day Read Aloud

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Studies have shown that dads reading to their children have unique benefits for children’s school readiness and behavior—so don’t miss your chance to bring together nature-loving dads and their kids over a book this Father’s Day.

He’s Your Daddy: Ducklings, Joeys, Kits, and More by Charline Profiri is one of our favorites for fathers to share with their young children. This picture book is a boisterous rhyming read-aloud about animal dads and their young. It’s scientifically accurate and adorable, with a cast of fascinating animals from around the world…

5 Top Tips for Impressing Publishers

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Dawn publishes creative nonfiction picture books with an emphasis on science and nature. As a small independent press, we only publish 4 to 6 titles a year! This means we turn away 99% of the hundreds of manuscripts we receive each year. Anthony D. Fredericks, one of our award-winning authors, has published a book with tips for prospective children’s book […]

Use Nursery Rhymes to Teach Kids about STEM

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Singing and rhyming are sure hits in the classroom for early elementary kids. So why not use nursery rhymes to teach kids about STEM?
That’s the premise behind Jo MacDonald Had a Garden and Over on the Farm. One book uses the song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” the other “Over in a Meadow.” Each book (and series) teaches valuable science concepts like adaptations, habitats, and relationships between animal parents and offspring…

What’s in the Garden?

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Good food doesn’t begin on a store shelf in a box. It comes from a garden bursting with life, color, sounds, smells, sunshine, moisture, birds, and bees! Healthy fruits and vegetables become much more interesting when children know where it comes from. And a few tasty recipes can start a lifetime of good eating. So what’s in the garden?

A Bean Sprouting Experiment—Free Lesson Plan

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May is a gardening month for many of us—and there are great benefits to including kids. Gardening encourages healthy eating, boosts fine motor skills, gets kids outdoors, and teaches them about science concepts—to mention just a few of the positive effects!

We have a free lesson plan for a home or classroom gardening experiment that will get kids asking questions about how plants grow…

2 Nature-Themed Kids’ Books for Mother’s Day

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These two children’s books celebrate how animal mothers care for and love their babies–and they make perfect gifts for Mother’s Day!

Fran Hodgkin’s board book, If You Were My Baby: A Wildlife Lullaby, shows the life-giving bond between mothers and babies, regardless of their species. A duck and her ducklings, a mountain goat and her kid, a bison and her calf, as well as a human mother and her baby–all are tenderly guiding their young in their own unique way…

Three Rich Picture Books about Forest Habitats

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Celebrate our forests, which allow us to breathe oxygen-rich air, create diverse habitats for creatures, and grace us with their long-lived, quiet presence!

Here we feature three creative nonfiction books that explore temperate and tropical forests. Tall Tall Tree, The Tree in an Ancient Forest, and A Walk in the Rainforest are all 40% off for the month of April as part of our year-long 40th anniversary promotion…

In a Speck of Soil—Free Lesson Plan

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In this free lesson plan, In a Speck of Soil, children directly observe a small handful of soil in order to learn what it is (not dirt!), how it is made, and what it needs to be healthy.

Children act as scientists, first by observing a handful of soils with their eyes and then identifying different types of soil by feel. Next they may use scientific tools like a magnifying glass or microscope to discover more…

Habitats Near and Far

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As part of our 40th anniversary promotion, we are offering 40% off a collection of books every month. This month’s theme is Habitats: Near and Far.

Dawn has several series that look at habitats and one of our most popular is Anthony Fredericks’ Under One Rock and Near One Cattail. These books take a close-up view of common habitats we can all explore…

Worm and Dirt Cupcakes for Science Class!

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Are you teaching about gardening, composting, earthworms, or the habitat of meadows or prairies? Our Worm and Dirt Cupcakes are a fun treat to add to the lesson plan.

Worm and Dirt Cupcakes aren’t actually made out of worms and dirt. In this recipe, you can use crushed oreo cookies and gummy worms along with a premade cake mix to create a surprise addition to your lesson…

Sing the Habitats with an Award-Winning Book Series

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Now you can sing the habitats with an award-winning book series based on the song “Over in a Meadow.” One of Dawn’s most popular series, the Over books by Marianne Berkes feature forests, oceans, rivers, mountains, deserts, and jungles…not to mention the rich ecoystems of Australia and the Arctic.

The series showcases Marianne Berkes’ buoyant rhymes and a counting scheme that will have children shouting out numbers. They are likely to absorb the habitat lesson without even noticing they’re learning!

Ocean Habitat, Counting, and STEAM

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Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef is one of our top sellers, which makes sense. It’s a habitat book, a counting book, a striking and unusual art book, and it comes with a plethora of STEAM activities.

Marianne Berkes’ Over series explore habitats to the tune of ‘Over in the Meadow.’ And this particular book features the delectable art of Jeanette Canyon, who sculpts polymer clay reliefs and then photographs them to create the brilliant, textured, joyful illustrations…

The Big Picture—Kids Make Nature Connections Through Books

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One of our goals at Dawn is to make connections inside kids’ minds about how nature relates to them. These two books give kids a solid sense of the science of interdependence (with a refreshing non-preachy method), so that when they go outside, they can make deeper connections.

Starting with one of these read alouds can lead the way to identifying animals and plants, recognizing ecosystems or habitats, and understanding how humans affect the rest of nature…

Fantastic Feathers For Flying: A Free Lesson Plan

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Have you checked out our free lesson plans and STEM activities? With every book we publish we include curriculum-rich activities and nonfiction information in the back of the book—and we have additional lesson plans on our website available as free downloads!

Carol Malnor, former educator and curriculum content creator and now editor at Dawn, has created a full lesson plan for our new book, Why Should I Walk? I Can Fly! “Fantastic Feathers for Flying” is a hands-on activity that has kids investigating feathers and the features that make them function…

Big Problem, Small Scientist! Citizen Science for Kids

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Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist gives kids a head start in STEM by helping them understand scientific practices. And along with the launch of this giggle-inducing new picture book, we’ve gathered some fantastic (free) citizen science lesson plans for the classroom, so kids can get hands-on science experience just like Scampers!

Citizen science refers to any scientific project or program that uses a network of volunteers to conduct research. Those results often contribute data to scientists that would be impossible for them to collect on their own…

A Baby Robin Teaches Growth Mindset to Kids

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“If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.” – Carol Dweck author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Growth mindset has taken the education world by storm. But teaching it is not just praising effort rather than outcome. Instead, fostering growth mindset (as opposed to fixed mindset) is about encouraging children to learn to embrace challenges, effort, and mistakes as opportunities—and, importantly, to help them understand that experimenting with new strategies will help them succeed…

Full STEAM Ahead! Picture Books in the Classroom

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Brain researchers tell us that when kids are engaged, enthusiastic, or invested they retain information long-term, which is what makes picture book read-alouds such a great way to introduce STEM in the classroom.

‘Creative nonfiction’ or ‘literary nonfiction’ tell engaging stories while imparting facts or concepts. Some are entirely factual and some…get a little wild.

Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist is a great example of creative storytelling that teaches a fundamental concept of science. How do you give early elementary children a taste of the scientific method while keeping them giggling and enthralled? Tell a fantastic story!

Two Classic Environmental Alphabet Books

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A Walk in the Rainforest and A Swim through the Sea are two of Dawn’s earliest books—and people are still using them to connect kids to nature.

Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini was only 14 when she wrote and illustrated A Walk in the Rainforest. She went on to publish five more books with Dawn and was named an “Eco Star” by the Cousteau Society and inducted into the Kid Heroes Hall of Fame by E: The Environmental Magazine.

While A Walk in the Rainforest takes readers on a journey through the precious diversity of tropical rainforest, A Swim through the Sea is a playful jaunt on the bottom of the sea…

Hook Kids’ Attention Through Flow Learning

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Flow Learning was originally designed for outdoor nature games by Sharing Nature author Joseph Bharat Cornell as a way to capture student’s attention regardless of their age, mood, or culture. But did you know you can use it in the classroom too?

Carol Malnor, editor at Dawn, has tips from her own experience of adapting Flow Learning for the academic classroom. Here are her suggestions for using it to teach math, science, social studies, language, and even art classes…

3 Nature Games That Will Connect with Kids

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Forty years ago, the newly created Dawn Publications put out a book called Sharing Nature with Children, which launched a mission we still carry on today: “inspiring in children a deeper understanding and appreciation for all life on Earth.” Shortly after, Dawn began publishing books for children, centered around connecting kids with nature.

Sharing Nature with Children author Joseph Bharat Cornell went on to create a worldwide movement with workshops, online trainings, and free educational offerings to teach people how to use his system to wake up both adults and children to the world around them.

Here are three games that give you the flavor of Cornell’s nature-awareness program…

Icy Adventures, John Muir, and a Brave Little Dog – the Perfect Family Readaloud for Wintertime

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John Muir wrote Stickeen, his account of his adventures with a brave little dog, in 1880–and it is still just as thrilling over a century later. We follow Muir through a trip he called “the most memorable of my wild life,” crisscrossing icy crevasses and eventually winning over his aloof and mysterious companion, Stickeen.

Now there is a picture book adaptation that captures the spirit and adventure of the original book, while pairing it with the majestic wintry art of Christopher Canyon. Donnell Rubay’s adapted text works for both adults and children, from adventure-loving four year olds to dog-loving twelve year olds…

Joyful Noise! Soundscapes Connect Children with Nature

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Want to connect young children with nature? One surefire way is to listen to nature’s sounds. Bugs, frogs, birds, all of these creatures–and their cries, calls, and croaks–are readily found in every environment.

Soundscapes are the sounds that populate our world. They evoke a sense of home, even if we haven’t consciously been paying attention. Taking time to listen allows children a pathway to tuning in to the natural world. They also have the opportunity to recognize that nature is all around them, whether in a suburban neighborhood or on a city street…

Become a Bird Detective! Inside and Outside Birding for the Winter Season

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You may have heard of the Christmas Bird Count put on by Audubon in December. Each year individuals and families participate in a one-day bird count that contributes to the longest running community science project in the country!

It’s easy to join up, and every group includes one experienced birder, so you don’t have to be an expert to take part. The data from the count allows researchers, conservation biologists, and wildlife agencies to study the long-term health of bird populations across North America…

A Wild Turkey Read Aloud for November

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This August, a visitor took up residence outside my cabin: a juvenile wild turkey, looking forlorn and seemingly attracted by its own reflection in the glass door. Over the next two months, the wild turkey grew and grew, curling up against my doorstep during the hot days and occasionally flying and flopping heavily on my not-so-high roof.

Wild turkeys are now found in every state except Alaska, so it’s more and more likely that kids in both rural and urban areas will have spotted these tough, wily, fascinating creatures. With Thanksgiving around the corner, why not spend time learning about one turkey that won’t end up on anyone’s dinner plate!

Celebrate Daylight Saving Time with Nocturnal Games

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Next week, with daylight saving time imminent, the darkness will suddenly sneak up on us as we are leaving work or picking up kids from after-school activities. How can we celebrate the darkness–rather than complaining about it as I usually do?

One idea is to take the family out for an early evening walk: look out for nocturnal critters and cover your flashlight with red plastic wrap to make it even more fun and animal-friendly…

Sharing the Science of Climate Change with Kids

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Earlier this month the United Nation’s Scientific Panel on Climate Change published an alarming report about the consequences of global warming. Over 90 scientists found that we will be facing a climate crisis as early as 2040, with drastic effects at even a small rise in temperature. Amidst these dire warnings, how are we supposed to talk to kids about the future without overwhelming them?

Booklist says of the book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: “Veteran science writer Cherry and award-winning photographer Braasch team up to make climate change less frightening by showing children how to empower themselves as “citizen scientists…”

De-mist-ify the Water Cycle with I Am the Rain

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As it gets wetter, it’s time to play in puddles, breathe fog onto windows, and teach the water cycle! I Am the Rain is one of three Dawn books that feature water in all its myriad forms (See also Pitter and Patter and A Drop Around the World).

I Am the Rain is the 2018 winner of both the Teacher’s Choice Award and the Family Choice Award and a recipient of numerous starred reviews. Suitable for first to third grade, this lyrical picture book focuses on the forms of water, from mist to floods to flakes, with a special emphasis on the influence of the changing seasons…

Harvest Time Activities You Can Do Inside

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The fall harvest time is here (at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!) with pumpkins, falling leaves, and cold, brisk winds. It’s a perfect time to feature the harvest in the classroom, with mounds of vegetables ready to be picked, brilliant orange, red, and yellow colors, and an abundance of seasonal activities to brighten up the home and school.

Molly’s Organic Farm has 5 complete lesson plans to celebrate (and explore) everything from your senses to the seasons, all the while learning about the workings of a community-based organic garden. And you don’t have to leave your classroom to do them!

The Science and Mystery of Animal Migration–Free Lesson Plan from the NSTA

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We love this lesson plan put together by the Picture Perfect Science team for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). Part of the Teaching Science through Trade Books collection, the lesson plan uses our book, Going Home: The Mysteries of Animal Migration, for grade K-4 to discuss why animals migrate—what we know and what remains a mystery.

Written by Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry, The Mystery of Migration lesson plan includes activities to engage elementary students in an animal guessing game based on the playful rhyming verse about migration behaviors, as well as mapping routes on free printable maps…

Teaching the Seasons with Daytime, Nighttime: All Through the Year

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As we head into October, Daytime Nighttime: All Through the Year has the perfect start to the season!

This stunning picture book for K-3rd grade has art that seems to pop off the page, showing a series of creatures foraging, hunting, and building their homes, during day and night, month by month. A great way to teach the seasons, as well as diurnal and nocturnal differences, Daytime, Nighttime features two creatures per month…

Creative, Kinetic, and Fun—Science Activities that Engage

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Looking for fun science activities for K-3rd grade? Check out the activities for our new fall title, Over on the Desert: Somewhere in the World.

Over on the Desert is part of a bestselling series by Marianne Berkes that teaches about biomes—to the tune of “Over in the Meadow.” A delightful collection of desert animals, from jerboas and dingos to gilas and camels, are shown in their different habitats using adaptive behaviors, all the while the song guides kids through a fun counting game.

Our favorite science activity from the book is…

Easy to Include Literature with Science

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Dawn Publications enjoys our close connection with Project Learning Tree. Here’s what one coordinator has said about us:

“I fell in love first with the illustrations, and then the science based content! As we were just beginning to ‘have’ to include literacy in all subjects and programs, I found your books to be a wonderful way to show how easy it was to include literature in science.”

So Much More than a Fun Story—Creative Nonfiction

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If you’re looking for read-alouds that are rich on many different levels, try out our creative nonfiction picture books. Every single one has hidden depths.

Our new fall title He’s Your Daddy! is a perfect example of how deceptively simple a good creative nonfiction book can be. Children will delight in the ducklings, pups, and calves, while dads appreciate the rare bit of attention. This bouncy, rhyming text tells us, “If you were a joey, a piggyback rider,/Your daddy might be a sweet sugar glider.”

Nature Words Are Disappearing

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Words have power. They instruct and entertain. They guide and inspire. They shape our understanding of the world. Words reflect society’s values.

So I really took notice when I learned that nature words are disappearing from our culture. That’s what researchers at Greater Good Science Center discovered after reviewing millions of fiction books, thousands of songs, and hundreds of thousands of movies from 1901 to 2000.

The good news is that Dawn books are countering this trend.

CelebrateTeacher Appreciation Week

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This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and Dawn Publications would like to give a big THANK YOU to all teachers! One week of recognition is hardly enough for the time, energy, inspiration, and expertise you share with children. Dana Robbins speaks to the dedication and commitment of classroom teachers in her poem: For My Daughter Who Teaches Science from The […]

Feeling Happy and Hopeful–Lessons from Nature

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Nature is a gentle teacher for children as they learn the skills and attitudes that will lead them to lifelong happiness and success. The examples and messages in Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You support children in remembering how wonderful they are, but they’re so much more than simple esteem boosters. They offer reassurance and guidance about how to perseverance, accept change, meet challenges, trust themselves, get along with others, and have fun. These messages are great for adults, too!

Outstanding Science Trade Book

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Every year the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and in cooperation with the Children’s Book Council (CBC) selects the most outstanding science trade books.

Tall Tall Tree has just been selected for this prestigious honor! Young readers explore the wildlife in a redwood tree through counting, rhyme, and some hidden surprises.

Reading science trade books is the perfect way for students to build literacy skills while learning science content.

Other Dawn books that have won this award include:

Power in Early Nature Experiences

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Early experiences in nature enrich and shape a child’s life. That was one of the messages that came through so clearly in the new movie about Jane Goodall.

As a young girl she spent hours outside, climbed trees, and watched her dog’s behavior. As an adult she rocked the scientific community  through her groundbreaking discoveries. How did you make her discoveries? Doing the same things she did as a child! She spent hours outside where the chimps lived, climbed trees, and closely watched their behavior.

Fall Migrations are Happening NOW!

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In the book Going Home children gain new appreciation for the amazing journeys that many animals take twice a year.

home_cover

Going home, going home, we feel the urge to go.

Its time for us to travel on, it’s something we just know.

Many of us look for food, others find a mate.

And when the weather starts to change, there is no time to wait.

Use these free downloadable bookmarks with your students as you explore these activities from the book.

NEW Books for YOU

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It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the lyrical verses and stunning illustrations of two brand NEW books!

Daytime Nighttime, All Through the Year–Discover the diverse lives of two animals for each month of the year–one animal that’s active in the daytime and another that’s active at night, for a total of 24 fascinating critters. Play a matching game that connects day/night animals with their actions.

 

Tall Tall Tree–Take a peek at some of the critters that make their home in a tall, tall tree–a magnificent coast redwood. From  chipmunks chattering to slugs sliding, count the critters 1 through 10. Meet the world’s tallest trees with these fascinating facts.

Story Time From Space

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A Moon of My Own launched into space onboard Space X-13 on August 13th, heading to the International Space Station (ISS). This book, along with 8 others, was specifically chosen to be read aloud by one of the ISS astronauts while orbiting earth as part of the Story Time From Space project. A video of the reading will be archived on the the Story Time From Space website. I’ll be sure to let you know when a video is available online.

In the meantime, you can read the book here on Earth. With the upcoming solar eclipse, A Moon of My Own is a timely book to share with children. The story makes a personal connection with the moon, which is complemented by the scientific information about the moon that’s included in the back of the book.

In a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks out all of the sun’s light. But how is that possible? The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun! However, a total solar eclipse can happen because the moon is also 400 times closer to the earth than the sun is. NASA suggests this easy-to-do event sun and moon activity  to demonstrate how a solar eclipse happens.

The American Astronomical Association has compiled an extensive collection of eclipse information, websites, and teaching resources for elementary teachers. And be sure to follow safety measures for watching the eclipse with your students.

Earth Day Kicks Off Climate Education Week

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Environment and Climate Education is the theme for Earth Day 2017.

More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year. And you and your students can join them by incorporating climate and environmental lesson into your curriculum during Climate Education Week: April 22-29, 2017.

Get the science behind the headlines with the book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate. Kids will discover evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from “citizen-scientists” their own age. Use the book’s teacher guide for ready make lessons, including handouts and background information.

 

Earth Day Network offers a free Toolkit with hand-picked lesson plans, activities, and contests for K-12 students through out the week. For more information, visit www.earthday.org

Imagine That!

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As Einstein said, “Imagination embraces the whole world.” And so do Dawn’s new spring books! There’s a Bug on My Book is all about engaging a child’s imagination—from imagining that they’re reading the book outside, to “helping” a menagerie of little critters hop, fly, wiggle, and slide across the pages by tapping, jiggling, or tilting the book.   Baby on […]

An Adventure in Ice and Snow

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There’s nothing quite as wonderful as an thrilling story that’s accompanied by illustrations that bring the adventure to life. Stickeen: John Muir and the Brave Little Dog is a book that does just that. It’s the true tale of John Muir and his companion, a “wee little doggie” named Skickeen. While exploring glaciers in 1880, Muir and Stickeen found themselves […]

Turkeys Aren’t Just for Thanksgiving

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This is the time of  year that we associate with turkeys. But we shouldn’t limit these fascinating animals to just one day, or even one month. Turkeys lead amazing lives throughout the entire year. Gobble, Gobble will expand children’s appreciation for these distinctly American birds as they follow the main character, Jenny, through a year of enchanting discoveries. Jenny wrote […]

Animals in Your Neighborhood

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What wild animals have you seen in your neighborhood? Coyotes, deer, raccoons, and hawks are just a few of the wild animals who have moved into our cities. As National Geographic reports, “Mountain lions and ants are among the many species great and small figuring out clever ways to live among people.” Wild Ones: Observing City Critters reminds us that […]

Animals on the Move

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Have you noticed? Fall migration has begun. It’s often less obvious than the spring migration when animals feel an urgency to get to their breeding grounds. As science educator Don Salvtore said, “We all see animals for a season or two, perhaps in our own backyard, and then they’re gone. We don’t think of where they came from or where […]

Take a Safari Across the Curriculum

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  Come along on a safari! In Over in the Grasslands: On an African Savanna you’ll find elephants that squirt, giraffes that slurp, hornbills that toot, and seven more fascinating animals and their babies. Not to mention a”hidden” animal  on each page. Africa’s savanna is home to a delightful diversity of critters! This is the eighth book in Marianne Berkes’ series based on the […]

A Moon of My Own

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Our Moon is so present in our lives–always changing and freely observable. Last night I went outside and watched the moon rise. It was so full and round! But I know in just a few nights it will seem to have changed its shape. But the moon doesn’t actually change it’s shape. It only looks that way to us on […]

Back to School Teachable Moment

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After a long summer, how do you get kids back into the swing of school? One way is to build on their summer experiences. A recent box office hit was the movie “Finding Dory,” with a lovable (albeit grouchy) octopus named Hank, who used all kinds of tricks to escape from the aquarium. Kids loved Hank, so why not capitalize […]

What’s in YOUR Garden?

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Gardens are as unique as the gardeners who create them. What will you plant in your garden this year? You can introduce children to the wide variety of fruits and vegetables that grow in a garden by playing a guessing game. Here’s the first riddle: Delicious, nutritious, what could it be? In spring there are blossoms all over the tree. […]

Wild Animals–They’re Closer Than You Think

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Do you live in nature? Eighty percent (80%) of Americans who live in urban areas may say “no,” but according to the National Environmental Education Foundation, the answer is actually YES! “Nature may be a nice place to visit, but we don’t live there. Or do we? . . . Even when we pave it over, nature still surrounds us.” […]

Earth Day is on the Way—April 22

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This year’s theme for Earth Day is Trees For The Earth with a goal to plant 7.8 billion trees in the next five years—the kick-off is April 22nd. That’s a lot of trees! And there are a lot of people who will make it happen. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it […]

Whys and Hows of Spring Migration

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It’s springtime, and animals are on the move—migrating long distances and facing extreme challenges along the way. Migration is a powerful compulsion, but it’s also very dangerous. Why do animals do it? They migrate to find warmer weather, better food supplies, or a safe place to give birth to their young. The ten featured species Going Home: The Mystery of […]

Killer Whales Living Wild and Free

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This week SeaWorld announced that killer whales currently living at their facilities will be their last ones. They will stop breeding them immediately and phase out theatrical Orca shows over time. Although SeaWorld is making this change, orcas will continue to live in captivity for many years to come. The average male orca life span is about 30 years, though they […]

How to Teach about Climate Change

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This blog honors the life and work of Gary Braasch, co-author of How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate. Read a remembrance of Gary on our home page. “The global climate change wave is about to crest on public schools,” writes Prof. David Sobel. In fact, some are calling this wave a tsunami. How can you teach […]

Petaloso: A New Word Blossoms Forth

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What adjectives would you use to describe a flower? This is the question an Italian primary school teacher asked her class. One of the students, an 8-year-old boy, wrote down  “petaloso” meaning “full of petals.” The only problem was that there’s no such word in the Italian dictionary. At least not yet. The ending “oso” is common in Italian. But […]

Welcome to the Farm

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There’s a lot happening on the farm! Pigs roll, goats nibble, horses gallop, hens peck, and turkeys strut! Cows moo, turkeys gobble, pigs oink, and goats go maa-aa. Each and every reading of Over on the Farm will have children counting, clapping, and singing along to the classic tune of “Over in the Meadow.” They’ll also learn the names of […]

Animals Moving into the City

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Are you part of the 80% of people who live in urban and suburban areas? If you are, you may have noticed that you’re sharing your environment with more and more animals. From raccoon and deer, to foxes and falcons, lots of animals have discovered that cities are good places to live. They’re finding plenty of food, sometimes right under […]

Think Spring!

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Does your garden “wait below drifty snow?” Or maybe you’re in the part of the country where “wind roars; rain pours.” No matter what the weather looks like outside of  your window, it’s not too early to “think spring!” with one of Dawn Publications’ new books–Green Bean! Green Bean!“ “Get Out and Grow” educator William Moss says this book “is […]

Award Winning Picture Book

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Mom’s Choice Awards were announced last week, and two of Dawn Publications’ books won the Gold in the Picture Book category: If You Love Honey: Nature’s Connections and Mighty Mole and Super Soil. The Mom’s Choice Award honors excellence in family-friendly media, products, and services. It’s trusted world-wide by teachers and parents. If You Love Honey: Nature’s Connections Honey is […]

Over in the Arctic

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STAY TUNED! Dawn Publications is launching an new blog in February. In the meantime, I’ll be featuring blogs from some of Dawn’s award-winning authors. Enjoy this week’s blog by Marianne Berkes. I have fond memories of winter snow days in upstate New York. Other folks must miss the cold (somewhat) too, since my book Over in the Arctic, Where the […]

Reassuring Kids During Scary Times

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The recent news has been full of tragedies—severe storms, terrorist attacks, war and refugees. Although young children may not understand what’s happening, they pick up on the serious tone in the voices of reporters and the frightening images they see on TV. Noted child-development expert Fred Rodgers says, “It’s easy to allow ourselves to get drawn into watching televised news […]

All About Soil

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The ground under our feet matters more than we often admit. It’s a precious gift from nature. Healthy fertile soil provides homes for plants and it’s important for many natural cycles—from recycling nutrients to purifying water. Learn more about soil in this week’s featured book: Mighty Mole and Super Soil Below your feet, Mighty Mole is on the move. Like a swimmer […]

Climate Change for Kids

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  The United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) is being held in Paris from November 30th to December 11th. To coincide with this important event, this week’s featured book is: How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate. This books gives you the  science behind the headlines — evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers, and […]

Good Food for Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is a holiday that focuses on food. That makes it a perfect time to connect students with food from the garden! Because this blog is taking a break next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, I’ve included two lessons below. Both of them teach about healthy foods and plant parts. Lesson: Name That Plant: Students learn about the six parts […]

Get Gobbling!

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November is a perfect time to introduce your students to turkeys and play the “Animal Trail Game.” It may be played inside or outside. Of course playing it outside adds to the fun, provides more of a nature experience, and allows kids to get some much-needed exercise. LESSON PLAN: Animal Trail Game In this lesson, students move from station to […]

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

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  Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins!  These big, round, orange fruits take center stage from Halloween through Thanksgiving. Bring pumpkins into your classroom to engage your students in science, and don’t forget the picture books. Pairing fiction and nonfiction picture books to teach science is explained in the Picture Perfect Science series and Teaching Science Through Trade Books. Authors Emily […]

Next Time You See a Maple Seed

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  Have you ever thrown a maple seed into the air and watched it helicopter to the ground? What would happen if you took the “wings” off of the seed — would it still fly? Isn’t it remarkable that a big, beautiful maple tree lives inside the tiny seed? Emily Morgan, author of the Next Time You See book series, […]

Seed Dispersal IS Rocket Science!

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NASA has developed a free curriculum for teachers that introduces young children to the basics of flight. The first lesson in the series “Gliders in Flight” features The Dandelion Seed. Before the first airplane, the scientists and engineers who were developing “lighter-than-air” aircraft looked to parachutes and gliders to meet engineering challenges. It is from these early beginnings that aviation […]

Create a Seedy Center

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Learning Centers are a staple of many classrooms. Teachers like them because they promote independence, responsibility, and allow opportunities for self-discovery. Students like them because Center activities often feel like a “game” and they get to work alongside their peers. Use the book Pass the Energy, Please! as the basis for a variety of Centers about food chains.  An ebook […]

The Mystery of Migration

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It’s Fall and animals are on the move—migrating long distances and facing extreme challenges along the way. Migration is a powerful compulsion, but it’s also very dangerous. Why do animals do it? Where do they go? How do they succeed? Find out the answers to these questions and so much more in the book Going Home: The Mystery of Animal […]

Climate Change: What’s a Teacher to Do?

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  With so much recent media coverage about climate change, young children are bound to have heard stories of gloom and doom about the future. But what happens when we give children too much “bad news” about the environment?   Research shows that they may become fearful and anxious.* Even if our best intentions are to instill environmentally helpful behaviors, […]

Talking About Good Vibrations

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Animals, including humans, feel sound as well as hear it, and good vibrations are a key to insect communication. The NPR (National Public Radio) series “Close Listening Series: Decoding Nature through Sound,” explores ways biologists are using sound to understand animal behavior. Noisy Bug Sing-Along introduces children to interesting insects (life science) and the sound vibrations they create (physical science). […]

Reading, Writing, and ANIMALS!

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  Bees dancing, ladybugs munching, worms pooping, butterflies pollinating–wow! A meadow ecosystem is a dynamic place, as animals find food and water, shelter and safety. Using the book If You Love Honey,  spark your students’ creativity with the lesson “In My Meadow.” Lesson Plan: In this activity, children write a story about one animal’s experience as it moves around in […]

Why Go Outside?

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    I love the beginning of a new school year. Everyone (teachers, kids, and parents) have a clean slate. It’s a time to approach learning with fresh energy and new perspectives  —  it’s a great opportunity to establish a regular routine of going outside. Why Go Outside? Simply put—it can improve both classroom learning and classroom behavior. There is […]

Betcha Can’t Read Just One

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Just like many of you, this blog is going on summer vacation. I’ll be back in the middle of August with more lessons. In the meantime, enjoy some summer reading with these books. Just like eating potato chips, when you find a good book series, “you can’t read just one.” Below are several series that will inspire kids and families […]

What’s in the Garden?

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Read the riddle below to figure out what’s in the garden: Delicious, nutritious, what could it be? In spring there are blossoms all over the tree. Red, green, or yellow, with fruit that is round. If you don’t pick it, it plops to the ground. (The answer to this riddle is found in the book What’s in the Garden? by […]

Sense-ational

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Children learn about the world they live in through their five senses, and the garden is rich in sensory experiences. In Molly’s Organic Farm, children experience a year on the farm through the eyes, ears, and paws of a stray cat—Molly! A gate creaks open (hearing), Molly looks (seeing), Molly sniffs compost (smelling), the sun is hot (feeling), and Molly […]

In a Speck of Soil

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There’s lots going in the school garden! Connect your students’ garden experiences with science—soil science! Soil is like a thin living layer of skin covering the land. Everything we come into contact with on a daily basis can be traced back to soil. Soil is capable of supporting plant life and is vital to life on earth. LESSON PLAN: In […]

More Than Just “Tweet-Tweet”

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It’s spring. You’re out for a morning walk and you hear birds singing! It’s more than just “tweet-tweet.”  You hear buzzes, warbles, and trills. Maybe even a quack. Why are birds singing? And what are they saying? And WHO are these birds anyway? Get the answers to these questions in this week’s lesson plan! LESSON PLAN: Dawn ChorusListening to birds […]

What’s Blooming Where You Are?

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What flower do you think of when you hear the statement, “Spring flowers are blooming.” Did tulips, daffodils, crocuses, or poppies come to mind? If you live in southern Arizona, you may have thought of a cactus flower. The desert blooms from March through May, and one of the most spectacular flowers belongs to the Saguaro Cactus—home to many desert […]

International Mother Earth Day

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Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22! Education is at the heart of Earth Day. It began in 1970 in the U.S. with an “environmental teach in.” In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day. This year 193 participating countries will be participating.  EARTH DAY IN YOUR CLASSROOMJust imagine all of nature—mountains, prairies, oceans, deserts, and […]

Poetry Month with Picture Books

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It’s Poetry Month! A great time to address the Common Core poetry standards in a fun and engaging way. A suggested “Text Exemplar” for this standard is Over in the Meadow, a traditional song that’s been sung since the 1880s. The song’s timeless charm has new appeal for children today in the form of a picture book series by Marianne […]

April Showers

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We all know that April showers bring May flowers. But did you know that April’s showers are a crucial part of the earth’s water cycle? Let Pitter and Patter, two drops of rain, teach you all about it! Pitter and Patter fall from a gray cloud. They tumble from the sky, careen off a leaf, plunge into a stream, flow […]

How to Fall in Love With Nature

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“The average North American child spends seven hours a day staring at screens and mere minutes engaged in unstructured play outdoors…Yet recent research indicates that experiences in nature are essential for healthy growth.” — from How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art And Science Of Falling In Love With Nature, a field guide for getting kids in touch with […]

Spring Has Arrived!

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The calendar says that spring has arrived. Even if it still feels like winter where you are, you can be sure flowers are on the way. In celebration of spring, this week I’m focusing on flowers with the book On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks, and few more Icks. Plants are the basis of all ecosystems, and On One Flower is a […]

Little Brother Moose

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Seeing wild animals in towns and cities is not uncommon. Even New York City is home to all kinds of wildlife—raccoons, coyotes, opossum, deer, and hawks to name a few species. In northern regions, wild moose sometimes roam into towns. As explained in the book Little Brother Moose, “They enter towns for a variety of reasons, including illness. Naturalists speculate […]

From Snowflakes to Glaciers

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Snow and ice covered 50% of the United States last week! That got me thinking about John Muir’s trips to Alaska. Muir is probably best known for his dedication to establishing national parks, especially Yosemite. Geologists in the early 1900s believed Yosemite was the result of a violent convulsion of the earth. Muir stirred up a lot of controversy when […]

Coming Soon: National Wildlife Week

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National Wildlife Week, an event sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, is March 9-15. Prep your students for a week of awareness about wildlife using  the book Lifetimes. The book presents 24 “lifetimes.” Beginning with “A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day” and including a lifetime for an earthworm is about six years, for a giant sequoia is […]

Where Does the Snow Go?

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Most of North America is experiencing dramatic weather—snow, rain, sleet, or drought. That makes this a perfect time to study the WATER CYCLE. LESSON PLAN: Pitter, Patter, and PLOP! Pitter and Patter are two drops of rain that fall from a cloud and take different routes as they travel through the water cycle. In this activity, students listen to a read-aloud […]

Over on a Mountain

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You can easily integrate science into different subject areas using cross-curricular activities. The following lesson connects language arts and life science, with some geography added through illustrations. LESSON PLAN: Animal ActionsOver on a Mountain, Somewhere in the World introduces children to various mountain animals and the continent where they live. In this activity, students match mountain animals with their behaviors. […]

Noisy Birds in Your Backyard

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Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or rural area, birds are some of the most common wildlife you’re likely to see…and hear! So common, in fact, it’s easy to take them for granted. The following lesson brings birds into focus for you and your students. This lesson is a perfect tie-in to The Great Backyard Bird Count, a world-wide […]

Echoes Show the Way

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A baby was born to J-pod—an endangered family of orcas (killer whales) that live in the San Juan Islands. They’re regularly seen in the waters between Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC. The oldest member of the family is 103 years old! As the matriarch, people have named her “Granny” and her 78-member family is “Granny’s Clan.” Read more about the […]

Forest Bright, Forest Night

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It’s nighttime in the forest, but not all animals are asleep.  “Sun sinks, moon winks. Hello, forest night…Yip and yowl, foxes prowl.” But when the “Moon goes down, sun grows round. Hello, forest day…Whittle and rap, woodpeckers tap.” The book Forest Bright, Forest Night introduces children to animal behavior through catchy rhymes. The book’s illustrations dramatically show the difference between […]

I Have a Dream

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Martin Luther King’s hopes and dreams extended to the environment. As U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated: “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in addition to his many other achievements, helped ‘plant the seeds’ for what would become our nation’s now-thriving ‘environmental justice movement.’” It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an […]

Pass the Energy, Please!

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Just because it’s cold and snowy outside, it doesn’t mean you can’t explore nature inside…through a book! Pass the Energy, Please! is a book about nature’s food chains written to capture students’ attention to a rhyming verse. LESSON PLAN Links in the ChainAll creatures on the planet depend upon green plants. Everybody is somebody’s lunch and each of nature’s creatures […]

Baby It’s Cold Outside

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Now that it’s cold outside, how do you stay warm? Maybe you just go inside and have a hot cup of cocoa. But what do animals do to stay warm in winter? How do they adapt to the cold? LESSON PLAN: In this lesson, children learn about ten arctic animals and their babies. These animals are amazing because they’ve learned […]

Nature’s Gifts of the Season

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My wish for you during this holiday season is that you enjoy the gifts of beauty that nature offers you. As teachers it’s so important to have our own special experiences in nature. That’s why I created The Nature Portals card deck. The cards combine stunning nature photos with uplifting words to help you expand your awareness of nature’s gifts […]

Get a Clue about KLEWS Charts

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KWL charts have been a regular part of my classroom for many years, but I didn’t know about KLEWS charts until I took a free NSTA webinar. A KLEWS chart is a science specific KWL chart that helps you move students through all the steps involved in scientific reasoning. Here’s a quick summary:K=What students knowL=What students learned from evidenceE=Evidence they […]

APP-solutely Perfect App

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Choosing an appropriate app for your classroom can be challenging. Tony Vincent of Learning in Hand has created Educational App Evaluation Checklist to help you decide if the app you’re considering is right for your needs and goals. Vincent was a classroom teacher for 15 years and writes a blog to helps teachers effectively use all kinds of mobile and digital […]

Thanksgiving Garden

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Thanksgiving is a holiday that focuses on food. That makes it a perfect time to connect students with food from the garden! Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, this blog will be taking a break next week…enjoy the lessons based on these  two books for the next two weeks…both lessons teach about six plant parts. What’s in the Garden? — Good […]

Polar Plunge

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According to forecasters, An Arctic outbreak will bring the coldest temperatures of the season…By the end of the week, more than two-thirds of the U.S. will see below-average temperatures. Such weather might have you wondering, “Is global warming really happening?” But weather (conditions right now) is not the same as climate (conditions over a long-period of time). “For years, climate […]

Gobble, Gobble

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If there was ever a perfect children’s book to introduce to your students at this time of year it’s Gobble, Gobble. The main character, Jenny, is a young backyard naturalist who follows a flock of “funny-looking birds with big strong feet”—Wild Turkeys! She learns about these amazing birds through simple rhyme and colorful illustrations. LESSON PLAN: Four Seasons of TurkeysTurkeys […]

The Leaves They Are a-Changin’

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“Why do leaves change color?” It all has to do with photosynthesis—the way trees make their food using sunlight and a pigment in their leaves called chlorophyll. It’s the chlorophyll that gives leaves their green color. As temperatures drop and the days become shorter, trees stop making food and the amount of chlorophyll inside of leaves decreases. With less chlorophyll, […]

Nature’s Patchwork Quilt

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I flew home to California from Michigan this weekend. I know it’s a cliché, but I’ve got to say it: “The ground below looked like a patchwork quilt.” Squares and rectangles of various shades of browns and greens spread out below me—the farms and fields of the Midwest in autumn. I delighted in seeing rivers, lakes, and mountains interrupt the […]

Going Around the Sun

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The total eclipse of the full moon last week got us all looking up into the night sky. Build on this exciting current event by exploring the solar system with your students. The vastness of space can be daunting for young children (and adults!) to understand. How big is the earth compared to the sun? How far is 3 trillion […]

Going Home

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The mystery of migration greeted me on my morning walk this week. As the sun was rising, and the air warming, more than 200 Turkey Vultures swooped and soared over my head. With the change of the seasons animals are on the move all over the world. Migration is a powerful compulsion, sometimes taking animals over long distances, facing many […]

In a Nutshell

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It’s harvest time, and the  squirrels, acorn woodpeckers, and jays are harvesting the acorns in my yard. An acorn is technically a fruit because it houses a seed, but due to its hard outer shell it’s classified as a nut. Only one type of tree produces acorns—oak trees (Quercus genus). The following lesson begins in the fall and is completed in […]

Story Walk: A Path of Pages

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How would you like to combine literacy with physical activity and time in nature? If this sounds like a winning combination to you, here’s how you can do it with your students and meet Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards (listed at the end of the lesson plan). LESSON PLAN: Story Walk During a Story Walk, students follow “trail […]

Around One Log

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Years after a great oak tree tumbled to the ground, a whole community of animals made it their home. Roly-polies and daddy longlegs prowled here and there, while chipmunks and salamanders dashed everywhere. Is the old tree alive? Or is it now dead? LESSON PLAN: A Day in the LifeAround One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders, and Creepy Insiders introduces readers to […]

Sorting Seashells from the Seashore

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Seashells are not only homes for  sea creatures, they’re also beautiful works of art with their wonderful variety of shapes and colors. Using a rhyming verse, the book Seashells by the Seashore takes readers on a walk at the seashore, counting and naming the shells that wash up on the beach. LESSON PLAN: Sorting SeashellsThis lesson is adapted from one […]

The Prairie That Nature Built

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  At first glance a prairie may look flat, but if you look closer you’ll discover layers of life. In the book The Prairie that Nature Built, children are introduced to three levels of prairie life—creatures living in prairie grasses, underground, and in the sky over the prairie. In this activity, students “build a prairie” by creating a mural of […]

Dreaming Big!

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Back to school! As I look to the year ahead, my hope is that the ideas, lessons, and resources I share with you in this blog will not only help you with your curriculum goals, but will also encourage you to include nature awareness activities in your classroom. Each week I’ll feature a nature-themed picture book with a corresponding lesson […]

A Rainbow of Corals Puts on a Show

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Swim into summer with Kiki, an adorable green sea turtle. She discovers the fascinating world of a coral reef and “fish of all sizes and lots of surprises” in the book On Kiki’s Reef. Journey with Kiki as she meets amazing coral reef critters, avoids the dangers of the open ocean, and finally returns to the beach where she was […]

Swim Through an Alphabet of Sea Creatures

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Continuing our year-end theme of ocean animals, this week’s book is A Swim Through the Sea. Each page of this book presents a new species in alphabetical order with brilliantly colored illustrations, alliteration, and fascinating facts. And it’s endorsed by Jacques Cousteau! The following lesson plan is very versatile. It can be applied to any science topic or used as […]

Over in the Ocean

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As summer approaches, many families will be going to the ocean on vacation, so I’ll be featuring ocean-themed books for the next 3 weeks. This week’s lesson plan is based on the book Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef.  Teachers can do this activity in the classroom, and parents can do it at home. LESSON PLAN: COLORFUL CORAL […]

Bird Babies are Back!

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Look closely. What do you see? There are baby birds in the nest—Black Phoebes. They have a little tuft of black down on their heads. They don’t have any feathers yet, and you can see the pink skin of their tiny bodies. This is the time of year when baby birds are hatching and then fledging (leaving the nest), and […]

Picture Perfect Science

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One of my goals with this blog is to provide you with lessons that connect science and picture books. I recently discovered one of the best resources available—a series of three books called Picture Perfect Science Lessons by Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan. Right now I’m taking a fabulous online course with one of the authors  through the NSTA Learning […]

Tree in the Ancient Forest

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Last week my publisher received this photo of a boy in Africa reading one of Dawn Publications’ books. The photo prompted me to use The Tree in the Ancient Forest as this week’s featured book. The boy is part of a Maasai community, an ethnic group of semi-nomadic people inhabiting Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Massai have a tremendous focus […]

Nature’s Patchwork Quilt

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Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22! Education is at the heart of Earth Day. Celebrate with one of these lessons. Just imagine all of nature—mountains, prairies, oceans, deserts, and all—lying on your bed as a patchwork quilt.  Nature’s Patchwork Quilt does just that! This nonfiction picture book spreads out the plants and animals of Earth’s unique habitats for children to […]

Life in the Greenhouse

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A new report from the International Panel on Climate Change warns countries  they must make dramatic changes in their energy consumption, use of technology, and ways of life to avert  catastrophic effects of climate change.   LESSON PLAN: Life in the GreenhouseThis week’s lesson uses the book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate to help students learn […]

A Drop Around the World

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Aligning with Common Core standards doesn’t mean that you have to completely change all of your lesson plans. This week I’ve taken one of my favorite lessons about the water cycle and updated it to meet several CC standards. LESSON PLAN: THE WATER CYCLEThis lesson engages all of the senses using music, movement, hands-on art project, and creative writing to […]

Noisy Bug Sing-Along

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Although the snow and rain may be keeping your students inside, you can engage them in a dynamic and interactive lesson with Noisy Bug Sing-Aloud. This book introduces both a life science topic (insects) and physical science topic (sound vibration). The reader is treated to scientifically accurate, up-close depictions of some very cool bugs. It explains why the bugs make […]

The Dandelion Seed

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My goal has always been (and continues to be) to connect you with high-quality picture books that meet your curriculum needs. So what’s new about this blog…and what’s the same from the previous one?Same: Each week I’ll introduce you to a picture book with beautiful illustrations written in a creative non-fiction style. Most books also have information for teachers in the […]

On One Flower

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The first book I’ve chosen to kick off the new format for my blog is On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks, and few more Icks by Anthony Fredericks. Plants are the basis of all ecosystems, and this creative nonfiction story takes place in a very tiny ecosystem—a single goldenrod flower. At the back of the book, two pages of nonfiction information […]