Teachers.net6-9
Explore Rocks and Minerals!
Have you ever wondered what those sparkly specks in the piece of gravel in your driveway might be? Or why some crystals grow so big? In Explore Rocks and Minerals! kids can try activities that will help them figure out the answers, from testing minerals and making crystals, to making yummy models of the earth and volcanic meringue cookies. Explore Rocks and Minerals! presents an in-depth discussion of how minerals form, teaching readers ages 6–9 all about some of the most interesting and most common minerals. It also explores how and why the earth changes, including the rock cycles of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Finally, the book introduces kids to fossils and what they tell us about the past, and how to start their own collections of rocks, minerals, and fossils.
"I recommend this fun and educational introduction to the science of Geology.”
—Marc L. Wilson, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
“This is a terrific introduction to an exciting science, one that appeals to kids at an early
age! I will certainly enjoy Explore Rocks and Minerals with my grandson (third-generation
geologist?) when he is a little older.” —R.A. (Bud) Wobus, Williams College
“A great book with accurate, factual information about geology coupled with
easy-to-do and instructive exercises. A worthwhile addition for families and
teachers alike!”—Matt Nyman, PhD, The University of New Mexico
Books
Anderson, Alan, Gwen Diehn,and Terry Krautwurst.
Geology Crafts for Kids: 50 Nifty Projects to Explore the
Marvels of Planet Earth. New York: Sterling, 1998.
Blobaum, Cindy and Michael Kline. Geology Rocks!:
50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth.
Vermont:Williamson Publishing Company, 1999.
Bonewitz, Ronald Louis. Rock and Gem.
New York: DK Smithsonian, 2008.
Farndon, John. The Complete Guide to Rocks & Minerals.
Massachusetts: World Publications Group, 2007.
Farndon, John. How the Earth Works.
New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd, 1999.
Pough, Frederick H. Peterson First Guide to Rocks
and Minerals. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company,1991.
Symes, R.F. and R.R Harding. Crystal and Gem. New York:
DK Children, 2007.
Ward, David. Fossils (Smithsonian Handbooks).
DK Adult, 2002.
Web Sites
U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.)
The City Rocks! Explore the Hidden World of Building Stone
The story of the Haddonfield “Bone Wars”
Strange Science: The Rocky Road to Modern Paleontology and Biology
Science News for Kids
The Story of the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian
Mineral Information Institute
Museums
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, D.C.
University of California Museum of Paleontology
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
Mineralogical Museum at Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA
Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History
Franklin Mineral Museum,
Franklin, NJ
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture,
Seattle, WA
Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum, Phoenix, AZ
The Mineral Museum of Michigan
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Mineral and Fossil Museums, Exhibits, and Displays in
the USA
Bryan Stone has worked on a variety of professional comics and illustration projects, including drawings for Dartmouth College’s Hopkins Center and a monthly, three page, comic called Onion Head for Bash Magazine. Bryan also self-publishes his comic book, Frogherder. Bryan moved from Alabama to New England so that he could attend The Center for Cartoon Studies. Bryan and his wife, Amanda Ann, live in White River Junction, Vermont. For more information visit his website, www.bryan-stone.com
Try this activity to get an idea of how a fossil forms but remember NEVER pour plaster down the sink!
Soccer World Mexico
Ethan continues his adventures around the world, this time meeting up with his young soccer-playing friend Gabriel in Mexico City as they explore the culture and customs of our neighbors to the south. From a walking tour of Mexico City to visits at ancient civilization ruins; from an amazing once-in-a-lifetime butterfly migration sanctuary to colorful Lucha Libre wrestling - Ethan and readers experience the real Mexico, away from the tourist traps and border towns.
Activities generated from each chapter are wide-ranging, including learning Spanish, science and math projects based on the Mayan cultures, creative writing and art projects borrowed from Mexican folk art and celebrations, and even a few simple recipes.
Children's Literature Review June 2010—Soccer player Ethan Zahn used the million dollars he won the Survivor TV series to parley his interest in soccer into Grassroot Soccer, a non-profit dedicated to AIDS education and prevention. This book is one of a series that features Ethan visiting a young soccer player in another country. Despite the series title, “Explore the World through Soccer,” the game itself plays a minor role in this informational book. Instead the framework allows the book to deliver a potpourri of facts about the history, culture, geography of the host country, along with some science facts and activities. The information is divided into chapters; rather than photos, the illustrations are graphic novel style, in keeping with the layout. The readable text is dotted with pull-outs featuring smaller chunks of information or vocabulary.
Tonic.com May 2010 —Ethan Zohn's children's book is simply the best.
Jack Bell, New York Times May 2010—An early winner of the CBS show “Survivor,” Zohn took his $1 million prize and dived into the world of philanthropy with Grassroots Soccer (an organization that promotes AIDS awareness in Africa) and other projects. This is a children’s book written by a guy who is a child at heart.
“Ethan demonstrates the culturally empowering aspect of sports in a way that kids will embrace and enjoy. Parents everywhere will enjoy reading these books with their kids and will find them both educational and fun.”
—Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner
“Fantastic! Soccer World blends history, culture, and the excitement of soccer all rolled into one. Kids are sure to love these.”
—Jack Bell, The New York Times soccer columnist
“These books are terrific and any parent should be excited to share them with their children . . . it's the perfect mix of education and soccer!”
—Mia Hamm, two-time FIFA World Player of the Year
“With Ethan’s Soccer World books I can share with my son not only the fun of soccer, but also the cultural and geographical importance of the world's greatest game! Soccer World is a kick that I will pass on to my son.”
—Brandi Chastain, FIFA World Cup Winner
“Ethan’s books provide a passport around the world to soccer-playing and soccer-loving kids everywhere!”
--Cobi Jones, former L.A. Galaxy player and current assistant coach
“The Soccer World series is an inventive way to instruct and entertain children, all through the lively eyes of soccer star Ethan Zohn. The books speak to kids on their level, engaging them with fascinating facts about the host countries and include supplemental fun activities to try at home. In each book, Ethan will meet a young friend who serves as a wonderful entry point for a child's understanding as well as that region's culture. I heartily endorse this book series—and learned quite a few things myself!”
—Kate Boutilier, executive producer, “Rugrats” and “The Wild Thornberrys”
Shawn Braley, Shawn Braley is an award-winning illustrator. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. He specializes in cartoon and editorial illustration. Braley is also a world traveler, musician, cat owner, and comic art collector. He lives in Southern Vermont. http://www.shawnbraley.com
In nature, rainwater seeps through rocks in the ground, a process that helps clean it. Here is a fun experiment to show exactly how this process works. The sand and charcoal trap the particles of dirt in the water, making it cleaner!
Soccer World South Africa
With a passion for connecting to the world, real-life pro soccer player Ethan Zohn takes his readers on the first Soccer World adventure to South Africa, home of the World Cup in 2010. There, he meets up with his soccer-playing friend Tawela, who serves as a guide to her remarkably diverse country. They explore ancient cave art and wildlife preserves, watch whales migrate, and even attend a pro soccer game at one of the biggest stadiums in the world. Along the way, their visits generate unique and culturally specific activities in math, science, language, geography, and art—from mask making and hot air experiments to learning how to say hello in one of the 11 official languages of the country. Their journey ends with a chance to choose an actual help project in South Africa to make a difference there.
Soccer World Authors Ethan Zohn and David Rosenberg have teamed up with The Books For Trade Foundation.
Jack Bell, New York Times May 2010— An early winner of the CBS show “Survivor,” Zohn took his $1 million prize and dived into the world of philanthropy with Grassroots Soccer (an organization that promotes AIDS awareness in Africa) and other projects. This is a children’s book written by a guy who is a child at heart.
Children's Literature Review June 2010 — Ethan Zohn, a real-life professional soccer player, invites the reader to take a trip with him to South Africa. He meets a new friend there, an eight-year-old girl named Tawela, who shows him how they play “street soccer” in her country. The two of them later travel to Johannesburg, where they watch a soccer match played in front of tens of thousands of people. Along the way, they visit unusual places and learn about the geography, customs, and cultures of South Africa. They also discover a wealth of information about physics, geology, and other sciences. This is that rare book that successfully combines history and science with human interest. Told in first person by Mr. Zohn, the story immediately captures and holds the attention of the reader. Mr. Zohn often addresses the reader with thought-provoking comments intended to get his audience to picture what life is like in other countries. The scientific information is reinforced by the inclusion in the book of simple experiments that children can perform with the aid of grown-ups. The book stresses the idea of soccer as a means to bring people together to build cooperation and understanding. Mr. Zohn and his co-author, David Rosenberg, emphasize that they “want to make a difference for those who need our help,” and at the back of the book they provide suggestions for readers on ways to support charitable groups benefiting South Africa. Mr. Zohn has proved himself to be an able ambassador for soccer and for people around the globe in this book, which is intended to be the first in a series of “Soccer World” books.
Tonic.com May 2010 — Ethan Zohn's children's book is simply the best .
“Ethan demonstrates the culturally empowering aspect of sports in a way that kids will embrace and enjoy. Parents everywhere will enjoy reading these books with their kids and will find them both educational and fun.” —Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner
“Fantastic! Soccer World blends history, culture, and the excitement of soccer all rolled into one. Kids are sure to love these.” —Jack Bell, The New York Times soccer columnist
“These books are terrific and any parent should be excited to share them with their children . . . it's the perfect mix of education and soccer!” —Mia Hamm, two-time FIFA World Player of the Year
“With Ethan’s Soccer World books I can share with my son not only the fun of soccer, but also the cultural and geographical importance of the world's greatest game! Soccer World is a kick that I will pass on to my son.” —Brandi Chastain, FIFA World Cup Winner
“Ethan’s books provide a passport around the world to soccer-playing and soccer-loving kids everywhere!” --Cobi Jones, former L.A. Galaxy player and current assistant coach
“The Soccer World series is an inventive way to instruct and entertain children, all through the lively eyes of soccer star Ethan Zohn. The books speak to kids on their level, engaging them with fascinating facts about the host countries and include supplemental fun activities to try at home. In each book, Ethan will meet a young friend who serves as a wonderful entry point for a child's understanding as well as that region's culture. I heartily endorse this book series—and learned quite a few things myself!” —Kate Boutilier, executive producer, “Rugrats” and “The Wild Thornberrys”
Shawn Braley, Shawn Braley is an award-winning illustrator. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. He specializes in cartoon and editorial illustration. Braley is also a world traveler, musician, cat owner, and comic art collector. He lives in Southern Vermont. http://www.shawnbraley.com
Make Your Own soccer ball JUST LIKE THE KIDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Explore Transportation! 25 Great Projects, Activities, Experiments
Explore Transportation! travels on an adventure through time and around the globe to learn about the history and science of transportation. From camels to jet engines, pigeons to
submarines, young readers will explore the unusual and exciting ways that civilizations old and new have moved people, information, and objects from place to place.
Twenty-five easy-to-follow projects require minimal adult supervision and use primarily common household products and recycled supplies. Kids ages 6–9 will have so much fun with Explore Transportation! they won’t even realize they’re learning about history, science, math, culture, and geography along the way. Projects range from making a homemade compass and fl ying a miniparachute, to deciphering Morse code and locating the
North Star. Exploring the evolution of the simple wheel all the way to the sophisticated and complex spaceship, kids will discover that imagination has the power to create
huge changes in our world. By combining a hands-on element with riddles, jokes, fun facts, and comic cartoons, kids Explore Transportation!, and have a great time discovering all the ways we get around.
AVAILABLE NOW
Booklist February 2010 — This overview of transportation, with its easy-to-read print and cheerful, cartoon-style artwork, will have immediate appeal. Once they delve more deeply, readers will find a book that’s broadly well organized….. plenty of hits, and with so much information and ideas to pore through, readers should find something to interest them.
“Nothing has defined our modern existence more effectively than our ability to travel on land, sea, and air, as well as to move into space. Explore Transportation! shows how we have come to this point in our highly mobile society, tracing the history of transportation and offering easy to understand and complete activities that children of all ages will enjoy and learn from.” —Roger D. Launius, Ph.D., Senior Curator, Division of Space History, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
“A fantastic introduction to the fascinating, ever-changing world of transportation. The combination of hands-on activities and interesting facts make it an ideal active learning tool. My daughters would love it.” —Brian L. Smith, Associate Professor, University Director—Smart Travel Laboratory, University of Virginia
“Explore Transportation! is a delightful and engaging book for elementary school age children, helping them understand how transportation plays a vital part in everyday life for them and millions of people around the world. Filled with facts, pictures, and fun things to do, children will enjoy seeing how transportation has evolved over time and how important it is in moving people and goods from one place to another, whether by horse, bicycle, auto, train, boat, plane, or spaceship.” —Robert S. Foyle, P.E., The Institute for Transportation Research and Education, North Carolina State University
“Combining a sense of humor with valuable educational insights, Explore Transportation! introduces young children to the fascinating world of transportation. From an early age kids are naturally drawn to all modes of moving around. Explore Transportation! brings the topic to life and promises to inspire a new generation of students for my classes in transportation policy and technology.” —Professor Daniel Sperling, Founding Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis
“Offers a concise exploration of transportation and how it has affected the human race. The universal idea of travel gives way to new inventions and Kjelle interprets them all. —James Vannurden, Director/Curator, National Museum of Roller Skating
BOOKS
Benson, Joseph: The Traveler's Guide to Pony Express. Helena, Montana: Falcon Press, 1995.
Bingham, Caroline, and Trevor Lord. Big Book of Transportation. New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2006.
Branley, Franklyn M. Think Metric! New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1972.
Brimmer, Larry Dane. Subway: The Story of Tunnels, Tubes, and Tracks. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2004.
Carson, Mary Kay. The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, 2003.
Casanellas, Antonio. Great Discoveries and Inventions That Improved Transportation. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens, 1999.
Coiley, John. Eyewitness: Train. New York: DK Publishing, 2000.
Graham, Ian. Amazing Machines: Mighty Cars. Franklin Watts, 2006.
Farndon, John. 1000 Things You Should Know About Buildings and Transportation. Broomhall, PA: Mason Crest Publishers, 2003.
Hamilton, John. Transportation: A Pictorial History of the Past One Thousand Years. Edina, MN: Abdo, 2000.
Herbst, Judith. The History of Transportation (Major Inventions Through History). Minneapolis: Twenty First Century Books, 2006.
Humble, Richard. Submarines and Ships. New York: Viking, 1997.
Klaman, Bobbie and Kate Calder. Travel in the Early Days. New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2001.
Lavery, Brian. Ship: The Epic Story of Maritime Adventure. London: D.K. Publishing
Inc., 2004.
Mattern, JoAnn. Transportation: Yesterday and Today. Farmington Hills, MI, 2004.
Maynard, Christopher. I Wonder Why Planes Have Wings and Other Questions About Transportation. New York: Kingfisher Books, 1993.
McNeese, Tim. Conestogas and Stagecoaches. New York: Crestwood House, 1993.
Old, Wendie C. and Robert Andrew Parker. To Fly. Boston: Clarion Books, 2002.
Richards, John. The Big Book of Transportation. London: Brimax, 2002.
Richards, Jon. Transportation. (How Things Have Changed) North Mankato, MN: Chrysallis Education, 2005.
Santella, Andrew. Air Force One. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.
Steins, Richard. Transportation Milestones and Breakthroughs. Austin, Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1995.
Sutton, Richard. Eyewitness: Car. New York: DK Publishing, 2005.
Will, Sandra. Transportation Inventions:From Subways to Submarines. New York: Bearport Publishing Company, Inc. 2006.
Williams, Brian. Transportation Technology. North Mankato, MN, 2008.
Wilson, Anthony. Visual Timeline of Transportation. New York: DK Publishing, 1995.
Woods, Michael, and Mary B.Woods. Ancient Transportation. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2000.
Websites
Advanced Transportation Technology Institute
http://www.atti-infoorg/
Boeing Air Force One Website
www.boeing.com/defense-space/military.af1/
Canoe History
http://www.waterspirits.com/history.html
Bicycle History
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHhistory.html
Famous Inventors Website
http://inventors.about.com/od/famousinventions/Famous_Invention_From_A_t...
History of railroads and maps
http://www.memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/rrintro.html#US
How Stuff Works: Transportation Channel
www.howstuffworks.com/transportation-chanel.htm
The Moon Landing
http://www.kidport.com/REFLIB/Science/MoonLanding/MoonLanding.htm
NASA International Space Station Website
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
National Air and Space Museum
www.nasm.si.edu
National Railroad Museum
http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org
National Railroad Historical Society
www.nrhs.com
New York Metropolitan Transit Authority
www.mta.nyc.y.us
Roller Skate Museum
http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com
Transportation Timeline
http://inventors.about.com
U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission
http://www.centennialoflight.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) Statistics
www.bts.gov
Bryan Stone has worked on a variety of professional comics and illustration projects, including drawings for Dartmouth College’s Hopkins Center and a monthly, three page, comic called Onion Head for Bash Magazine. Bryan also self-publishes his comic book, Frogherder. Bryan moved from Alabama to New England so that he could attend The Center for Cartoon Studies. Bryan and his wife, Amanda Ann, live in White River Junction, Vermont. For more information visit his website, www.bryan-stone.com
You may not need to carry it on your head, but this papier-mâché basket is a nice way to keep or carry your belongings.
