Science, Naturally! News, Number 1, April 2006Science, Naturally! News, Number 1, April 2006A regular publication of Science, Naturally!, an independent publisher creating products that teach the science of everyday life.
WELCOME to Science, Naturally! News, an electronic newsletter from Science, Naturally! We hope you find that the information we provide is useful. Feel free to forward the newsletter to friends or colleagues.
We launched Platypus Media in 2000 with titles designed to meet the needs of new parents, maternal and child health professionals and elementary and middle school educators. After half a decade and a dozen books, we decided to split Platypus Media into two companies with each focusing more on their core markets. We are pleased to announce Science, Naturally!, our new publishing house, created to develop books for elementary and middle school students and educators. This move allows Platypus Media to focus on the new parents and maternal/child health markets. Science, Naturally! now has one title in print and half dozen in production.
Our flagship title, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, was released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in St. Louis. The response was gratifying. Within seventy-two hours, hundreds of copies were purchased and many copies of our upcoming books were pre-ordered. In addition to 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, look for 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math and 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Health in the near future. Also in the works are 60 One-Minute Mysteries in Science, 60 One-Minute Mysteries in Math and 60 One-Minute Mysteries in Health.
We are excited to be a part of this new endeavor and hope you share that excitement with us. Please let us know your thoughts, suggestions and needs. Contact us anytime at 866.SCI.9876 (866.724.9876) or Info@ScienceNaturally.com.
Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder? What keeps the planets orbiting around the sun? Why do we put salt on roads when they are icy? What metal is a liquid at room temperature? And the burning question: Why do so many scientists wear white lab coats?
Science affects everything -- yet so many of us wish we understood it better. Using an accessible question-and-answer approach, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science expands a reader's knowledge-whether they are 8 or 108. Key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and general science are explored and demystified by an award-winning science writer and a seasoned educational trainer in consultation with a team of scientists. Endorsed by science organizations and educators, this easy-to-tackle book is a powerful tool to assess and increase science literacy.
Just released, this book has already garnered lots of attention-Katrina L. Kelner, Ph.D. of Science magazine says "Succinct, cleverly written…should be on everyone's bookshelf!", Julie Edmonds, Ph.D. of the Carnegie Academy for Science Education says "...encourages a lifetime of curiosity about the world around us!" and April Holladay, the author of USA Today's online science column WonderQuest says "Their book challenges our understanding, intrigues us, and leads us on a voyage of discovery!"
Dia Michels is an award-winning science writer who has written and edited over a dozen books for adults and children, including If My Mom Were a Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers and Breastfeeding at a Glance: Facts, Figures and Trivia about Lactation.
Nathan Levy is the author of Stories with Holes, Whose Clues? and Nathan Levy's 100 Intriguing Questions. A gifted educator, Nathan has worked directly with children, teachers and parents in his thirty-five years as a teacher and principal.
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science
Dia L. Michels and Nathan Levy
Ages 8 to 108
160 pages
$9.95
0-9678020-5-9
We are very excited about our new title... 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, we want EVERYONE to have a copy for themselves, give them as gifts and donate them to libraries and schools. This book is endorsed by science organizations and educators and is perfect for kids, grown-ups and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life.
*Buy now and get discounts up to 62%*
5 Copies for $ 34.95 and FREE shipping: 36% Discount!! (retail: $55.75)
10 Copies for $ 59.95 and FREE shipping: 43% Discount!! (retail: $107.50)
25 Copies for $124.95 and FREE shipping: 53% Discount!! (retail: $268.75)
100 Copies for $389.95 and FREE shipping: 62% Discount!! (retail: $1074.50)
*Expires May 31, 2006*
D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything and Read. Schools often have D.E.A.R. time (sometimes called D.I.R.T., S.S.R., U.S.S.R., S.Q.U.I.R.T., F.V.R. or P.O.W.E.R.). It's when kids can read and enjoy the books they want, just for the pleasure of reading and with no questions asked!
This year, on April 12, 2006, we're celebrating National "Drop Everything and Read" Day. It's a partnership effort of Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org), the National Education Association (NEA), the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, and HarperCollins Children's Books. The aim of this nationwide initiative is to encourage families to designate a special time to "drop everything and read" at home. So, on April 12th, families will be encouraged to take at least 30 minutes to put aside all distractions and enjoy books together.
The 90th birthday of beloved Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary is the official date for D.E.A.R. Day. Cleary's most popular children's book character, Ramona Quimby, is the program's official spokesperson. (The concept of "Drop Everything and Read" is referenced in the second chapter of Ramona Quimby, Age 8).
Teachers can request one free set of D.E.A.R. materials, which includes a poster, reproducible handouts, and a DVD featuring Beverly Cleary. Please see the D.E.A.R. web site for details.
From http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/dear.
Have you purchased 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science? Do you think this book is as fun as we do? Then we would like to ask for your help. Please write an on-line reader review at Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble. Many buyers rely on customer reviews in making their purchases and a good word from you, our faithful readers, would be much appreciated by us! You can post your review at www.amazon.com and/or www.BN.com.
"Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."
~ Albert Einstein
Chemical reactions occur every day all around us. A chemical reaction is a process where one type of substance is chemically converted to another substance. That fizzling toilet bowl cleaner is a chemical reaction. The fire in your fireplace is another type of chemical reaction. The smoke that comes out of Dad's ears when you lose one of his favorite golf clubs is a result of a chemical reaction. OK, so maybe that's a bad example!
This experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction that's fairly common all around us (and we don't have to touch Dad's golf clubs to make this one work).
What happened to the temperature? Are you surprised that the temperature rose? (Sorry this experiment didn't produce any smoke but then again, you didn't get grounded either).
The vinegar removes any protective coating from the steel wool, allowing the iron in the steel to rust. Rusting is a slow reaction of iron with oxygen. When this happens, heat energy is released. The heat released by the rusting of the iron causes the mercury in the thermometer to expand and rise.
Parent's Note. Chemical reaction is a process in which one substance is chemically converted to another. All chemical reactions involve the formation or destruction of bonds between atoms. Chemical reactions include the rusting of iron and the digestion of food. Most chemical reactions give off heat. For example, chemical reactions that occur in digestion give off heat that keeps our bodies warm and functioning.
Chemists use chemical equations to express what occurs in chemical reactions. Chemical equations consist of chemical formulas and symbols that show the substances involved in chemical changes. The chemical reaction for the rusting of iron shows that four atoms of solid iron react with three molecules of oxygen gas to form two units of solid rust. Experiments demonstrate that iron and oxygen react in these proportions in air at room temperature. Rust is the product, or result, of the reaction. Iron and oxygen are the reactants. The reactants are the substances that undergo chemical change.
Taken from http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/experiments/
We are very excited about our new title... 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, we want EVERYONE to have a copy for themselves, give them as gifts and donate them to libraries and schools. This book is endorsed by science organizations and educators and is perfect for kids, grown-ups and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life.
*Buy now and get discounts up to 62%*
5 Copies for $ 34.95 and FREE shipping: 36% Discount!! (retail: $55.75)
10 Copies for $ 59.95 and FREE shipping: 43% Discount!! (retail: $107.50)
25 Copies for $124.95 and FREE shipping: 53% Discount!! (retail: $268.75)
100 Copies for $389.95 and FREE shipping: 62% Discount!! (retail: $1074.50)
*Expires May 31, 2006*
The 2006 Summer Reading Extravaganza is devoted to paperback books published by Children's Book Council (CBC) members. It is for summer-themed titles, beach reads, and other books for vacation reading. The Summer Reading Extravaganza will launch on May 1 and will remain prominently featured on CBC Online's home page through Labor Day, and will be listed on CBC Magazine's front page for the rest of the year. Science, Naturally! currently has two books included in the extravaganza: 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science and If My Mom Were A Platypus.
For more information visit: http://www.cbcbooks.org/
Science, Naturally! is looking for an illustrator for several upcoming books. The illustrations would consist of black and white line drawings of babies, children, nature and more. If you are interested in being considered, please email Catherine Finn at Catherine@ScienceNaturally.com. Be prepared to email or send some samples along with your payment requirements. Thank you!
National Book Network (NBN)-All Science, Naturally! titles are distributed by NBN. They are the largest independent distributor in North America. They provide sales, marketing, order fulfillment, and credit and collections services to independent publishers of commercial fiction and non-fiction books and audio.
| NBN Books Headquarters 4501 Forbes Blvd. Suite 200 Lanham, MD 20706 Ph: 301.459.3366 FAX: 301.429.5746 |
Orders PH: 800.462.6420 FAX: 800.338.4550 CustServ@nbnbooks.com www.nbnbooks.com |
NCAR Science Store is pleased to carry Science, Naturally! books. They are a non-profit science store located in the lobby of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, in Boulder, CO. They carry products that relate to science learning-everything from science kits/gadgets to books on all science subjects for all age groups. Stop by for a day of learning and shopping or visit their small online store.
| NCAR Science Store 1850 Table Mesa Drive Boulder, CO 80305 720.304.8670 |
www.ncarsciencestore.com Mgr: Heidi Lewis hlewis@ucar.edu |
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Science, Naturally! is committed to increasing science literacy by exploring and demystifying key science topics. Our mission is to produce products--for children and adults alike--that are filled with interesting facts, important insights and key connections in science. Our materials are designed to make potentially intimidating topics intriguing and accessible. Our products are perfect for kids, parents, educators and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science affects everyday life.
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