Science, Naturally! News, Number 3, May 2007Science, Naturally! News, Number 3, May 2007A 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.
For those of you who have been customers for a long time, you know that Platypus Media has been publishing books since 2000 and now has over a dozen titles in print. On the first of January, 2006, we launched Science, Naturally!, a sister company with a commitment to developing quality science education materials for kids. We now have two books in print and four in the pipeline. We are loving creating these materials and nurturing them to completion.
Our goal is to make science education fun. Parents, teachers, librarians, and kids love our books. But what has been especially gratifying has been the response from science organizations. To say they have been supportive and welcoming would be an understatement!
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has rolled out the red carpet for us, the National Science Teacher's Association has been fabulous - and then the National Academy of Sciences even invited us to participate in their annual holiday party! Naturally, we were elated. Not bad for a start up!
Some folks might wonder how I ended up starting a company to promote science education. Many of you know my background is in lactation. For the past 18 years, I have criss-crossed the country speaking about breastfeeding. It all started when I coauthored Milk, Money and Madness: The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding. I have now written and/or edited numerous books on the topic and continue to promote and protect breastfeeding in myriad ways. I could give you a lengthy explanation of how I came to view science education as critical to my work in lactation, but I'll spare you the details and give you the quick version...
You can't appreciate the magic that is breastfeeding unless you appreciate the organ from which the milk comes.
You can't appreciate the organ that produces this magnificent fluid unless you appreciate the body that houses and supports the organ.
You can't appreciate the body unless you have an understanding of biology.
You can't appreciate biology unless you understand the intricate balance on the planet between biology, chemistry, physics and earth science.
Are you with me? I can't do my work of promoting and protecting breastfeeding, I can't be effective in educating folks about the importance of providing babies with the food that nature provides for them… without first cultivating an understanding of the whole kit-and-caboodle!
I have to spend my energy on science education if I want to help grow a generation of children who will appreciate their babies, their bodies and their planet!
For more info on Dia's lactation books and products, visit our sister company www.PlatypusMedia.com!
We hope that you are enjoying the great education you're getting from 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science! How can you tell if your students or children are really learning the material in the book? We have a way! Use our brand new Test Booklet. This handy booklet is the perfect device to gauge science literacy and assess comprehension.
The Test Booklet for 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is a fun and challenging way to measure and improve science knowledge. These booklets are a perfect activity to use at home, in the classrooms, at school, in the library, in government and non-profit organizations, science clubs, after-school programs, and children's clubs and groups.
The booklet contains all 106 questions from 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, general science, and the bonus questions. It can be used as a pre- or post-measurement tool to measure science literacy and/or content comprehension. It's also a great way to get kids really excited about science while having fun!
Just in case you have forgotten, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is the first in our 101 Things series. Watch for our upcoming titles on Math, Health, and Energy. And we aren't the only ones who love this book; it is receiving glowing reviews across the board from science writers, science organizations, science educators, and science publications.
Order a copy of the test booklet today! We also have bulk pricing opportunities! The cost of one booklet is $2.95, but if you buy 10 or more booklets, you get a 50% discount! If you want to buy 50 or more booklets, the discount goes up to 55% off! At 100 or more booklets, the discount hits 60%! This also applies to all of our other titles. Essentially, the more books you buy, the more you save.
See our website, www.ScienceNaturally.com, for more information on bulk pricing. Don't delay, your kids are waiting to show you how smart they are now that they have learned the 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science!
SPECIAL OFFER!
FREE test booklet and FREE shipping
(a $7 value!) with purchase of
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science!
Order your copy of 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, for $9.95 we'll send you a FREE copy of the test booklet! Plus, we'll ship you the book and test booklet for FREE! There's no limit on quantities. Order 1 or 100 and your test booklet and shipping are FREE!
The test booklet for 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science costs $2.95. Shipping costs add more to you order, but not with this deal!
It's easy to order! Just call us at (202)546-1674 or order at our website, www.ScienceNaturally.com. Just enter the code "FreeTest" when you go to check out!
Offer expires July 15, 2007.
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is popping up in science museums all over the country! Coast-to-coast, discovery centers are figuring out that 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is the perfect complement to their exhibits and interactive games.
The Science Museum of Minnesota, who just ordered a bunch of copies, is a large regional science museum located on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul. The Science Museum's programs combine research and collection facilities, a public science education center, extensive teacher education and school outreach programs, and an Imax Convertible Dome Omnitheater to provide science education to our audience of more than a million people per year. Visit their website at www.smm.org.
Another new customer is the Palouse Discovery Science Center in Washington State. The Palouse Discovery Science Center (PDSC) promotes science, math, and technology literacy through educational programs, exhibits, teaching collections, and activities emphasizing hands-on learning. Experience a full spectrum of programs that include live science demonstrations, hands-on lessons, films, lectures, classes, field trips, summer camps, laboratory experiences, teacher workshops, science birthdays, and outreach services. The center has a wonderful science store, the Curiosity Shop, filled with cool science toys, party favors, and gifts, including 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science! See their website at www.palousescience.org.
Closer to home, the Maryland Science Center is now carrying 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science! Located in Baltimore, it is Maryland's oldest scientific institution and one of the oldest such institutions in the entire nation! Founded in 1797 as an amateur scientific society, it has undergone vast expansions to include everything from an atrium lobby to an IMAX theater. A major expansion and renovation of the entire facility was completed in May of 2004. New exhibitions were added on all levels as well as the addition of a permanent hall showcasing dinosaurs and earth sciences, and a dedicated gallery for housing temporary exhibitions. Today, as it has been in the past, the Maryland Science Center continues to focus on remaining a vital community resource and economic development engine now and in the future. For more information, visit http://www.marylandsciencecenter.org.
Dia and her daughter, Akaela, recently attended the Annual American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference and Family Science Days. AAAS Annual Meeting is an international science and technology extravaganza that influences science professionals around the world and generates extensive news coverage to further the public understanding of science. For more information on AAAS, visit www.AAAS.org.
As part of the annual AAAS event, the conference hosts Family Science Days where groups from around the country educate people about science. The event is free and open to the public. This is Science, Naturally's! third time exhibiting at AAAS! Held in San Francisco last month, conference attendance was extremely high, matched only by the enthusiasm of the attendees.
Science, Naturally! had a booth in the exhibit hall selling 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, If My Mom Were A Platypus as well as advance copies of One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science. To check out some of the fun stuff we did at the conference, go to our free activity guide for If My Mom Were a Platypus on www.ScienceNaturally.com.
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science is one of the first books to be featured on the radio show "KidStuff" on Martha Stewart Living Radio!
Recently, the Children's Book Council (CBC) partnered with Martha Stewart Living Radio (Sirius Satellite 112) to become sponsors of the book segment of the segment called "KidStuff" which airs on Tuesdays from 1-2 pm and repeats throughout the week. The book segment is a two-three minute segment and usually features 5-6 books associated with the topic of the show.
"KidStuff" called 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science "perfect for kids, parents, grown-ups, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life."
For more information on "KidStuff", check out www.Sirius.com or www.MarthStewart.com. Keep an eye out for more Science, Naturally! titles to be featured!
We are always looking for ways to streamline our operations and save money for our customers. We've recently revised our shipping and handling prices. We think you'll like these new rates. They are easy to calculate and very affordable!
| Order Cost | Shipping |
| Under $50 | $4 |
| $51-$100 | 10% of your total |
| $101-$250 | 9% of your total |
| $251-$499 | 8% of your total |
| Over $500 | 7% of your total |
The shipping and handling charge is calculated AFTER discounts are applied on bulk purchases, so you save twice!
For more information, visit http://sciencenaturally.com/sales_shipping.shtml
*Valid on orders in North America. Shipping and handling for international orders will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Our bulk pricing offers you the perfect way to use our books as prizes, handouts, giveaways, or donations. Or sell the books and make some money for your organization!
Just buy 10 or more books, we give you HALF OFF!
Buy 50 or more and the discount goes up to 55%!
Buy 100 books, and you get a 60% discount!
Once your order gets up to 250 or more books, the discount goes up to 65%. And, if you are really looking to save, buying 500 or more books affords you a 70% DISCOUNT! That's practically FREE.
And remember, shipping costs are applied AFTER discounts are taken, so you save even more!
With discounts as great as these, you can even stock up for holiday gifts and birthday presents!
(Note: All sales are non-returnable.)
For more info, visit www.ScienceNaturally.com/sales_bulk.shtml
Our bulk pricing offers you the perfect way to use our books as prizes, handouts, giveaways, or donations. Or sell the books and make some money for your organization!
Our Event Sales Program can you spread the word and make money! It's simple. Here's how it works:
*Less shipping charges to you. We ship FedEx Ground and charge you the actual rate with no handling fees. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the unsold books back to us.
For more info, visit www.ScienceNaturally.com/sales_conference.shtml
"[Carnivores] epitomize wilderness. If you have enough space and security for carnivores, you provide security and space for a lot of other species. Carnivores are canaries in the coal mine in that sense."
~ John L. Weaver, Wildlife Researcher, as quoted in the New York Times
The National Academy of Sciences was kind enough to invite Science, Naturally! to their recent annual holiday party. Held in the lobby area of the beautiful National Academy building (the one with the Einstein statue, across the street from the Lincoln Memorial), the party was quite a gala affair.
Holiday music, dancers, arts and crafts, a buffet featuring grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza, and Santa Claus all teamed up to make this a most festive event. Hundreds of children of Academy employees came and, thanks to the generosity of the Academy, each went home with either If My Mom Were A Platypus or 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science. We were honored to be a part of the event and took the opportunity to engage in some mammal education.
As a new employee, I knew that we would be handing out books and teaching the children about mammals, but I never knew how much I would learn. Did you know that, despite being the largest mammals on land, elephants make almost no noise when they walk? Or that mammals not only have backbones, but almost every one has exactly seven vertebrae in its neck?
These are just a few of the facts we taught the children at the holiday party. They were eager to watch our demonstrations and play our games. I was amazed and impressed with every child's desire to learn as much as possible. Our table was more popular than the cookie table…well, almost...
Either way, the children (and their parents!) soaked up knowledge like the sponges we used to mimic the pads on elephant feet!
At the end of the party, Santa came out with his "Frosty Folly" dancers to the tune of "Jingle Bells". While the whole event was very festive, it's great to know that the kids could learn as they celebrated.
SPECIAL OFFER!
FREE test booklet and FREE shipping
(a $7 value!) with purchase of
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science!
Order your copy of 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, for $9.95 we'll send you a FREE copy of the test booklet! Plus, we'll ship you the book and test booklet for FREE! There's no limit on quantities. Order 1 or 100 and your test booklet and shipping are FREE!
The test booklet for 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science costs $2.95. Shipping costs add more to you order, but not with this deal!
It's easy to order! Just call us at (202)546-1674 or order at our website, www.ScienceNaturally.com. Just enter the code "FreeTest" when you go to check out!
Offer expires July 15, 2007.
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science was featured ON THE COVER of Science Books and Films, Sept/Oct 2006 issue, and selected as a RECOMMENDED TITLE!
Science Books & Films ** 101 Things Everyone Should Know about Science was featured on the cover of the magazine!!
Michels, Dia L., and Nathan Levy. 101 Things Everyone Should Know about Science.
(Illus.) Washington, DC: Science, Naturally!, 2006. 160pp. $9.95. ISBN 0-9678020-5-9. Index.
EA-YA, GA
"In the introduction to this book, the authors make the case that "there is a general lack of public understanding about science." To promote better understanding, they have created a volume that both children and adults can enjoy. The book first poses a quiz of 101 questions under the headings "Biology," "Chemistry," "Physics," "Earth Science," and "General Science." Learning occurs when the reader checks the answers, each of which has a clear discussion in a few paragraphs. The information is accurate, but of even greater importance is the fact that the book is stimulating and creates a positive attitude toward science. The praises given by other reviewers are right on the mark."
Gary A. Griess, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX
SB&F September/October 2006 210-211
For more information on Science Books and Films, go to sbfonline.com.
Journal of Virginia Science Education
The peer-reviewed journal of the Virginia Association of Science Teachers
November 2006 Volume 1 Number 1
"This is the perfect book to leave lying around in your upper elementary, middle-school or high-school classroom. You'd make it available-maybe a couple of copies, even-so when the kids finish their lab or quiz or reading or whatever they might pick it up and browse.
"101 Ways is a book for those kids who just can't get enough science-or maybe for those kids who didn't know how much science they wanted to get. That means, of course, that it won't be a book for everybody. But there are lots kids out there it'll work for-and for them, it'll really work. This is indeed a pleasant book to have around, maybe to give as a present or a prize for those students who make it worth your while to show up every day."
Nick Boke, see full review at http://www.sciencenaturally.com/reviews_science.shtml
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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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