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This Sunday night you might want to let your kids stay up late. Sunday June 30th is National Meteor Watch Day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the wonders outside of our world as we know it. All you need is a blanket, your backyard, the lights off, and a cloudless sky; maybe you’ll be lucky enough to spot a glowing streak of a meteor entering our atmosphere! What are Meteors? Meteors are made up of dust and pieces of rock from space that burn up as they enter the earth’s atmosphere. As they burn, they turn different colors. The different colors indicate the different gases that the rocks are made up of. The bright light that seems to be “falling” across the sky is actually glowing hot air that zips through the atmosphere after the hot rock dissolves. Meteors can end up in our atmosphere from the tails of comets or the orbits of asteroids. The Earth’s path through space leads us through a concentration of debris annually, causing greater concentrations of meteor showers around the same time every year. Most of the meteor showers that we see annually are created by comets that are orbiting the sun, leaving behind a trail for the Earth to go through. However, random meteors can appear on any particular night, averaging about six per hour all year round. Our atmosphere constantly protects the Earth, so most of the time we don’t notice a passing meteor unless we’re looking for it. If a meteor passes through the layers of the atmosphere without completely disintegrating, it is called a meteorite. Meteorites that make it to Earth are typically quite large. They end up shining brighter in the sky because of their size, but they are still hard to find once they hit the ground. Meteors and the Moon Have you ever seen the man in the moon? His face was actually made by meteors! In the beginning of our solar system there was a lot of space debris floating around. A lot of this was rock and ice, which clumped together forming asteroids and meteorites. Because the moon doesn’t have any atmosphere, like the Earth does, this debris barreled right into the moon’s surface. It took major impact, creating the craters. The moon doesn’t have any weather or geologic activity (volcanoes) to erode the harsh craters, so they remain intact after centuries. How to Look for Meteor Showers A few websites allow users to look at an interactive sky chart that tracks larger showers. They tell you what meteor showers you might possibly see from your hemisphere and location. Here are some sites that you can use to track the showers: An Interactive Map A Meteor Shower Calendar Maybe this Sunday June 30th you’ll be able to wish upon a falling “star” on National Meteor Watch Day!

National Wind Day is a global event that takes place annually on June 15th in order to celebrate wind and the energy that it creates. The power that wind energy produces is so great that it can change our entire energy system, help decrease pollution, and even boost employment. Wind energy has already affected several countries and industries. Here are some cool facts that celebrate how wind is changing our world! The Wind Industry Changed Economies By producing turbines that generate wind, traditional industries like shipbuilding in Europe have ample opportunities for employment. Some of these companies now produce some of the major parts of the windmills, creating more jobs and using businesses that were becoming obsolete by taking advantage of the tools and skills they already had. In America, wind turbine technician is one of the fastest growing jobs. States all over the country have invested billions in wind. In New Mexico this investment supported about 4,000 jobs. Wind is Clean Energy Wind power provides clean and emission-free power. By replacing the burning of fossil fuels, coal, or nuclear power, we can help keep our earth greener. Wind is a sustainable source of energy for our future, and allows us to not depend on creating a carbon footprint. The U.S. wind power substitutes the carbon pollution of over 28 million cars for wind energy. Related Activity: DIY Wind Car A DIY wind car is a fun and easy science lesson! Building the car is a fun activity for kids of all ages to learn about the science of wind. Plus, it helps youngsters practice their fine motor skills. Find the instructions on stirthewonder.com. The Sun Creates Wind Energy When the sun warms up our planet, it isn’t always distributed equally. This causes temperature and pressure differences, which ultimately creates wind. Winds are the earth’s way of trying to counteract these differences in the temperature of the atmosphere. Related Activity: Hot Air/Cold Air This activity from Learning4Kids.net demonstrates how wind is created through the interaction of hot and cold air (as outlined above). All you need is water, ice, a balloon, and an old soft drink bottle. This activity is the perfect opportunity for children to practice their scientific observation skills. Wind has been used for Thousands of Years Way before electricity, wind was harnessed by windmills to press grain and pump clean water. Documented use of wind power goes back to 2000 B.C., when windmills were first developed in Persia and China. Now, we use modern turbines to create electricity. The Taller the Turbine, the Faster the Wind The higher up that a turbine can reach, the faster the winds it harnesses – the faster the winds, the more energy obtained. Turbines are being strategically placed at higher ground levels to maximum the amount of energy that is being created by each turbine. Wind Turbines are Huge Turbines can range from as high as 10 stories tall to 20 stories – that’s the height of the statue of liberty! – and have blades that average to about 180 feet long. A single turbine can contain as many as 8,000 different parts all working together. The largest turbine in the world is located in Hawaii. It is 20 stories high and its blades are as long as a football field. Turbines can float on Water Turbines can be installed anywhere – including on floating structures that send electricity back to land with help of the undersea cables. Although turbines can be built on water, turbines are the one of the only forms of utility-scale energy that doesn’t use water. Related Activity: Make a Miniature Wind Turbine You’ve read a lot about wind turbines, but do you know what they actually are? This slightly more advanced activity from Popular Mechanics walks you through the process of building your very own turbine at home! There’s a Difference Between Wind Turbines and Windmills Windmills generate mechanical energy, but they don’t generate electricity. Turbines use the wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electricity; one turbine can power up to 500 homes. Related Activity: Milk Container Windmill This craft turns a milk carton into a working windmill! All you need is tape, a milk carton, some cardboard, a cork, and a knitting needle. This little model is the perfect way to show your youngster what windmills are and how they work! Wind energy has endless possibilities and presents the opportunity to be one of the major sources of clean energy in the future. Happy National Wind day – make sure to take advantage of the breeze the next time you go outdoors!

It's International Composting Week! Started in Canada in 1995, this international celebration raises awareness about the importance and benefits of composting as more people, businesses, towns, schools, and companies recognize the long-term benefits of recycling organics. The goal of the International Composting Week is to raise public awareness of the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, improve water quality, and protect the environment. What is Composting? Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up about 30% of what we throw away, and this waste can be recycled in several ways that benefit the environment. Creating compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. A good compost recipe includes three types of ingredients: Dead plant material from the garden, including dry leaves, twigs and sticks. Household waste, including vegetable scraps, shredded newspaper, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc. Don’t use meat, fat or dairy products, or pet waste. A layer of soil adds earthworms and microorganisms that are necessary to break down the other materials. Brown materials provide carbon for your compost, green materials provide nitrogen, and the addition of water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter. As your compost biodegrades it will create the ideal, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer for your garden and plants! The Benefits of Composting There are many benefits to composting, both for the environment and for your yard and garden! Some of the most important benefits to composting include: Reduces Landfill Waste - Yard and food scraps comprise between 25-50% of what we throw away. The EPA estimates that one fourth of waste in our landfills could have been composted. Composting not only removes content from our landfills but recycles this waste in many useful ways. Creates Nutrient Rich Soil - Composting increases the quality of soil by increasing the amount of organic materials and micro-nutrients. Gardens and farms thrive with the addition of compost! Reduces Gross Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Landfills are one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases, specifically methane. Composting reduces the organic materials in our waste, and this decrease in methane emissions reduces harm created by greenhouse gases. Averts Garden Pests - Composting not only decreases our dependence on chemical pesticides, the micro-nutrients in compost repel some of the most stubborn garden pests! Increases Biodiversity - Composting attracts many kinds of worms, bacteria, birds, fungi, and insects that are beneficial to the growing process. Teaching Kids About Composting Composting with kids educates them about the benefits of composting, the importance of preserving the environment, and creates new generations of composters! Explain to kids what happens to garbage that isn’t composted, and how our landfills are filling up at an alarming rate. Talk to them about how they can be part of the solution through their own composting activities. Below is a simple composting activity kids will love! How to Create a Composting Worm Farm Kids love worms! Building your own worm bin is a simple project that they can make into an ongoing contribution to in the family home (or in the school community). It’s an excellent way for kids to develop responsibility, take ownership, build confidence, and hopefully develop a love for composting and growing their own plants and food. You will need two plastic stacking containers and one lid, and it works best if these containers are at least 12 inches wide and 12 inches tall. Drill several small holes in the top, sides, and bottom of the top container. Dampen 2 or 3 sheets of newspaper and line the bottom of of container #1. Stack container #1 inside container #2, which will collect excess fluid that drains through. This fluid is high in nutrients and can be used to fertilize indoor and outdoor plants! Add at least an inch of bedding into the top container. A combination of peat, soil, and shredded newspaper works well. Add worms found in your backyard to the bedding, and (carefully) aerate this mixture with a fork. Add one final layer of dampened newspaper and secure the lid of the top container. Give your worms a few days to adjust to their new environment. After a few days your child can start feeding the worms! Egg shells, fruit/veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and any organic table scraps work best. NOTE: do not feed worms meat waste, bones, citrus, dairy waste, or onions. You will need to change the top layer of dampened newspaper every few days. In addition to newspaper, shredded egg cartons and cardboard also work. In 10-12 weeks you will have ideal compost/fertilizer! This is known as 'vermicompost' as the excrement created by the worms (it looks like coffee grounds when it's ready) creates a perfect nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants! This educational activity informs children about the importance of recycling waste materials, preserving our environment, and caring for creatures, Plus, it's a lot of fun! Do you compost? Add some of your composting ideas in the comments below!

With summer comes beaches, barbeques, and a break from school. Without school, the access to reading opportunities declines, along with the opportunity to maintain the loads of information learned throughout the school year. Be sure to check out the details of our buy-two-get-a-third-free summer special below! The Summer Reading Slide As children get older, their learning gain decreases, while their loss remains constant during the summers. This “summer slide” compounds over time—students who lose knowledge over the summer start school behind their peers who engaged in summer reading and STEM and are unlikely to catch up over the course of the school year; as the next summer break begins, the cycle continues. A large-scale research experiment done by Megan Kuhfeld of NWEA showed that the “summer slide” not only increases over time, but that it affects children of every demographic and race. (Source: Edweek) The real determinant of how well information will be retained during the summer is the child’s proximity to learning materials and enrichment opportunities, such as summer camps, book clubs, and more. So, even though students lost the same amount of information during the summer, those who keep their brains active bounce-back faster once the break ends. This bounce-back is the cornerstone of their upcoming school year and signifies the real divide between students. Summer Learning Loss and STEM The biggest gap in this “summer slide” occurs in science and math fields, and the lack of summer STEM opportunities is most prevalent in lower socioeconomic communities, which are, unfortunately, made up of mostly Black and Latinx children. Because of this, it is extremely important to provide numerous STEM opportunities for students who wouldn’t regularly come into contact with it during their months away from school. Whether it be LaundryCares’ free laundry days where parents can clean clothes for free while their children read stories and do activities with librarians in a local laundromat, or simply having access to engaging STEM books, these opportunities are essential to level the academic playing field. According to Amy Koester, a Youth & Family Program Coordinator who is an advocate for early STEM programs, “URM (underrepresented minority) students are less likely to have adequate and consistent STEM instruction, especially early in their educations.” (Source: dia-ala.org) A change like early and reliable access to relatable STEM materials can change the educational path of a student significantly, and influence the statistics of URM STEM students switching majors away from the sciences during their college years. STEM Books for Summer Reading Science Naturally works hard to make STEM books available to early readers throughout the world. With titles in multiple languages and partnerships with outreach programs across the country, our publishing house is pushing out books to engage every kind of reader in STEM. For readers who shy away from science, we have a couple of blended STEM fiction chapter books that incorporate STEM lessons into a traditional narrative: Leonardo da Vinci Gets a Do-Over After being dead for nearly 500 years, the great Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci is back! Readers tag along as 7th graders Max, Tad, and Gina become the reincarnated da Vinci's ambassadors of the modern age—and learn about history, art, anatomy, and STEM topics along the way. Inventive and fast-paced, this story is as engaging as it is educational. Ghost in the Water John Hawkins is in yet another new school as he begins the 7th grade. Things change when his passion for robotics lands him an invitation to be a part of a secret club. John joins Malena, Natsumi, Hector, and Kimmey as the newest member of the League of Scientists. Together, these friends pool their knowledge of biology, technology, logic, and chemistry to unravel the mysteries that haunt their quiet town of East Rapids. The League is in a race to solve the secret of the ghost who is terrorizing the middle school pool. Summer STEM Book for Young Scientists We even have options for the youngest scientists: Women in Science Set Discover the power of curiosity and resilience with a conversation between a spunky young protagonist, who asks questions about the world around her, and a scientifically astute narrator, whose answers are crafted to be both accurate and understandable to a young mind. In this way, learning the basics of biology, chemistry, and physics becomes an effortless outcome of enjoying the story. All About Atoms Set Follow Pete the Proton, Ned the Neutron, and Ellie the Electron, who get together to build everything in the universe. Explore some of the fundamental concepts in science with your children before they face the social pressure and intimidation of formal schooling. Looking to make learning fun? Our One Minute Mystery books are full of short brainteasers that can only be solved with math or science: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Science Not your ordinary science book, these mysteries make science fun! Try your hand at dozens of science mysteries (with solutions included) that will keep you entertained--and eager to learn more! No tools or special equipment required, all you need is a willingness to have fun. MORE Short Mysteries You Solve with Science The mysteries are back! “For those who loved the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, these books harken back to them, though in a shorter format. Kids with inquisitive minds, interest in understanding how things work, or enjoyment of puzzles will be drawn to these quirky stories. An excellent narrative format for learning about nature and how things work!" –Ryan McAllister, Ph.D., Examiner.com Also available in a bilingual English/Spanish edition. Short Mysteries You Solve with Math The brainteasers are entertaining, but-even better-their real-world connections help kids see math concepts as approachable, learnable, and solvable. A fun way to develop deductive reasoning skills and discover the joys of math! Also available in a bilingual English/Spanish edition. Want to preview a few of these mysteries? Check out our Mystery of the Month. Beautifully illustrated picture books promote biology, bonding, feeding, and maturation in the wild. If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers This fascinating look at life cycles portrays the normalcy of birth and breastfeeding and explores how mothers help 14 different mammals navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults. Also available in a Spanish edition as Si mi mamá fuera un oritorrinco Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés This beautiful collaboration between a children’s librarian and an NBA-player-turned-watercolor-artist introduces the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. The book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Compelling childhood facts also broaden the reader’s knowledge about each animal. Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado Babies—whether in snowy dens, warm lagoons, cozy nests, or living rooms—are carried and cuddled, nurtured and nuzzled. Stunning images and gentle verse will capture the curiosity of even the youngest readers as they see how animal mothers tend to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks. Beautiful images introduce the reader to attachment in the natural world. To encourage summer reading and prevent summer learning loss, we are offering a special deal on our website all summer long. Special Summer Discount - Buy Two Get a Third Free! Between now and September, buy 2 items and get the 3rd free at ScienceNaturally.com with the code SUMMERSLIDE. What will you and your children be reading this summer?

We had the pleasure of speaking with Damon Jones of STEAM America and The STEAM Teacher earlier this year, and we are excited to share more information about this worthy cause! About STEAM America STEAM America was originally created "to empower schools, nonprofits and other educational organizations to create dynamic learning platforms via robust, customized professional development and training". This education consultancy is based out of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, where it specializes in helping organizations and individuals create high-impact educational programs and curricula for young people of all backgrounds. The program provides training, curriculum design, professional development, and other services to individuals and organizations seeking to create dynamic education platforms. STEAM America’s ultimate goal is to establish a sustainable school run on federal funds, but founder Damon does not want this to be a charter school. Through his school, he hopes to access new generations of students through online workshops/resources, picture books, and hands-on experiments that provide real-life application to STEAM learning. STEAM America and First Book Marketplace Damon also works with local book and grocery stores to give books and other school supplies to the community, as well as to raise funds for future book purchases. The First Book Marketplace provides educational resources such as books, supplies, digital learning resources, and activities to schools and organizations that serve children in need. STEAM America purchases between 300-500 books from First Book annually. Through Damon Jones' relationships with local schools, STEAM America provides scholarships and books to the students and schools who need them most. "If there is a school that [needs books], I give them away, no questions asked and no application." ~ Damon Jones, Founder of STEAM America About The STEAM Teacher Damon Jones' latest initiative, The STEAM Teacher, has a mission to empower youth and adults with quality, engaging educational resources. The STEAM Teacher is an online education and YouTube brand that does read-alouds both online and in schools, with a focus on literacy (The STEAM Teacher doesn't separate STEAM and literacy, as they go hand-in-hand). "STEAM topics are the focus, but literacy is the platform." ~ Damon Jones, Founder of The STEAM Teacher As more parents look into homeschooling, and market demand pulls him more and more towards this model, Damon knows there is more of a demand than ever for online STEAM educational resources that integrate hands-on learning as well (STEAM projects, not just science projects). A multidisciplinary approach that incorporates math, reading, and writing literacy is essential to The STEAM Teacher's mission. The STEAM Teacher and Science, Naturally! We are thrilled that Damon will be reading our books on his YouTube series as part of his mission to combine STEAM education and literacy! He is particularly interested in bilingual books that spread literacy tools and educational access to everyone! "I am very passionate about assuring that every child is literate. I want to do my part and make sure very child has a fair chance to success in their future." ~ Damon Jones, Founder of The STEAM Teacher

National Teacher Appreciation Day, also known as National Teacher Day, is observed on the Tuesday of the first full week in May. Everyone can think of a teacher who had a huge influence on their lives, and National Teacher Day is a day to honor their hard work and the critical role they have in children's learning and development. While we are always grateful for their contributions, it's still important to have a special day set aside to express our appreciation! The History of National Teacher Appreciation Day Political and educational leaders began discussions for a day to honor teachers in 1944.  In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim National Teachers’ Day. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day. The National Education Association continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985 when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May.  The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day. Ways to Celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Day Teachers play a pivotal role in our children’s lives, inspiring a lifelong love of learning and discovery and making a difference in their well-being and long-term success. There are many ways to show appreciate to teachers! Here are some ideas for both children and adults: Send heartfelt letters, cards and messages of appreciation Create artwork, poems and video messages Recognize teachers with awards Decorate schools and teacher lounges Host surprise assemblies and other events to honor teachers Volunteer in classrooms to help teachers Share on social media about your favorite teacher and thank them using the official hashtag #ThankATeacher. Why National Teacher Appreciation Day is Important Whether it is a professor, guidance counselor, art teacher, or principal - an educator in each of our lives went above and beyond to inspire our learning. Thanking teachers for challenging us and believing in our ability to succeed only scratches the surface of repaying the deeper gratitude that’s due. While teachers' contributions are impossible to truly quantify, their hard work all too often goes unrecognized. According to Gallup research, only 29% of teachers strongly agree with the statement, "In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work." Recognition isn't just about feeling good. Research shows that consistent recognition for doing good work has a direct influence on the key performance measures that we use to evaluate our schools. In fact, teachers who receive regular recognition and praise: are more productive; are more engaged at work; are more likely to stay with their school; and are more likely to receive higher satisfaction scores from students and parents. What are some ways you and your child will honor the special teacher(s) in your life? Let us know in the comments!

On the first Friday of each May, space and science fans alike celebrate all the amazing things about space with a dedicated day of observance to everything in the great beyond! International Space Day is a day dedicated to spread awareness of the mysteries of outer space. This special day is the perfect opportunity to promote an interest in STEM with young children! All over the world events are held at local schools, museums, and planetariums. Scientific organizations provide highlights of historical flashbacks and pivotal research about all things celestial. It’s not just Science Fiction anymore! National Space Day was created in 1997 by the Lockheed Martin Corporation as a one-day event.  In 2001 former astronaut and Senator John Glenn expanded Space Day to International Space Day and widened the scope of this celebration across the world. Ways to Celebrate International Space Day There are several fun ways to celebrate International Space Day with your children! Some ideas include: Go to your local library and take out books about space. Learn about your favorite planets, or even space travel itself. Go to a science museum and learn about all things space, including our solar system, the makeup of each planet, or read up on the work of astronauts throughout the decades. Take a look at NASA’s website or social channels and see what they have been up to – there’s sure to be something that piques your child's interest! Snuggle up on the sofa and watch some space documentaries. Visit your closest space museum and spend the day exploring the exhibitions and learn more about astronomy. Wait until dark and lie outside and look up at the wonder of the stars! See how many constellations you can identify! STEM Space Activities for Young Children Recreate our galaxy! Using basic supplies found at any local craft store (Styrofoam balls, wire, colored pens, or paint) do research on the location of the planets in the solar system and create a fun model! You can even turn this into a mobile that hangs in your child's bedroom! Design a planet. Have your child use their imagination and create their own planet. Ask your kids to write (and/or draw) a description of their planet: does it have oxygen? Are there oceans or water? What type of creatures live there? They can use clay, paints, paper mache, or drawings to bring their imaginary planet to life! Make Moon Sand: This fun activity requires only 8 cups of flour and 1 cup of baby oil, and you can create cool moon sand that can make (and hold!) any shape! Don't worry - it's soft and super easy to clean up. Teach kids how planets orbit the sun with an easy, fun activity that only needs Playdough, a blue ball, and a pie tin! Go here for further instructions. Make your own constellations! Look in a book or go online with your child to see what some of the most famous constellations look like. Recreate these constellations using only toothpicks and small marshmallows! And the best part is your kids can have a fun snack at the end! What are some ideas you have to celebrate International Space Day with your child? Let us know in the comments!

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to connecting children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures. The celebration is intended to be year-round, culminating on April 30th . Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. Its mission is to connect children and their families to diverse cultures, languages, and books. The goals of Día programming are to: Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries. Nurture cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor and embrace a child’s home language and culture. Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies. Recognize and respect culture, heritage and language as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities. The History of Día In 1996 author and poet Pat Mora learned about Día Day as it is celebrated in Mexico. She realized the United States didn't have anything like this, and so she proposed linking Children's Day, the celebration of childhood and children, with literacy and bilingualism, and created a new holiday: El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day). In 1997, the Texas State Library, under the direction of Jeanette Larson, produced a planning booklet to help librarians develop local programs to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros. In 1998, a grant was awarded from the Kellogg Foundation to allow the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE) to develop a plan for a national campaign to disseminate information on El día de los niños/El día de los libros. By 1999, schools and libraries across the country were hosting their own celebrations and creating a diverse love of reading for children from all backgrounds. By 2004, El día de los niños/El día de los libros had become a tradition in many schools and libraries and found its permanent home with the Association for Library Service to Children. Día in the United States In libraries all over the country, librarians, children, and parents celebrate Día year-round with book clubs, bilingual story times, guest appearances by children’s authors, crafts, music, and more. Libraries register their Día Programs held throughout the year in the national registry, which showcases all types and sizes of Día programs held throughout the country. On the official Día website, librarians and parents have access to book suggestions, tool kits, a resource guide, worksheets, and more great resources to help their Día Celebration. Every year more and more libraries celebrate Día; visit your local library to find out about their celebration! Special Offer to Celebrate Día Day! We are excited to offer a special buy-one-get-one-free offer in celebration of Día Day! For a limited time (offer good through 5/1/19) buy one Spanish or bilingual book from our website and get one FREE! Simply enter the code DIABOGO at checkout. We offer a wide selection of Spanish and bilingual books to choose from, including our popular books Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco: Los bebés mamíferos y sus madres, Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado, and our Bilingual Science and Math Book Set / Conjunto de libros bilingües. What are some ways you introduce your children to diverse cultures through reading? Let us know in the comments!

We recently had the pleasure of attending ITEEA’s 81st Conference in Kansas City, MO. This event, held annually by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, provides opportunities for technology and engineering educators to learn from and share with other technology and engineering STEM education professionals. This year’s Conference theme was Technology and Engineering Bring STEM to Life. There were so many incredible sessions, exhibitors—and breaks for the best BBQ we’ve ever had from a gas station!—but our favorite event of the conference had to be the ITEEA STEM Showcase. The Showcase is a unique opportunity for award-winning educators from across the United States to share ideas, techniques, and best practices for everything including learning activities, equity, and classroom management techniques. Each Showcaser focuses on a single element of technology or engineering teaching and learning that they feel they have exemplified. We were honored to see that many of the Showcase presenters this year focused on using Science Naturally books in the classroom! Read on to see how four incredible educators use our books to spark curiosity in their students, draw cross-curricular connections, and bring STEM to life! Alma Miller: Exploring STEM through Literacy Alma Miller is a Science Education Consultant for the District of Columbia. She is a presidential awardee and the D.C. state coordinator for the national Science Teachers Association. With her clearly demonstrated excellence in science education, she is a frequent presenter at ITEEA’s Annual Conference STEM Showcase. This year, her Showcase presentation centered on the use of If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers by Dia L. Michels. She employed this book as informational text for her students to reference as they identified the various geographical and environmental issues associated with endangering the continued existence of the featured mammals. Ms. Miller’s students then used Makey Makey technology to devise a Q & A Tool that allowed them to match each mammal to the environmental issues that endanger its life. Introducing the use of Makey Makey opens the door to a large number of cross-curricular engineering and technology connections. Students gained hands-on experience making circuits, exploring the transfer of energy, and designing and creating tangible models. Her approach deepens students’ understanding of the interrelation of literature, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Conni Crittenden: Connecting Outstanding STEM Books with Design Process Conni Crittenden is a celebrated science teacher at Explorer Elementary in Williamston, Michigan. She is a presidential awardee for excellence in elementary science teaching, has won a McAuliffe Fellowship, and has chaired K-12 science in her school district. She also established and directs the McAuliffe Lab for the Integration of Science, Math, and the Arts at her school, and has introduced the use of a Beam robot in her classroom to allow homebound students to participate in class activities. Clearly, she is an innovative force in science education. Her Showcase presentation focused on using Science Naturally’s science trade books to support the engineering design process. Focusing on environmentalism, many of the engineering projects center around reusing materials. One activity begins by reading a page of One Minute Mysteries: 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve with Science. The mystery in question is “Home on the Range,” which features a family that, while hiking in the mountains, fantasizes about building a house and living in the wilderness. The mother isn’t sure this is such a good idea, saying “There’s no electricity and you kids couldn’t live for more than a day without your gizmos. You could never get the power company to run an electrical line this far out into the woods.” Her child, Fiorella, responds, “Well, if we were allowed to build a house here, we could make our own electricity.” She proposes a few suggestions: solar energy, wind power, a water wheel, and burning wood. After discussing this possible scenario, Ms. Crittenden’s students delve into practical applications of Fiorella’s energy-generating solutions. How does a solar oven work? Could school-aged children plausibly make their own? Ms. Crittenden’s engineering students can make their own by using her Solar Cooking Pringles Can Experiment! What about wind energy? Try Fan Car Physics! For water energy, Ms. Crittenden provided a Water Wheel experiment. She also used 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Science and 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science to launch design-focused activities for her students. Cathy Barthelemy: Using Content Stations in Engineering Units Cathy Barthelemy is the Executive Director of Education at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The museum seeks to engage Fort Worth’s diverse community through creative, vibrant programs and exhibits that interpret science and the stories of Texas and the Southwest. One of the museum’s most unique features is their Museum School, an early-childhood learning program housed at the museum. Working here, Cathy has a unique perspective on science education. Ms. Barthelemy’s Showcase presentation demonstrated how educators can make sure their content is covered during their Engineering units. She suggests using “content stations” to reinforce the concepts students need to solve their problem or create their product. One activity she presented built on concepts presented in the first “League of Scientists” mystery, Ghost in the Water. In the book, the League learns that the green ghost haunting their school pool is actually an illusion created by Fluorescein, a dye that glows under a black light or sunlight. Her “Glowing Inquiry” Task Card allows students to explore this substance themselves (note: this activity should only be done with adult supervision). This is just one of the many ways Ms. Barthelemy identified that investigations can give students insight into how the science in the story worked. She also suggests an inquiry based on content from Leonardo da Vinci Gets a Do-Over by Mark P. Friedlander. Of course, da Vinci was an innovative and prolific inventor. One of his ideas was a parachute. Though he never got to test it out, his parachute very much resembles those that we have today. Ms. Barthelemy’s activity involves having students build miniature versions of Leonardo’s parachute, observing how it works, and then modifying it to hold more weight. Check it out here. Naveen Cunha: Navigating Mars Naveen Cunha is a 2019 ITEEA Teacher Excellence Award winner and the coordinator of Bryan Independent School District’s Odyssey Program, an advanced academics STEM program. The Odyssey Program provides an interdisciplinary, technology-rich environment that partners with local, regional, and national programs to enrich the learning experience. Throughout the three-year program, students follow a “Mission to Mars” theme to approach a variety of STEM topics. At this year’s conference, Mr. Cunha received his award and presented at the Showcase. Using the books in Science Naturally’s Math Madness book set as a launching off point for students interested in outer space, he presented a problem-based learning unit for students to address the challenges standing in the way of navigating the surface of Mars. His students devised solutions to varying distances, a harsh climate, and an unforgiving terrain using different kinds of robots and tools. He found the “really authentic scenarios” presented in 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math to be the perfect inspiration for students to study space science. Are you an educator who uses Science Naturally books in the classroom? Let us know what you do with them!

Happy Earth Day! While we should be protecting the Earth every day, Earth Day is a particularly good opportunity to talk to kids - even young kids - about why we need to save our valuable resources, and teach them ways they can make a difference! About Global Warming Most climate scientists agree that the main cause of the global warming trend we are currently experiencing is human contribution to the “greenhouse effect.”  The greenhouse effect is warming that occurs when heat is trapped by atmospheric greenhouse gases and that heat is released again.  Ultimately, global warming could have devastating effects on our planet, including the loss of animal habitats, a decrease in the amount of fresh water available, and the increased spread of some diseases. Many of the activities we take part in daily, such as driving to work, turning on lights and appliances, and throwing away garbage, cause greenhouse gases to be released.  It’s not possible to completely eliminate our release of greenhouse gases, but there are countless things we can do to reduce our impact on the environment. How (and when) to Talk to Children About Climate Change Many parents are concerned about how climate change will affect their children, and can see that the world their children will grow up in will be changed dramatically. It can be difficult, however, to know when and how to talk to young children about our environmental crisis. The best way to figure out if your children are ready to talk about climate change is to listen carefully to what they say and the questions they ask. Most school-aged children, and even many preschool aged children, already know a bit about climate change and other environmental issues from school or the media. If your child never raises the issue, it may be because they know nothing about it, or perhaps because they are too anxious to raise the topic. You can provide opportunities for conversation by explaining what you do to preserve the Earth, like recycling, reducing plastic use, and conserving energy and water in language your child can understand. Help them feel less anxious and helpless about environmental issues by talking to them about the environmentally-friendly things you do every day and help them learn to appreciate and care for the natural world along with you. Showing kids ways they can help the Earth empowers children, and educates them on the importance of 'living green' at a young age. Get Kids Involved in Helping the Earth Kids are naturally curious, and love projects and activities, so there are many ways you can educate your kids about how to help the Earth all while having fun! Walk, bike, or take the train to an appointment or for errands and explain to your child how doing this instead of driving helps the Earth. Encourage them to walk or bike instead of asking for a ride when it's responsible and safe to do so. Have your child help you sort items between trash and recycling. Talk to them about where the recyclable materials go and how they are reused. You can turn this in a game to make it more fun, even for a toddler! Educate kids on the importance of conserving energy. Encourage them to turn off lights when they leave a room, or turn off unnecessary lights when they see them on. To create a feeling of enthusiasm, and reduce anxiousness about the environment, have them keep track of how many lights they turn off and give out prizes! Volunteer to participate in river/beach cleanups with your kids. Seeing first hand how much trash washes up on our shores sends a powerful message to kids, and they can immediately see the results of their efforts! Plant a tree or bush with your kids, and explain how trees and vegetation help the environment. Put them in charge (with your help) of watering and caring for it, and let them take pleasure in watching it grow! Start a compost project in your backyard and get your kids involved. Composting can be done very inexpensively and keeps a lot of waste out of landfills! Encourage kids to use less water when they are brushing their teeth and washing the dishes. Talk about how using less water helps the Earth and the animals; this gives them feelings of pride and accomplishment even while doing a chore they may not like too much! Help your child be an environmentally-friendly artist by coloring on both sides of paper and making craft projects from items like used paper towel rolls and milk cartons. Read About the Natural World Kids love to read, and be read to, and books about the natural world help foster a love of nature at a young age. Kids are never too young to start learning about our amazing Earth! Books help teach kids that all living things have an intrinsic value, and each plays a unique role in the complex web of life. The earlier kids learn about animals and the environment, the more motivated they become to help protect endangered and threatened species such as bees, elephants, giraffes, whales, and more. We offer some beautifully illustrated, fun, and educational books that teach children about mammals and how they interact with their families and the environment. Babies Nurse Babies Nurse is an award-winning book with an overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers. The book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Compelling childhood facts also broaden the reader’s knowledge about each animal. Also available in Spanish. Cuddled and Carried Cuddled and Carried's beautiful images introduce kids to attachment in the natural world. Watching mothers lend a paw, wing, flipper, or hand to care for their young fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion. The stunning images and gentle verse will capture the curiosity of even the youngest readers as they see how animal mothers tend to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks. If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers If My Mom Were A Platypus teaches young children about how all mammal mothers feed, protect, and teach their young, even though these tasks can challenge their own needs for survival. But a mammal baby’s journey to maturity varies dramatically depending on whether it is a bear or a bat, a shrew or a seal, a hippopotamus or a human. This fascinating look at life cycles portrays the normalcy of birth and breastfeeding and explores how mothers help 14 different mammals navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults. What are some fun ways you teach your kids about the environment? Tell us in the comments!

Did you know that there are over 1000 species of bats, comprising 25% of all mammals? April 17th is Bat Appreciation Day and we’d like to take this opportunity to learn about this incredible and diverse mammal! Why Bats Are Important Bats play an important role in their ecosystems. Some plants depend wholly on bats to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds. So, without bats the world would have less precious vegetation! Bugs are one of bats' favorite meals, so another way bats help our environment is to eat unwanted pests and insects! Bats and Plants Over 500 species of plants really solely on bat for survival including some of our favorite fruits and vegetables like mango, banana, durian, guava, agave, and even cocoa! Next time you eat a piece of chocolate thank a local bat for the delicious treat! Some species of bats, like the Tube-Lipped Nectar Bat of Ecuador and the Banana Bat of Mexico, have extraordinarily long tongues to help them reach the bottom of bell shaped plants that are unreachable to other birds and insects. Not only do plants rely on bats, but the bats rely on the plants for survival as a source of nutrients and food! Bats and Insects Some people believe that bats are pests, but did you know that they are actually pest controllers? A bat's favorite midnight snacks include some of the insects that bother us the most like mosquitoes. moths, flies, and even scorpions! Bats eat enough insects in some regions that it reduces the need for pesticides, which is good for people and the environment! Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes an hour and often consume their body weight in insects every night. Interesting Bat Facts Bats are unique and fascinating animals! Here are some facts about bats you may not know: Bats are the only mammals able to fly. Bats are exceptional flyers. Their wings are thin which gives them excellent airfoil. The propulsion power bats have is extraordinary; they can fly very fast. In fact, Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats can fly up to 99 miles per hour! Bats use echolocation to get around in the dark. Bats don't see very well and are most active at night, so they have to rely on navigational methods other than sight. Bats send out beeps and listen for variations in the echoes that bounce back at them to determine the right way to go. Bats live long lives. Bats can live for over 20 years! Some bats really do drink blood. There are three species of Vampire Bats whose diet consists only of blood. They have small and extremely sharp teeth which are capable of piercing an animal’s skin without them even noticing. Bats live both in families and on their own. Some bats live by themselves while others live in caves with thousands of other bats. Mother bats can spot their babies from thousands of bats. Bat mothers can find their babies among thousands or even millions of other bats by their unique voices and scents. Most bats only have one pup, making them more vulnerable to extinction. Over 50% of bat species are endangered. More than half of the bat species in the United States are in severe decline or listed as endangered. In addition to loss of habitat, one of the most dire threat comes from white nose syndrome, a disease that has decimated bats in the U.S. and Canada. Fun Bat Activity! Our sister company, Platypus Media, and our partner Share My Lesson, have a fun bat activity that is perfect for kids grades 3-7: Baby Bat Cups! Mother Mexican free-tailed bats leave their babies (pups) in a cave with three million others at night while the mothers hunt. When they return to the cave at dawn, they're faced with the task of identifying their own baby in the pitch black, cold, and crowded nursery. How does mom find her pup? By their unique combination of smell and sound! This activity helps students understand how much the senses we use are the ones necessary for survival in our particular environments. This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers. This title is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools on the First Book Marketplace. The book explores how 14 different mammal babies navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults, and comes with a free downloadable Teacher’s Guide filled with activities just like this one.

April 15th isn't just the day taxes are due - it's also Leonardo da Vinci's birthday! Be sure to read to the bottom for a special discount code for our popular book, 'Leonardo da Vinci Gets A Do-Over'! We want to honor this man who was a mind before his time and who made so many contributions to science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. Involved in anatomy, botany, painting and drawing, and inventing machines from scuba suits to the precursor to the helicopter, da Vinci was a very intelligent man who dreamed big, and he is widely considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived. About Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was born in Anchiano, Tuscany (now Italy), close to the town of Vinci that provided the surname we associate with him today. In his own time he was known just as Leonardo or as “Il Florentine,” since he lived near Florence—and was famed as an artist, inventor, and thinker. Da Vinci received no formal education beyond basic reading, writing, and math, but his father appreciated his artistic talent and apprenticed him at around age 15 to the noted sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio. Under del Verrocchio, Leonardo refined his painting and sculpting techniques and trained in mechanical arts for the next 10 years. Although relatively few of da Vinci’s paintings and sculptures survive — in part because his total output was quite small — two of his works are among the world’s most well-known and admired paintings: 'Mona Lisa' and 'The Last Supper'. Da Vinci’s interests ranged far beyond fine art. He studied nature, mechanics, anatomy, physics, architecture, weaponry, and more! He often created accurate, workable designs for machines like the bicycle, helicopter, submarine and military tank that would not come to fruition for centuries! Our da Vinci Birthday Special! To honor this remarkable man's contributions to art, science, technology, engineering, and more we are hosting a special on our award-winning blended STEM fiction book, 'Leonardo da Vinci Gets A Do-Over'! Enjoy $3.00 off the regular purchase price with the code: MFdaVinci at checkout! “This book is a delight! We used it to meet our science requirements without a significant realignment of sequence or reduction of teaching time. What makes it truly special is the range of cross-curricular opportunities found in every chapter. It is a rare book that offers so much opportunity for cooperation across disciplines.” —Sue Garcia, Supervision-Curriculum Specialist, Retired Educator, Spicewood, TX Treat yourself to an intriguing story of great discoveries. With the help of three American middle schoolers, da Vinci attempts to catch up on 500 years of knowledge in a quest to invent something to better humankind. 'Leonardo da Vinci Gets A Do-Over' is an entertaining, engaging, and inventive way to learn about history, math, art, science, and more! Let us know in the comments what your favorite da Vinci creation or invention is!