Search Results

You know the feeling: you walk across the carpet, touch a metal doorknob, and zing!  You shock your fingers, all thanks to static electricity! Today, January 9th, is National Static Electricity Day and we would love to celebrate this electrifying day with you! Whether we are aware of it or not, static electricity is all around us everyday. When you wake up and your hair sticks straight up, or when your pants cling to your legs, that is static electricity. So what causes static electricity? It is the build-up of an electrical charge on the surface of an object. This build-up occurs when a charge stays in one area of the object for some time and doesn't flow or move to a different area. There are many ways that you and your little scientist can experiment with static electricity, and in honor of Static Electricity Day we have put together some electrifying experiments that are both fun and informative! Balloon Experiments We have three experiments that you and your child can do with only a balloon! Hair Standing on End Our first one is a classic, and it's one of the best ways to observe static electricity in action: the hair standing on end experiment. Everyone has done this at least one point in their life, even if just for fun! First rub the balloon on your shirt or a towel. Then hold it short distance from your head see what happens. You’ll be experiencing those electrons moving from your hair to the balloon! Positive Charges For the next experiment you will need a balloon, plastic pen, and small scraps of paper. First rub the balloon on your hair or a sweater, and then try sticking it to the wall and see what happens! Will the positive charge of the balloon attract electrons from the wall making the balloon stick? Or will it fall? Challenge your young learner by asking them to guess what will happen! Next take a pen, rub it on a wool sweater and hold it near a stream of water. What happens? Then rub the pen the sweater again and try to pick up the small pieces of paper with the pen. In both of these experiments you are manually moving the electrons from one material to another. The same thing happened with the pen, paper, and water as it does with the balloon and wall. Levitating Objects For this experiment see the magic of levitating objects by using a balloon to make them fly! For this experiment you will need a cotton towel, a plastic bag, scissors, and a balloon. First cut a small ring in the plastic bag. Then take the balloon and rub the cotton towel over the surface for 30 to 45 seconds. Afterwards rub the towel on the plastic bag, hold the plastic bag about 1 foot over a balloon, and release! You and your child can have fun watching static electricity create magical levitating objects. Separate Salt and Pepper For this next experiment you will need 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, a plastic spoon, and a dish cloth. First start by asking your children if there’s a way to separate salt and pepper. Ask them if they thing there is a way to separate the salt and pepper without using their hands! Then mix the 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper together on a flat surface. Rub the plastic spoon on a dish cloth for about 10 seconds. Hold the spoon over the salt and pepper mix and watch their eyes grow wide as the little particles jump up to the spoon! Do you know any fun static electricity experiments? Let us know in the comments!

Reading is one of the most important aspects of a young child's development. Access to a variety of books filled with math and science concepts gives a child the opportunity to experience the world around them in new ways! STEM books can be very helpful to budding young science and math lovers by helping them understand the process of scientific discovery and find ways to integrate STEM into their day-to-day lives. By creating a STEM library for your kids at home, you will encourage them to find new ways of understanding and exploring the world. Here at Science, Naturally we love giving families the opportunity to come together and create a fun-loving educational experience together. We put together our own list of books that you and your young ones can enjoy at home in your own STEM Library! One Minute Mysteries Our One Minute Mysteries are some of our best sellers, and we have ideas on our site about different ways to use them at home. These aren't your average STEM problems! Each minute-long story introduces an engaging mystery that can only be solved with science or math. The brainteasers are entertaining, but - even better - these real-world connections help kids see science and math concepts as approachable, learnable, and solvable. The brainteasers can also be seen monthly on our social media accounts, or on our website under Mystery of the Month! You and your child can sit together and solve these fun mysteries using the joy of math and science. If My Mom Were a Platypus If My Mom Were a Platypus takes you and your child all over the world to habitats where mothers bring forth new life. Many young mammals need their mothers when they are young, and are nurtured and nourished until they can survive on their own. Explore the natural process of breastfeeding for 14 different mammals navigating the path from helpless infant to self-sufficient adult. The beautiful illustrations and informative text make this the perfect book to spark conversations about families of all shapes and sizes! We also just launched the Spanish edition of If My Mom Were a Platypus this January 2019. My First Textbook Collection Our My First Textbook collection is great for any budding young scientist! Spark scientific curiosity in kids of all ages by following Pete the Proton, Ned the Neutron, and Ellie the Electron, who get together to build everything in the universe. Learn about some of the most fundamental concepts in science BEFORE the social pressure and intimidation of formal schooling. Let your imagination roam while you and your kiddo ponder what’s it like to live inside an atom! Science Wide Open Collection Science Wide Open is a series of scientifically accurate children's books, with a mission to teach young kids about Chemistry, Biology, and Physics while highlighting many of the some of the mind blowing achievement of many of our Women of Science! Discover the power of curiosity and resilience by following 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 for to a young mind. In this way, learning the basics of biology, chemistry and physics becomes an effortless outcome of enjoying the story. What are some of the STEM books in your library? Let us know in the comments!

2018 is coming to an end, and we would like to ring in the New Year by sharing some of the amazing things we have accomplished here at Science Naturally, and some of the new exciting adventures we have to look forward to in 2019! We have been working hard behind the scenes on a number of exciting new books coming in the next 14 months. Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco (Spanish-language version of our popular book If My Mom Were a Platypus) will be available in Spanish starting in January of 2019! 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. Out and About We had so much fun at the fairs, conferences, and other events we participated in during 2018, and we are excited about even more in 2019! We will be attending many events, including the Haymaker STEAM Expo, the AAAS Annual Conference, and the Clippers SciFest SoCal! Want to come see us at an upcoming event? Check out our 'Come See Us' page for more information! Amazing Partnerships This year we partnered with Genius Games and started distributing some of their incredible early childhood STEM titles,including the My First Science Textbook Collection and the Science Wide Open Collection. We also began offering our books through SEA Books & More (they are currently offering a 'buy one get one half-off' sale, so click the link to take advantage of this amazing offer!). We're Growing! We were lucky enough to have some amazing interns in addition to adding some new staff, including a social media manager, to help with all our exciting projects coming in 2019! We even started this new blog! Looking Forward We are excited about the new books coming your way for the new year! One of these new books (slated to publish March 2020) is entitled This is How I Grow. This fun and informative book was illustrated by Wesley Davies, who did the back matter illustrations in our popular book Babies Nurse. This Is How I Grow tells the story of eight different mammalian babies from habitats across the globe. Each vignette presents five facts about the animal’s birth, nursing, weaning, and the hunting and/or foraging skills that they must learn from their mother/community before they can be “all grown up". Meeting Our Community! This year was a great year for getting out to our community and sharing all of our amazing books and resources! Perhaps most important of all was meeting so many of our amazing community members! 2018 was a year chock full of adventures and experiences for the staff at Science Naturally. Our amazing staff went all around the country - from California to New York - to conferences and expos to introduce our books to families, educators, and book lovers. We love getting out there and sharing our love of STEM, early education, and families. We look forward to 2019 and the many new friends it will bring! What are some of your favorite memories from 2018? Share them in the comments!

The holiday season is in full swing, and it's a great time for some magical holiday-themed STEM activities! These projects are fun for the whole family in addition to promoting science, math, imagination, and observation skills. From sparkly crystal wreaths to tasty gumdrop Christmas trees, these holiday STEM activities will keep you and your little one's minds active all through the holiday season! Gumdrop Christmas Trees Let your child's geometry, engineering, and architectural skills shine through with this cute activity that is tasty and fun! All you need are gumdrops (lots of them!), toothpicks, and/or bamboo skewers. Simply stick the gumdrops to the skewers and toothpicks and let their creativity shine. Build your little one's math skills by counting the gumdrops as you go, and promote early geometry skills by talking with your children about the shapes they are creating and how they combine to make other shapes. These yummy and pretty trees make cute gifts and table decorations as well! Melting Magic Nothing is better than a white Christmas, and this fun activity uses snow to help explain water and its various properties. Put snow, ice, and water in each of the three jars, and have your kids observe as the snow and ice melt. Prepare questions in advance to pique their curiosity! Observe at what temperature the snow and ice start to melt - is it the same or different and why? Take guesses as to how much water will be in the jar once the snow and ice are fully melted (and whether or not there will be the same amount of water in each after it melts). After you see the results, have your kids discuss their findings. This activity teaches observation and estimating skills, and it's also a great way to get the kids outside to collect some fluffy snow! Tangram Christmas Cookies Hone your math skills and create a tasty treat to share with the whole family with these tangram cookies! This activity is good for building geometry skills, developing spatial awareness, and problem-solving. After the baking is done, decorate your cookies with toppings of your choosing. You and your child can think of holiday themed cookies you want to create, and then identify the shapes you will need to make them. These delicious and fun cookies make great gifts for friends and family as well! Crystal Christmas Wreaths These breathtaking Crystal Wreath Ornaments are just as much fun to look at as they are to make. This activity must be supervised by an adult (kids should not handle borax) and may be more appropriate for older kids. It also needs to sit for 12 hours, so be sure to set their expectations in advance! For this activity you’ll need: green garland pieces, ribbon, borax, hot water, a large bowl, chopstick (or other sticks), and other decorative bits like ribbons or bells. Use this activity to talk with your kids about how different properties interact, and research why the borax and water combined create beautiful crystals. Best of all, at the end of this fun activity you get a gorgeous ornament the whole family can enjoy to hang on your tree! What are some of your favorite holiday crafts and activities? Share in the comments!

The holidays are a busy time, and we all want to get the perfect gift for the people we love! Seeing the bright smiles on the our loved ones' faces after receiving a present always brings joy, but finding that perfect gift isn't always easy. Giving the gift of reading is something you and your loved ones can enjoy throughout the holiday season and beyond. Whether you have a little language learner, a curious budding scientist, or want the perfect gift for the whole family, our selection of books and activities will fill your child's face with joy! “One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! is almost as cool as video games! Really! My dad and I started reading problems while walking to school every morning. Then, we talk about them at dinner before checking the answers. The stories are things that could actually happen to me. They lead to some pretty interesting conversations with my parents. I totally recommend this book for other families!” —Jacob Weiser, 8th Grader, Gunston Middle School, Arlington, VA Bilingual Gift Ideas Looking for the perfect bilingual holiday gift? Our array of languages and topics make the perfect gift for young language learners. Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse are beautifully illustrated books that introduce your child to themes of breastfeeding, biology, survival, and the natural world. These books help inspire conversations about families - whether it's in English, Spanish, Dutch or Hebrew! Cuddled and Carried also offers a downloadable Teachers Guide that will helps parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively introduce these themes and help develop your child's curious mind. Our Bilingual Science and Math Book Set and One Minute Mysteries combine your child's love of science and math with the joy of learning or continuing a new language. Math and Science Gifts for Families Nothing is better than spending time with family during the holiday season, and our science and math book sets are just what the family needs. Everyone can have fun learning science and math to help solve some challenging mysteries! We offer several book sets that make learning fun, including: 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math Deluxe Smart Kid Book Set Science Sleuth Book Set Math Madness Book Set "These brainteasers are science magic! My ten year old grandson devoured the book! He was excited when he knew the solutions and was eager to discover the ones unknown. Clever, entertaining and scientifically educational, readers will learn much from the concise, accurate solutions. A perfect way to have fun with a child or grandchild!" — Robert Fenstermacher, Ph.D.Robert Fisher Oxnam Professor of Science and Society, Drew University, on 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve with Science Gifts for Budding Young Scientists and Animal Lovers Children love to learn new things! What is better than giving your child a gift that will fuel his love for animals and science? Cuddled and Carried, Babies Nurse, and If my Mom Were a Platypus offer your child a world full of science and nature all in one. These books teach your child about the beauty of life through themes of biology, survival, the natural world. If my Mom Were a Platypus also provides your child with an inside look at your role as a parent and how you love, feed, and protect them! These books will bring out the animal lover and budding scientist in people of all ages. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of science and the animal kingdom while flipping through these gorgeously illustrated pages. Gift Ideas for Homeschoolers Whether you homeschool your child or know someone who does, we have compiled a list of some of our favorite homeschooling selections. Choose from an array of blended fiction books, like our Blended STEM Fiction Book Set, science and math mysteries, and "101 Things" books for the perfect gift for the homeschooler in your life. These educational and fun books bring out the curious learner in children and adults alike!

November is Native American Heritage Month! On November 3, 1990 President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November Native American History Month. This month is dedicated to educating the general public about Native American culture, raising public awareness about the unique challenges Native American people have faced (both historically and in the present), and how they work to overcome these challenges. November is a time to celebrate their rich and diverse culture, tradition, and history. Native American Scientists Native American scientists have had an important effect on technology over the years. From the farthest reaches of outer space to the tiniest pieces of computer hardware, Native Americans continue to influence research, science, and applied technologies that change our world for the better! To celebrate this important month we would like to honor some of the amazing men and women who have changed the world through science, technology, and innovation. Mary G. Ross Mary Golda Ross was born in Park Hill, Oklahoma in 1908. She was the great granddaughter of Cherokee Chief John Ross. As a child she lived with her grandparents in the Cherokee Nation capital of Tahlequah where she attended school. Ross became known as the first female Native American engineer. She specialized in aerospace design, and is known for being one of the "first to reach the stars". Her aerospace designs helped interplanetary space travel, manned and unmanned Earth orbiting flights, and the studies of orbiting satellites. Mary G. Ross not only changed the way we view space and space travel, but she also changed the lives of others. After her retirement in 1973 she worked and recruited young women and Native American youth into engineering careers. She also supported the American Indians in the Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the Counsel of Energy Resource Tribes. Lori Alvord Laurie Alvord was born in Crownpoint, New Mexico; located in the Navajo Reservation, in 1958. Alvord is a member of the Tsinnajinne' (Black Streaked Wood) clan (Ponderosa Pine), and of the Ashihii' Dine' (Salt People) clan. After her graduation from Dartmouth College, where she majored in psychology and minored in Native American studies, Alvord attended Stanford University Medical School where she earned her M.D. in 1985. She then became the first board-certified female Diné surgeon. Alvord returned to her home in New Mexico on the Navajo reservation where she practices surgery with the in Indian Health Service. You can read about Alvord’s experiences as a surgeon while incorporating her love for her heritage in her autobiography The Scalpel and the Silver Bear. Wallace Hampton Tucker Dr. Wallace Hampden Tucker was born in McAlester, Oklahoma and is a part of the Choctaw tribe. Dr. Tucker attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned his bachelors degree in mathematics, his masters in physics, and then went on to earn his PhD in physics at the University of California in 1966. Tucker is a multi-talented scientist who specializes in astrophysics, is an award winning playwright, and an active environmentalist. Hampden specializes in high energy astrophysics and is the spokesperson for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-Ray Center. Dr. Tucker keeps in touch with his heritage by writing plays that reflect his ancestry and the struggles of mixed and full-blood Native Americans. Dr. Tucker is an active environmentalist, and he founded two non-profit organizations called the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the San Diego Land Conservation Coalition. Andrea Delgado Andrea Delgado-Olson is a member of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians in Northern Sierra Foothills of California. Andrea is a program manager for Systers and GHC Communities at AnitaB.org, which is a non-profit organization aiming to recruit, retain, and advance women in technology. To help keep her connection with her Native American heritage as well as her love for technology, Andrea founded Native American Woman in Computing. Founding her organization helped Andrea connect with other Native women for support and mentorship in a field that she loves. She also works on multiple projects to preserve the Native American heritage and help raise awareness about Native American history and culture.

Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and TURKEY! Keeping your little one busy while preparing food, entertaining company, and passing the days over break can be challenging. To help you keep your focus on that turkey that needs basting, we’ve rounded up a few activities and ideas that can help keep your child's mind stay busy with some learning and fun! Whether you have a group of kids or just one child to entertain there are thanksgiving activities for everyone to enjoy together! From our Mystery of the Month to some of our Educational Resources, we’ve got something for everyone. One Minute Mysteries What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than a challenging Mystery of the Month that you and your little one can solve together? These one-minute reads will challenge your kid’s knowledge of math and science in a variety of ways. Each mystery is taken from our award winning series One Minute Mysteries and helps challenge your child’s little mind with literature-based math and science brainteasers. In November’s Mystery of the Month Raking their Brains, Hannah and Juliet are raking leaves and decide to have a friendly competition. But Hannah accuses Juliet of cheating! Help them prove that Julia played fair and square in this month’s mystery! Educational Resources While on Thanksgiving break keeping your little one’s mind active is important. We have just what you need to help entertain your child with our entertaining and educational resources, including: Teachers Guides Daily Circuit Activity Sheets Hands-on Activities STEM Education Power Points Importance of Children’s Literature Thanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving is not the same without festive fall decorations! These adorable turkey craft projects will keep your kids busy and brighten up your Thanksgiving break! Paper Turkey What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than crafting your own turkey! With this easy craft you and your little one can create as many gobbling turkeys as you want! All you need is some colored paper, scissors and a glue stick. Turkey Finger Puppets These adorable little turkey finger puppets are fun to make and will help keep your kids busy while you get ready for a festive dinner. After a yummy meal everyone can sit together and the kids can use their imagination to put on an adorable puppet show. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups When everyone is around for Thanksgiving things can get a a little chaotic and messy! With these cute Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups you and your kids can have fun crafting and help the crazy day be a little more organized. Show off your child’s crafting skills by placing these adorable decorations on your Thanksgiving table! Reading is another fun and educational way to stay entertained over Thanksgiving break, and we are offering a Black Friday weekend special of 50% off our entire store, as well as at our partner company Platypus Media -- plus free shipping at both stores! What fun activities do you have planned for Thanksgiving break? Share your ideas with us in the comments! Happy Thanksgiving!

This week is National Human-Animal Relationship week, and we'd like to honor all of the amazing things that animals do for us! Human-Animal relationships have been around for many years. They are our companions, helpers, and they teach us many important life lessons each and every day. Animals have their own social rules, codes of conduct, and methods of communication. Humans can learn from animal connections and relationships, and the ways animals and humans are similar may surprise you! Our Relationships with Pets The relationships between pets and their owners is unique and provides both humans and animals with comfort, protection, and companionship. Respect, understanding, and the ability to communicate are three elements that help ensure a strong bond with your pet. One thing all dedicated pet owners know to be true is that the amount of love you show your pet, your pet will show you right back, and then some! We show love to our animals by caring for their needs, showing affection, playing with them, exercising them, and keeping them as healthy as possible. But did you know there are many health and wellness benefits pets bring to us, too? Pet owners are often: Healthier More active Experience less stress and anxiety Are more socially connected Have a stronger immune system Form strong emotional bonds Have more compassion and empathy Humans have animals for more than just companionship, and they are helpful to us in several ways. "Humans surround themselves with a variety of animals. Many serve a specific purpose: cows make milk, horses provide transportation, and sheep provide wool. Non-human animals have similar close relationships with one another (for example, birds pick off and eat pesky parasites from zebras), but humans also keep animals for companionship. We are the only creatures who keep pets." ~Excerpt from Babies Nurse, by Phoebe Fox and illustrated by Jim Fox Lessons Animals Teach Us About Community Animals are a joyous and wonderful gift to humankind. They have distinct personalities and emotions, and just like other humans they merit our respect. Of the myriad of things we can learn from animals, compassion is one of the most important. From inter-species friendships to fostering orphaned animal children (sometimes also between different species), animals' compassion can be truly amazing. Animals can show us to look beyond our own needs and imagine those of another who is different from ourselves. Another important value animals can teach us is that we are all connected. Everyone is different in their own unique way, however none of us can function without help from others. For example, dolphins have their own highly sophisticated way of communicating with each other and with their community, and even call each other by unique names! They travel in groups, like families, and will bond together to escape predators, hunt and feed their young, and share emotions like love and joy. Elephants are also highly social animals, and they come together as a community to provide support and comfort during hardship and loss. Elephants demonstrate a wide range of emotions, and are known to actively grieve the loss of a young one, or another member of their family. Animal and Human Families are Similar in Many Ways! Another way animals and humans are similar is they way we love and nurture our young. Did you know that there are several species of animals who nurse their young just like human mothers do? Tigers, for example, may seem different than humans in many ways, but mother tigers care for and nurse their young just like we do! Other animals that breastfeed their young include: horses, dogs, cats, monkeys, seals, zebras, pandas, bats, and even ocean dwelling creatures like dolphins! In the book If My Mom Were A Platypus, author Dia L. Michels explores the parent/child relationship for many different animal species, and we learn that animal families are not that different from our own! Like all parents animals nurture, care, protect, and feed their young. Do you ever wonder what it would be like if your Mom were a giraffe? Let's hear about it from a baby giraffe's perspective! Now that I am six months old, I have started following my mom as she feeds. She shows me how to strip the leaves off acacia trees with my long, flexible tongue. ~ Excerpt from If My Mom Were A Platypus, by Dia L. Michels Anyone who has ever loved an animal knows they have strong, unique feelings and emotions. Do you notice how your dog wags his tail when you pet him? Or how your cat will lick your face when you pay attention to her? Does your horse run over to you when he sees you? These are just some of the many, many ways animals express their love and gratitude to their human family members. What are some of the ways you bond with your pet? What are the ways you see how your pet is similar to humans? Let us know in the comments!

We learn a lot about the world (and well-being) through science, math, and engineering. We have fallen behind, however, in encouraging young female students to pursue career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). According to recent research, as girls get older their confidence in STEM plunges. Girls who seem enthusiastic and undaunted by STEM through most of elementary school tend to lose that confidence starting around puberty. Boys' and girls' confidence levels in STEM are about the same until estrogen and testosterone waves start flooding their brains. At this stage girls tend to start worrying more about grades and trying to please others, so they begin to get discouraged by an ingrained (but erroneous) belief that they would be better at a “softer” or a more “helpful” profession (or subject) than STEM. Confident girls become confident women, and we want to encourage young women to grow up believing in their abilities to become whatever they want, encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, and embrace their limitless possibilities. Tips for Increasing STEM Confidence in Young Girls Positive Self-Talk: Pejorative statements like: “I can't do math and science” would decrease anyone’s confidence level, so teaching young girls to speak confidently to themselves is important. We can teach girls that they have the ability to change any statement from a negative to a positive. Use 'can' instead of 'can’t’ and turn their attention to the positive. Getting rid of "should" statements, like: "I should be better at math" is important as well. Helping girls take time to value what they have already achieved and set attainable goals (that don't include negative or disparaging self-talk) is crucial. Take the fear out of failure: Sometimes when taking risks failure will strike, but that is no reason to quit what you are doing. Teaching young girls to learn to move through it, normalize it, and rebound will help them be ready for it the next time they make a mistake. Teach them to learn from their mistakes - after all, no one succeeds the first time at everything. Set an Example: Parents are powerful role-models for their children when it comes to any subject, but especially to young girls when learning about STEM. Setting an example of how to move through adversity is important, so talk to your daughter and let her know when you’re worried about a new challenge. Include her in your process and ask her advice about it. This will show her that she is not the only one who is afraid of something new! You'll prove to her that being afraid of a new task is scary, but it is normal. Show your daughter what it means to make a mistake and then recover. If we are obsessing about being perfect, our daughters will absorb that unhealthy standard, no matter how many books on confidence we hand them. Here are a few steps from the book “Confident Code for Girls” to help young women through mistakes: Change the channel. Immediately after a disaster, do not analyze what went wrong, or assure her that you can fix it, or tell her that it doesn’t matter. Her amygdala (fear center) is on fire. Before rational thought can ensue, she needs a break. Have her take 30 minutes, or three hours, to do whatever will allow her brain to switch gears and take a breather. She can read a book, watch a show, play with the dog, kick a ball, or take a walk. Even looking at pictures of nature on her phone or computer can reduce stress, or looking at pictures of cute animals can help her focus on something else. Take a virtual hot air balloon ride. When she’s ready to put things in perspective tell her to imagine herself floating way above her problem, looking down above her house, her town, her school. Talk about how she sees her situation from up there, compared to what she usually sees. This will help her pull her brain from the fiery center of the drama and go wide. Next steps. Help her make a plan to study differently for that next exam, or to practice dribbling to get the ball down the court, or to come up with language to use in a confrontation. Learning from failure allows her to move forward, rather than retreat. Encourage Confidence and Passion: By encouraging STEM subjects, you can give young girls something to be confident and passionate about. Work together to show them (both by example and through their own experiences) that they can do anything they set their mind to! Helping young girls value the responsibility they have to bring their own talents to the world - whatever they may be - is the best confidence builder out there.

Science, Naturally and our sister company Platypus Media, are honored that our Bilingual Nurtured and Nuzzled Set and the Bilingual Science and Math Mysteries Collection are sparking an interest in reading for the children of Honduras through a wonderful organization called the Chispa Project! About the Sara Burkes, Executive Director of the Chispa Project Sara Burkes lives in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. She first went to Honduras seven years ago, to visit a friend in the Peace Corps. Inspired by the lives of the people there, she decided to get involved by volunteering in a local school’s 1st - 3rd grade classroom. At the time, she only knew a little Spanish from college and high school, but she ended up learning the language along with the children, working with them daily. Eventually, she founded The Chispa Project. Chispa means "spark" in Spanish, which reflects Sara's belief that access to books can spark a lifelong interest in learning. The Chispa Project is changing lives, not only for the kids of Honduras, but for Sara herself. For her, the reward has been how the community has made her feel: “Honduras has a rough reputation, but as an outsider they have been so hospitable and so welcoming. I think their warmth should be revered, and it sets an example for us as Americans to be gracious and compassionate to the complex story of immigration. I know it is hard for us to understand something like that, but we have not lived their lives or felt their love and desperation that leads to such a decision. Community is key.” The Chispa Project’s Mission Through book donations, teacher development, and international volunteer projects, the Chispa Project works with Honduran educational institutions to spark a passion for learning that will grow and be nurtured within the local communities. Their vision is to create a desire for lifetime learning which enhances the quality of life for all. Over the last several years - solely through volunteer efforts - approximately 14,000 books have been donated to more than 50 different schools! Because most Honduran families live below the poverty line and can’t afford children's books, 60% of Honduran children are below a satisfactory reading level. Literature helps develop creative thinking, gain fluency in their language, and encourages communities to come together. The Chispa Project focuses on putting libraries in rural schools that have low income and resource and a high risk of gang violence. Most of these schools have multiple grade levels learning in one room, leading to a poor teacher/student ratio. This results children teaching themselves most skills, and copying lessons from the board and books. The Chispa Project, Science Naturally, and Platypus Media We are always on the look out for ways we can support early childhood education and literacy efforts all around the globe, and we were thrilled to send the Chispa Project copies of our bilingual books. As Sara tours the country, she brings donated books to more school libraries, spreading literacy and an interest in reading throughout the country. How You Can Help Sponsor a Library: It costs about $6,000.00 to establish a library in Honduras, of which the Chispa Project sponsors $3,000.00. Sponsoring a library is a great way to impact the lives of these children for generations to come. Sara’s goal is to establish 10 new school libraries this year. Donate Books: Book donations are very helpful, and if you would like to donate books here are some general guidelines: The Chispa Project emphasizes Spanish books. Although bilingual literature is helpful for learning dual languages, the Chispa Project is focused on teaching Hondurans their own language first. They seek a variety of fiction and nonfiction books for pre-k to 9th grade at approximately 10-20 books per title. Kids struggle with math and critical thinking skills as much as they do reading—60% in Honduras are below satisfactory levels—so books with mathematical word problems are also great. The Chispa project is grateful for books of all subjects, but they do try to avoid books with the standard blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess, Christmas stories with an abundance of presents, and false historical narratives. All of the financial support for the Chispa Project comes from individual donations. Outside of that, community involvement is what makes the program sustainable. If you would like to donate books or financial assistance, please contact Sara at info@chispaproject.org.

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Science Naturally wants to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the second article in a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites! About Reading Rockets Reading Rockets brings research-based strategies to teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, childcare providers, and anyone else involved in helping a young child become a strong, confident reader. Their goal is to "bring the reading research to life — to spread the word about reading instruction and to present 'what works' in a way that parents and educators can understand and use." Reading Rockets provides hundreds of articles on teaching reading, classroom strategies, in-classroom video, parent tips in 11 languages, video interviews with top children’s book authors, a daily news service, and much more. Free Reading Guides Parents and Educators can access reading guides that are ready to download, print and share, including parent tip sheets in multiple languages and companion guides to their popular PBS series! Literacy and the Sciences There is a strong correlation between the skills that are needed to grow strong readers and writers and the core skills used in science and math. Predicting, understanding cause and effect, understanding sequence, acquiring a rich vocabulary, building background knowledge, and developing the ability to read and write informational text are some of the skills Reading Rockets addresses in the Literacy in the Sciences series. Reading Rockets provides free tip sheets all about literacy in the sciences are written just for parents, available in both English and Spanish. Each tip sheet includes simple activities you can do with your child to build literacy and beginning science skills. Each tip sheet also includes a set of recommended picture books to extend the learning. These tips sheets include: Outdoor Explorations Steps of the Scientific Process STEM Tools at Home Making Predictions Taking Measurements Recording Observations: Journals and Field Notes Recording Observations: Capturing and Sharing Images and many more! Science and Math Books for Children Reading Rockets also has an extensive list of recommended science and math reading books for kids, including: An Anniversary Blast Count It Out Count, Think, and Play with Math How Things Work Numbers, Counting, Measuring and More: Books About Math Take Flight! Science Naturally's Science and Math Books for Kids Bilingual Science and Math Book Set/ Conjunto de libros bilingües is filled with entertaining, literature-based brainteasers that take just one minute to read! These books help kids see science, math, and new languages as approachable and learnable! Put on your Super Sleuthing cap and try solving these engaging and educational challenges! The I Love A Mystery Book Set blurs the line between entertainment and education. Make math and science fun with these literature-based books. Each mystery takes just one minute to read and features real-world scenarios. The brain teasers challenge kids to use critical thinking skills. Perfect for a long car trip or quick errands.

It's Earth Sciences Week! It can be difficult to think about how to teach science to young children, but science is based on curiosity, and when children aim to learn more about the world around them, it's science that holds the clues to a better understanding. Introducing kids to science at a young age will shape their development, teach them to ask questions, make predictions, and experiment with the world around them. These are critical science skills that help our little ones become better learners. Science doesn’t only have to be taught in the classroom, there are many learning opportunities parents can take advantage of to challenge their child's interest. What children learn while they’re young has a significant impact on their interests later in life. Making science fun can be pretty simple, as science is all around us in our everyday lives. Explore, Explore, Explore! Encourage your child to question their surroundings. The earth we live in is jam-packed with science, all you have to do is open your front door! Explore the outdoors and let them interact with their environment. By providing plenty of opportunities for your child to explore the world, you will increase their curiosity and soon everything they come across will become an important science investigation! Children are already hands-on learners, so they will love discovering new things about their world through exploring. Your own backyard is a great place to start! Think like a Scientist Children love exploring things that are new and exciting to them. When they are exploring the world, encourage questions about their findings. Let them design investigations and interpret the information they gathered. Engage them in conversation about their investigation, and give them the chance to communicate and defend their findings. Don’t always answer their questions - let their curious little minds think like a scientist and see if they can come up with an answer. It's not about being correct or incorrect, it's about sparking interest, curiosity, and investigation! Value Questions Our little ones’ wonder is limitless! They love asking questions, and that lets us know that they are thinking about how the world works. Even if you don't have all the answers, you can respond in ways that encourage their scientific thinking. Enjoy discussing the questions your child asks, and encourage them to share their perspective and observations. You don’t always have to try to answer all your child’s questions, but rather respond with your own questions like: “What do you think?” or “I don’t know, but we can find out together!” These can stimulate more thoughts and additional questions from your child. Create Experiments Who doesn’t love hearing “Whoa!” and “Wow!” from their children while they observe something scientifically amazing? You can help spark curiosity by conducting some at-home experiments with everyday objects you have in your home. Ask questions like, “What will sink and what will float?” or “What will happen when I mix soap and water together?” These questions to spark your child’s interest and gets them wondering! You and your little one can create some amazing science experiments that will make you both say "Whoa!" and "Wow"! The 'Beginnings' Collection Books play an important role in a child's life. Time spent with your child snuggled on your lap, reading a book together, is a part of most families days. This is an important way to lay the groundwork for later literacy. If you choose the right books, this will also set the stage for scientific curiosity. It's never to early to start introducing young children to reading and science! Exposure to animals and their environments—more and more frequently, through the pages of a book—is often at the root of a child’s interest in science. Our 'Beginnings' Collection is a fantastic resource for parents to begin conversations about the animal world and how it relates to human nurturing and development. Young Jane Goodall loved to observe the wildlife near her home, a passion that inspired her groundbreaking chimpanzee research. Charles Turner, pioneering entomologist, spent hours reading about ants and other insects in the pages of his father’s books. Rachel Carson began writing stories about squirrels when she was eight. Spark curiosity in a child and watch them develop a lifelong enthusiasm for learning!