Spectacular Science
Read & Do
Science doesn't just happen in a lab, it happens all around us. This month we invite you and your students to examine science in nature.
Explore the world through science and find vocab, comprehension questions and activities for these three books.
The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World
Vocab:
scientist - an expert in science, especially one of the physical or natural sciences
geode - a circular or round stone that is hollow and filled with crystals
fossil - an impression or trace of a living thing from a former geologic age
deciduous - trees that lose their leaves every fall and they grow back in the spring
waning - the decreasing of the illumination of the moon after the full moon
predatory - wild animals that hunt or prey on other animals
solitary animals - animals that do not live in packs and live unsocial lives, like tigers, skunks and polar bears
After you are done reading The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World, ask your students these questions:
- How do crystals form?
- What did Mary Anning find while out collecting seashells?
- What are giant tube worms, and where do they live?
- What are the key components you need to identify a tree?
- How can you determine the age of a tree?
- Who were the first inventors to make a successful airplane?
- What did Charles Darwin do as a naturalist onboard the HMS Beagle?
- Why are birds dangerous to have near airports?
- What does NASA stand for, and when was it created?
- How many phases of the moon are there?
- How do dogs find out what is going on in the world?
- How is climate change affecting our world?
Activity
Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files - All About Plants!
Vocab:
stems - the way water and nutrients get from the roots of a plant to where they are needed, they also help hold up leaves
photosynthesis - the process where a plant uses sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make food
chlorophyll - turns sunlight into plant food and gives plants their color.
pollen - special dust that when moved from plant to plant causes pollination, which is necessary for plants to produce seeds
botanist - a scientist who studies plants
After you are done reading Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files - All About Plants!, ask your students these questions:
What happens during the process of photosynthesis?
More oxygen means less what for our planet?
What are some of the ways humans use plants?
Why do leaves change color and drop off trees in the fall?
What is the job of a flower?
How can pollen affect humans?
What are some plants that provide seeds for us to eat?
What is the oldest living plant, and where does it grow?
What job do bees and birds do to help plants thrive?
How can you help our planet's pollinators?
Activity
Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals
Vocab:
camouflage - the hiding or disguising of something by changing the way it looks
plumage - all feathers of a bird
mimic - the ability to copy sounds
ectotherms - cold-blooded animals that get their heat from outside their body
endotherms - warm-blooded animals that can keep themselves warm even in a cold environment
After you are done reading Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals, ask your students these questions:
What animals are the masters of disguise?
What do you call the two appendages the mantis shrimp has?
How are chromatophores helpful to animals?
How do snakes "see" their prey in the dark?
What animals are the closest relative to humans, genetically speaking?
What do sloths do when they come down from the treetop canopy to the rainforest floor each week?
How long is a hummingbird's tongue? Why is it so long?
What were the first living creatures intentionally launched into space?
Which is more sensitive, a human tongue or the feet of a housefly?
