Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for Collecting and Examining Life lessons.

Allard's Ground Cricket Call

http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/539a.htm

This is an awesome site with recordings of all sorts of insects - including several species of crickets.

Brine Shrimp in the Great Salt Lake

http://www.earthsky.com/Features/Articles/brine-shrimp1.html

An excellent, illustrated article about the ecology and life history of brine shrimp from the Great Salt Lake.

eNature.com

http://www.enature.com/main/home.asp

The eNature web site offers online field guides to plants and animals, including local guides and habitat guides. It also supports teachers by providing a form for creating an ongoing classroom species list.

Insecta Inspecta World

http://www.insecta-inspecta.com

For students with a strong interest in insects, this site provides a good source of additional information.

Project FeederWatch

http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw

Project Feeder Watch provides an opportunity for your class to submit observations about the birds that visit your class feeder from November through April. By joining ($15 fee), you will receive an instruction booklet, a handbook, a subscription to the newsletter, a colorful wall calendar, a bird identification poster, and more.

Science Songs

http://students.washington.edu/crowther/SciSongs/scilinks.html#earthsci

This page contains links to songs to sing about rocks, minerals, and soil.

The Yukkiest Site on the Internet

http://yucky.kids.discovery.com

Wendell the Worm, host of the "Yuckiest site on the Internet," welcomes visitors to "Worm World." A Teacher

What is a Flower?

http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3715/flower.html

Produced by an elementary classroom on the ThinkQuest web site, this link to "What is a Flower?" provides clear drawings and child-friendly cartoons that illustrate some basic topics about flowers.

Why Does Bread Mold?

http://www.flowersbakeries.com/kids_bread_mold.html

Why Does Bread Mold? is the name of the Flash movie at this web site. (You can get the Flash plug-in at the site.) This movie is narrated in a very conversational tone so you will need a sound card on your computer to hear it. It offers good illustrations and basic animation; for example, close-up zooms of fungus spores.

ExploraGear kits contain equipment and consumables for student explorations. Scroll down to view the entire ExploraGear list.

Each module also lists easy-to-find Classroom Supplies used in the lessons. Scroll down or click the link on the right to see the Classroom Supplies list for this module.

ExploraGear

QUANTITY	ITEM
1 Vial	Brine Shrimp Eggs
14	Paint Brushes
1	Plastic “Bugs Eye” Eyeglass
1	Gallon Flex Tank with Cover
2	Red Food Coloring , 1 oz
28	Dual Magnifier Hand Lens
14	Plastic Jar w/ Lid, 16 oz (473.2 mL)
2	Plastic Knives, pk/24
14	Mini Magnifier Bug Jars
7	Black Plastic Mesh, 5 X 6 in
1	Plastic Ribbon , 1 3/16” x 300 ft
1	Rock Salt, 1/2 lb
1	Seed Corn, 30 g
1	Lima Bean Seeds, ¼ lb
2	Plastic Spoons, pk/24
1	Spray Bottle w/ Nozzle, 8 oz
1	Storage Chest w/ Lid, 11×18×15”

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Classroom Supplies

QUANTITY	ITEM	LESSONS
Varies	Water	1, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20
1 per 2 groups	Bottles, plastic with caps, 2-liter	1, 4
3 per group	Bowls, paper or plastic, colored	1
An assortment	Collection of living or once-living things (e.g., class pet, bones, leaves, shells, living or dead insects, snake skins, etc.)	1, SBA 2
5 per group	Labels or masking tape strips	1
1	Measuring spoon set	1
.60 mL (1/8 tsp) per group	“Mystery Substance” (ground cinnamon, sand, or another non-living granular substance)	1
1	Dissecting microscope or tripod magnifier (optional)	2, 7, 15, 16, 21
2 or more	Light sources, such as flashlights	2, SBA 1
1 or more	Camera and film	3, 9, 17
Several stacks	Disposable wipes or damp paper towels	3, 17
Several	Field guides to birds, mammals, trees, flowers, etc. (optional)	3, 11, 17, 18
1 per adult	Notepad	3, 17
1 per child	Paper bags	3
1 per group	Permanent Markers	3, 17
1 per group	Plastic bags, grocery size	3, 17
1 per group	Plastic containers with lids (e.g., yogurt cups)	3
Several	Trowels (optional)	3, 17
1 per child	Old socks, adult-sized	3
1 per group	Containers, such as shoeboxes or aluminum trays	4
Many sheets	Newspaper	4, 12, 15
Several sheets	Black construction paper	4
Several	Light sources, such as swing arm lamps	4
1-2 rolls	Paper towels	4, 14, 15, 21
Class set	Scissors	4, 10, 15, 19
Several rolls or bottles	Tape , glue, or glue sticks	4, 5, 10, 11, 19
1 per snail	Lettuce leaves	6
1	Marker, water-soluble	6
1	Overhead projector (optional)	6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 18
1 per pair	Rulers or tape measures, metric	6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 22, SBA 3
1 large package	Paper plates	6, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18
1 per pair	Snails (or slugs)	6
1 per pair	Crickets or other insects	7
1	Pin	7
1	Small piece of cardboard or foam	7
1	Terrarium or clear container	7
1 per pair or group	Fish	8
1	Fish tank or aquarium	8
1 per group or child	Clipboards	9, 17
As many as you can collect	Calendars, magazines, greeting cards, and other sources of pictures of animals and plants	10
Several	Index cards or self-sticking notes	10
At least 6 sheets	Chart paper, poster board, or butcher paper	10, 11, 12
1 sheet per group	Construction paper, 12 in x 18 in	10
4 per child	Leaves, fresh	11
1 of each per group	Edible fruits: apples, green beans, corncobs, strawberries	12
1 per group	Envelopes	12
Several	Fruits collected from neighborhood plants: acorns, winged maple seeds, weed pods, rose hips, etc.	12
1	Hammer or nutcracker	12
1	Knife, sharp	12
1	Marker, water-based (to write on overhead transparencies) (optional)	12, 15, 16, 18
1 per group	Trays or other containers for holding supplies (optional)	12, 13, 14, 18
1	Basin or sink of water	13
1	Coconut	13
1 of each or more	Fleshy fruits, such as apples and oranges	13
Several	Nuts in shells	13
Several	Seeds, wild types with various dispersal methods, such as mature dandelions, milkweed pods, winged maple seeds, or acorns	13
1 per pair	Plastic bags, small (optional)	14
1 or more	Spray bottle	14, 20
Small amount per child	Sprouts, bean or alfalfa	14
As many as possible	Balances, equal arm	15, SBA 4
2 per pair	Seedlings	15
About 2 stalks per group	Celery stalks	16
1 per group plus 2 more	Containers, clear plastic, tall	16
1 bottle	Food coloring	16
1 per group	Twigs	16
1 package	Bags, resealable, plastic	17, 20
1	Binoculars (optional)	17
1 pair per group	Clipper or scissors (optional)	17, 18
1	Book: The Reason for a Flower, by Ruth Heller (optional)	18
Several	Tweezers (optional)	18
1	Flowering plant	18
At least 1 per group	Flowers, assorted	18
At least 1 per group	Jars or vases for flowers	18
1 per child	Bread or cheese slices	20
Several	Pictures of mushrooms, molds, and other fungi, magnified and not (optional)	20, 21
1	Garbage bag	21
1 bottle	Cleaning solution, such as Lysol®	21
Small samples of a variety of fungi	Fungi examples, such as grocery store mushrooms, blue cheese, brewer’s yeast, and baker’s yeast	21
1 per child	Index cards	22
9 per child	Game markers	22
1	Filmstrip, slide, or overhead projector and filmstrip, slides, or overhead transparencies	SBA 1
1 sheet per group	Graph paper	SBA 1
1 or more	Jeweler’s loupe (optional)	SBA 1
1 per pair	Lincoln pennies, new and clean	SBA 1
Several	Books with scientific drawings	SBA 2
5-10 per child	Centimeter cubes	SBA 3
More than 1 per child	Collection of small items to measure	SBA 3
1 large package	Paper clips, large (1 cm x 5 cm)	SBA 3, SBA 4
1	Ruler with inches on one edge and centimeters on the other	SBA 3
1 per group	Balloon	SBA 4
2	Erasers, new and identical	SBA 4
1 per group	Marbles	SBA 4
1 or more	Spring scale (optional)	SBA 4
2 per group	Vegetables, small	SBA 4
Class set	Drawing materials (Colored pencils and/or crayons)	Multiple
Class set	Pencils	Multiple
Several sheets per child	Paper	Multiple

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The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school or local librarian.

Books to support the Wild Walks

Around the Pond: Who’s Been Here?

By Lindsay Barrett George. (1996, Greenwillow)

A story about two siblings who follow a path along a pond and find clues left by unseen animals. For each animal, one page describes the clue and asks “Who’s been here?” while the facing page presents the information in visual form. The follow-up double-page spread reveals the animal in a full-color illustration.

How Do You Know It’s Spring?

By Allan Fowler. (1991, Children’s Press)

A clear description of what happens out-of-doors when it is spring; illustrated with color photos.

In the Woods: Who’s Been Here?

By Lindsay Barrett George. (1998, Mulberry Books)

A story about two siblings (the same as in Around the Pond) who take a fall walk through the woods near their house. They find an empty nest, a cocoon, gnawed bark, and other signs of unseen animals and their activities. Like Around the Pond, one page describes the clue and asks “Who’s been here?” while the facing page presents the information in visual form. The follow-up double-page spread reveals the animal in a full-color painting.

One Small Square

By Donald M. Silver. (1995-1999, McGraw-Hill)

This is a series of books that examine a particular habitat, including Backyard, Cactus Desert, Pond, Seashore, Swamp, and Woods. Written for ages 6-9, each book includes full-color illustrations of the habitat and its creatures, a glossary and index, activities, and resources.

What’s Under the Log?

By Anne Hunter. (1999, Houghton Mifflin)

A pocket-sized guide with descriptions of the various kinds of life you might find under a log or in leaf litter. The illustrations are not to scale, but accurate sizes are given.

Animals

General

Animals in the Zoo (Rookie Read-About Science)

By Allen Fowler. (2000, Children’s Press)

Examines a variety of zoo animals and their housing, including elephants, bears, reptiles, and killer whales.

Arms, Legs, and Other Limbs

By Allan Fowler. (1999, Children’s Press)

Discusses how different animals use their arms, legs, paws, wings, or flippers to move. This volume is illustrated with clear, bright photographs. A glossary with pictures helps children learn the new words.

How Do Animals Move? (The Science of Living Things)

By Niki Walker and Bobbie Kalman. (2000, Crabtree Publishing Company)

A good reference book that encourages children to compare how animals move. It emphasizes that how an animal moves depends on the structure of its body and where the animal lives. Features information about snails, slugs, and fish.

On the Move

By Joyce Pope. (1993, Raintree/Steck-Vaugh)

Describes the different methods various animals use to move from place to place in order to find living space, food, and mates. Reading level ages 9-12.

What’s Alive? (Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science, Stage 1)

By Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld; illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. (1995, HarperTrophy)

By interacting with plants, her cat, and her dog, a little girl learns that humans are similar to living things that grow and need food, water, and air, as well as how we differ.

The Zoo (Field Trips)

By Stuart A. Kallen. (1997, Abdo & Daughters)

One of a series of books designed to prepare elementary school children for field trips. Written at a second-grade reading level, the question and answer format captures interest for reading aloud.

Zoo Animals: A Smithsonian Guide

By Michael H. Robinson, David Challinor, and Holly Weber. (1995, Macmillan Publishing Co.)

Introduces readers to the modern zoo, profiling over 250 animals and their habitats. Special features reveal life in a sand dune, the survival strategies of baby animals, and more. Includes over 350 photos and illustrations, including maps of 15 major zoos. A good teacher reference.

Snails and Slugs

Are You a Snail? (Backyard Buddies)

By Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries. (2000, Kingfisher)

Introduces young children to the world of the snail with accurate and witty text. Ideal for reading aloud or as a first reader, with colorful illustrations that bring the snail to life.

The Biggest House in the World

By Leo Lionni. (1987, Knopf)

This story is about a young snail who realizes that his house just might not be the perfect fit. The art is bold and colorful, and the text is simple and rich.

Slugs and Snails

By Theresa Greenaway. (1999, Raintree Steck-Vaughn)

Provides information on the identification, life cycle, and habitats of slugs and snails, as well as on how to collect and care for them as pets.

Snailology (Backyard Buddies)

By Michael Elson Ross. (1996, Carolrhoda Books)

Although written for somewhat older children, this book is a tremendous resource for lower grades. It offers abundant information about garden snails, as well as numerous activities and experiments that children can do to learn more about snail behavior.

A Snail’s Pace (Rookie Read-About Science)

By Allan Fowler. (1999, Children’s Press)

Discusses different varieties of snails and slugs, how they move, what they eat, how big or small they are, and which ones end up on dinner plates. Clear photos convey scale; a photo glossary reviews terms.

The Snail’s Spell

By Joanne Ryder; illustrated by Lynne Cherry. (1988, Penguin Putnam)

An unnamed, sleeping, pajama-clad boy is invited into a garden teeming with wildlife. The boy gradually shrinks until he is so small he experiences things as a snail would. Uses brilliant illustrations and a short text.

Some Smug Slug

By Pamela Duncan Edwards. (1996, Harper Collins)

A fun book that tells a tale of a slug and other “s” animals and their movements. The language and illustrations are age-appropriate and inviting.

Crickets and other Insects and Bugs

Bugs: A Closer Look at the World’s Tiny Creatures

By Jinny Johnson. (1995, Reader’s Digest)

An oversized book with two-page spreads that feature an enlarged drawing of an insect, with informative labels and text surrounding the picture. Great, but no longer in print; check your library.

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (Eyewitness Readers, level 2)

By Jennifer Dusling. (1998, DK Publishing)

This age-appropriate book accentuates reading skills at the same time it captivates its readers with the life stories of different insects.

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

By Bob Barner. (1999, Chronicle Books)

This book is filled with rhyming word poetry that teaches children about different bugs while having lyrical fun at the same time. It is a different approach to reading that may capture a different audience than the Dusling book.

Chirping Crickets (Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science, Stage 2)

By Melvin Berger; illustrated by Megan Lloyd. (1998, Harper Trophy)

Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and life cycle of crickets while giving particular emphasis to how they chirp. A well-rounded book, appropriate for reading aloud.

Cricketology

By Michael Elson Ross. (1996, Carolrhoda Books)

Although written for older children, this book is a tremendous resource for lower grades. It offers abundant information about crickets, as well as numerous activities and experiments that children can do to learn more about cricket behavior.

Peterson First Guide to Insects of North America

By Christopher Leahy; illustrated by Richard E. White. (1987, Houghton Mifflin)

A concise field guide to 203 common and conspicuous insects of North America. Includes introductory sections on observing insects, parts of insects, and more.

Pet Bugs: A Kid’s Guide to Catching and Keeping Touchable Insects

By Sally Stenhouse Kneidel; illustrated by Mauro Magellan. (1994, John Wiley & Sons)

Explains how to recognize, find, catch, and keep 26 common insects that are safe to touch and fun to watch, including crickets.

Secret Forests: A Collection of Hidden Creepy Crawly Bugs and Insects

By Michael Gaffney. (1994, Western Publishing)

An exploration of insects and their forest habitats. Alternates pages of information about selected insects with exquisitely detailed illustrations in which the insects are hidden as they might be in their natural environment. Includes a section called “Leaf Litter Creatures.”

The Very Quiet Cricket

By Eric Carle. (1990, Philomel)

With Eric Carle’s characteristically bold and colorful art, and repetitive text that is easily learned, this book is excellent for reading aloud or for beginning independent readers. The story recounts a cricket that tried to chirp in answer to others, “...but nothing happened. Not a sound.” That is, until he matures and meets a female cricket, who elicits “the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.”

Fish

What’s It Like to Be a Fish? (Let’s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 1)

By Wendy Pfeffer; illustrated by Holly Keller. (1996, HarperTrophy)

Describes how a fish’s sleek body, fins, scales, and gills are designed perfectly for living in water. Appropriate for reading aloud, or for independent readers to browse.

Plants

The Carrot Seed

By Ruth Krauss; illustrated by Crockett Johnson. (1989, HarperTrophy)

A classic and brief story in which a young boy plants a carrot seed that everyone says will not grow. He carefully tends the seed and eventually harvests a carrot whose size is in direct proportion to his unflappable faith in it.

Dandelion Adventures

By L. Patricia Kate; illustrated by Anca Hariton. (1998, The Millbrook Press)

An illustrated story about seven dandelion seeds that parachute through the air when the wind blows. Where will each seed land?

Flowers (Eyewitness Explorers)

By David Burnie. (1997, Dorling Kindersley)

Describes the physical characteristics and life cycles of flowers and examines different kinds of garden flowers, woodland flowers, desert flowers, and others. Offers clear photographs of flowers and their habitiats.

From Seed to Plant

By Gail Gibbons. (1991, Holiday House)

Explains that seeds are different shapes, sizes, and colors, and all grow into the same kind of plant that made them. Describes the parts of flowers, and the various ways plants disperse seeds.

From Seed to Sunflower (Lifecycles)

By Gerald Legg; illustrated by Carolyn Scrace. (1998, Franklin Watts, Inc.)

Large illustrations and simple text present the life cycle of a sunflower from seed to flower.

How a Plant Grows (Crabapples)

By Bobby Kalman. (1996, Crabtree Pub.)

A clear introduction to the life cycle of plants, illustrated with color photographs. Cross-sectional views show a bean plant’s roots developing as its leaves and stems growing above the surface.

How a Seed Grows (Let’s Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1)

By Helene J. Jordan; illustrated by Loretta Krupinski. (1992, HarperCollins Publishers)

Illustrates the simple steps that turn a packet of bean seeds into a garden.

How Seeds Travel

By Cynthia Overbeck. (1982, Lerner Natural Science Book)

Describes how seeds are moved from place to place by wind, water, and animals, and how they function in plant reproduction.

I Am a Leaf

By Jean Marzollo. (1999, Hello Reader, Science 1)

Excellent use of rhyme and repetition that follows the life cycle of a leaf. The text and illustrations make this an excellent book for emergent readers as well as strong readers. Children will develop an appreciation for leaves as indicators of the seasons as well as contributors to nature’s beauty.

I’m a Seed (Hello Science Reader, Level 1)

By Jean Marzollo; illustrated by Judith Moffatt. (1996, Cartwheel Books)

Two newly planted seeds, the first a marigold, the second a mystery seed, discuss the changes that take place as they grow. The second seed delightedly becomes a pumpkin plant with five baby pumpkins.

The Life and Times of the Apple

By Charles Micucci. (1992, Orchard Paperbacks)

Describes the life cycle of an apple, from seed to tree to flower to fruit. It also incorporates geography, history, science, and math.

The Life and Times of the Peanut

By Charles Micucci. (1997, Houghton Mifflin)

Same as above, but with a peanut. Very informative and fun.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book about How Living Things Grow

By Joanna Cole. (1995, Scholastic Trade)

The class decides to plant a garden, and Ms. Frizzle takes them on a zany trip back to Phoebe’s old school where they learn about the life cycle of a plant and how living things grow.

Oh Say Can You Seed: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)

By Bonnie Worth; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz. (2001, Random House)

With the able assistance of Thing 1 and Thing 2—and a fleet of Rube Goldberg-like vehicles—the Cat in the Hat examines the various parts of plants, seeds, and flowers; basic photosynthesis and pollination; and seed dispersal.

One Bean

By Anne Rockwell; illustrated by Megan Halsey. (1999, Walker & Co.)

Beginning with the image of a hand holding a single bean, the story journeys full circle from soaking, planting, and watering, to flowering, harvesting, and eating.

Plants and Flowers (It’s Science)

By Sally Hewitt (1999, Children’s Press)

Discusses what makes plants grow, the structure of flowering plants, and the way they reproduce. Includes experiments and activities.

The Pumpkin Patch

By Elizabeth King. (1996, Puffin Books)

Color photos combine with simple, non-scientific text that describes the stages of plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting pumpkins.

The Reason for a Flower (World of Nature)

By Ruth Heller. (1999, Dawn Publications)

Brief, rhyming text and lavish, accurate illustrations clearly explain pollination, plant reproduction, and the purpose of a flower.

Seeds Grow (My First Hello Reader)

By Angela Shelf Medearis; illustrated by Jill Dublin. (2000, Cartwheel Books)

“We plant some seeds in the ground. We sprinkle water all around…” Easy rhyming text and colorful artwork capture the process of growing sunflowers.

Stems (Growing Flowers)

By Gail Saunders-Smith (1998, Pebble Books)

Describes the different kinds of roots and stems flowers may have, and their importance in helping flowers grow.

Sunflower House

By Eve Bunting; illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. (1999, Voyager Picture Book)

A rhyming, first-person tale follows a boy and his two friends as they sow sunflower seeds in a circle, and carefully tend them until they grow into a sunflower house. When summer’s over, and the sunflowers fall, the friends save the seeds to plant next spring.

Taking Root (Rookie Read-About Science)

By Allan Fowler. (2000, Children’s Press)

Describes what roots look like and how they function in plants.

The Tiny Seed

By Eric Carle. (1987, Simon and Schuster)

Dazzlingly colorful collage illustrations and simple but dramatic text tell the story of the life cycle of a flower in terms of a tiny seed.

Why Do Leaves Change Color? (Let’s Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2)

By Betsy Maestro. (1994, Harper Trophy)

Explains many concepts about leaves in a clear manner and with nice illustrations. Also includes suggestions for activities with leaves.

Fungi

Good Mushrooms, Bad Toadstools

By Allan Fowler. (1998, Children’s Press)

An easy-to-read book about the differences between mushrooms and toadstools, both of which are fungi.

The Home (Discover Hidden Worlds)

Heather Amery and Jane Songi. (1994, Western Publishing Co.)

From bacteria on sponges to mold on cheese, an exploration of the home that features magnified pictures, easy-to-read text, and a “Guess What?” page. Look in the library for this out-of-print book.

Lots of Rot

By Vicki Cobb; illustrated by Brian Schatell. (1987, HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Discusses what causes rot and the role it plays in the cycle of living things; presents facts about mold, bacteria, and mildew. Check the library for this out-of-print book.

The Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad

By Linda Beech and Joanna Cole; illustrated by Carolyn Bracken. (1995, Scholastic)

Ms. Frizzle’s class learns there’s more to rot than first meets the nose when they shrink the bus down for a closer look at a “dead” log teeming with life.

Yuck!: A Big Book of Little Horrors

By Robert Snedden. (1996, Simon and Schuster)

Reveals the microscopic view of fungi and other very common household organisms that exist in that “invisible” realm. Appropriate for reading out loud or advanced independent readers.

Child-friendly field guides

About Birds: A Guide for Children

By Cathryn Sill; illustrated by John Sill. (1997 [1991], Peachtree Publishers)

First-graders read information about birds, how they live, and what they do through brief, precise sentences which are illustrated with full-page illustrations on the facing page. An afterword briefly expands on the text with specific information about various birds’ relative sizes and their contributions to the environment.

About Insects: A Guide for Children

By Cathryn Sill; illustrated by John Sill. (2000, Peachtree Publishers)

Follows the same format as About Birds.

About Mammals: A Guide for Children

By Cathryn Sill; illustrated by John Sill. (1997, Peachtree Publishers)

Follows the same format as About Birds.

About Reptiles: A Guide for Children

By Cathryn Sill; illustrated by John Sill. (1999, Peachtree Publishers)

Follows the same format as About Birds.

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Take Along Guide)

By Melvin Boring and Megan Lloyd. (1999, Northward Press)

Both teachers and children can use this great guide to identify caterpillars, moths, and various bugs in the field.

Peterson First Guides

By various authors. (Houghton Mifflin)

Simplified versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the things you are most likely to see. Titles include: Birds; Butterflies and Moths; Caterpillars; Fishes; Forests; Insects; Mammals; Reptiles and Amphibians; Trees; Urban Wildlife; and Wildflowers.

Books to support the Skill Building Activities

Bird Egg Feather Nest

By Maryjo Koch. (1992, Stewart Tabori & Chang)

Though currently out of print, this book is worth finding at the library, so that the children can examine how the author draws the details of nests, feathers, and eggs.

Doing What Scientists Do: Children Learn to Investigate Their World

By Ellen Doris. (1991, Heinemann)

Many of the ideas in this unit’s skill building activities came from this wonderful resource for teaching science to young children. The book is full of examples of classroom dialogue, and has many samples of high-quality scientific drawings by young children that you might show to your own class.

Drawing with Children

By Mona Brookes. (1996, Putnam)

A resource for teachers, this book includes lessons for building artistic skills and using drawing to support other scholastic skills. The author allows unlimited photocopying of the exercises by elementary school teachers.

How Big Is a Foot?

By Rolf Myller. (1991, Young Yearling)

Through the story of an apprentice who gets in trouble for making the queen’s bed too small, this book talks about traditional measurements and the development of standard systems. It does not cover the metric system.

An Island Scrapbook: Dawn to Dusk on a Barrier Island

By Virginia Wright-Frierson. (1998, Simon & Schuster)

Presented as a scrapbook illustrating a day spent by the artist and her young daughter exploring the beaches, marshes and woods of an island off the North Carolina coast. Watercolors and pencil drawings include depictions of shells, insects, birds, and trees.

A North American Rainforest Scrapbook

By Virginia Wright-Frierson. (1999, Walker & Co.)

Like Wright-Frierson’s other scrapbooks, this focuses on a particular setting, here it’s Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Every page combines pencil drawings, carefully labeled specimens, and watercolors of animals, plants, and plant parts, such as a banana slug and a variety of evergreen cones.

The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or ask your school librarian for assistance.

Noteworthy Read-Alouds

Caves: One Small Square

By Donald Silver; illustrated by Patricia Wynne. (1994, W.H. Freeman Company)

Children explore a single square of a petroglyph that depicts cave life. A great introduction to caves and caving.

Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time

By Diane Nelson Spickert; illustrated by Marianne D. Wallace. (2000, Fulcrum Publishing)

Take children on a rock’s journey as the process of weathering transforms it from a large chunk of granite to a small grain of sand.

How Mountains Are Made

By Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld; illustrated by James Graham Hale. (1995, Harper Collins Publishers)

This fun picture book for early-elementary readers follows the journey of four children as they hike from their school up into the mountains. They learn about mountain formation, fossils, and the earth’s structure along the way.

How Much Is a Million?

By David Schwartz; illustrated by Steven Kellogg. (1987, William Morrow & Co.)

This early-elementary book helps children conceptualize the immensity of numbers, such as a million, billion, and trillion, that come up when talking about how landforms change over long periods of time.

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World

By Faith McNulty; illustrated by Marc Simont. (1990, Scott Foresman)

In this charming book, a boy offers step-by-step instructions on how to dig the deepest hole in the world. Readers will be amused by his uncanny imagination and rewarded with a wealth of information about the earth below our feet.

Legends of Landforms: Native American Lore and the Geology of the Land

By Carole G. Vogel. (1999, Millbrook Press)

Presents the stories native people created to explain natural wonders, including Devil’s Tower (Mateo Teepee).

Painters of the Caves

By Patricia Lauber. (1998, National Geographic Society)

This book describes the 1994 discovery, in Chauvet, France, of a cave with Stone Age rock paintings, and discusses the significance of cave art to people living in prehistoric as well as modern times.

The Big Rock

By Bruce Hiscock. (1988, Aladdin Paperbacks)

This age-appropriate picture book tells the story of a rock and how it was shaped through time. It explains how the rock emerged from a volcano, ended up on the bottom of the ocean, was uplifted by a mountain, transported by a glacier, and finally weathered by wind and rain.

The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth

By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1987, Scholastic Inc.)

Miss Frizzle, her class, and their magic school bus journey into the center of the earth to study rocks and minerals. This book is packed with pictures and captions, and provides a simple introduction to the structure of the Earth.

The Pebble in My Pocket: A History of Our Earth

By Meredith Hooper; illustrated by Chris Coady. (1996, Viking Children’s Books)

With poetically written text, this beautiful book follows the trail of a single pebble over millions of years. Some of the concepts will require explanation and discussion, making it a good book to read aloud.

The Summer Sands

By Sherry Garland; illustrated by Robert Lee. (1995, Harcourt Press)

This wonderful storybook for early-elementary readers has beautiful illustrations that show how sand dunes form along the ocean coast. It tells a story about how people used old Christmas trees to rebuild sand dunes destroyed by storms.

Other Recommended Children’s Books

Cave: Landshapes

By Brian Knapp. (1993, Grolier Educational Corporation)

Using beautiful photographs from around the world, this out of print book explains how caves, and the wondrous formations within them, are created. The book also gives information about people that explore and study caves.

Digging Deeper: Investigations into Rocks, Shocks, Quakes, and Other Earthy Matters

By Sandra Markle. (1987, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books)

This book discusses various aspects of geology, such as plate tectonics, erosion, and minerals. It includes experiments and other activities.

Earthquakes and Volcanoes: Reader’s Digest Pathfinders

By Lin Sutherland. (2000, Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing Inc.)

Exceptional images illustrate the science and history of volcanoes and earthquakes. Although the text is more appropriate for middle and high school aged children, this book is a great teacher reference for elementary classes.

Erosion: Carolrhoda Earth Watch Book Series

By Cherie Winner. (1999, Carolrhoda Books, Inc.)

This book describes how water, glaciers, and wind shape our planet. Excellent photographs support age-appropriate text.

 

Eyewitness: Earth

By Susanna Van Rose. (2000, DK Publishing)

An extraordinary visual guide to earth science and the forces that shape the earth, this book takes children on a visual journey of the earth’s landscapes and highlights how the study of earth science has developed through the ages.

 

Glaciers

By John Gordon. (2001, Voyageur Press)

This excellent introduction to glaciers for advanced readers, with beautiful photographs throughout, vividly describes what glaciers are, how they form, and how they have shaped landscapes around the world.

Glaciers: Ice on the Move

By Sally M. Walker. (1990, Carolrhoda Books)

Describes the formation and movement of different types of glaciers, their effects on the land, and how scientists study glaciers. Nice text for independent readers and fantastic photographs.

Glaciers: True Books

By Larry Dane Brimmer. (2000, Children’s Book Press)

Beautiful photographs and concise text make this an excellent introduction to glaciers. The text is suitable for advanced readers only.

Icebergs and Glaciers

By Seymour Simon. (1987, William Morrow and Company, Inc.)

Discusses how glaciers form, where they are located, and how they move. Contains beautiful photographs of glaciers with easy to read, informative text.

Incredible Earth: How Things Work from the Inside Out

By Nick Clifford. (1996, Firefly Books, LTD)

Packed with information and photos, this book provides lots of detail about features of the earth including earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers, glaciers, caves, and deserts. It may be hard to find because it is out of print.

Mapworlds: Landscapes

By Molly Perham and Julian Rowe; illustrated by Sallie Reason. (1996, Franklin Watts, Inc.)

Provides a world tour of the earth’s major landscape features and biomes with large text and excellent illustrations and photos.

Maroo of the Winter Caves

By Ann Turnbull; illustrated by Ann Nicol. (1991, Houghton Mifflin Company)

This fictional story depicts the life of Maroo, a young girl living during the last Ice Age and the trials and tribulations she and her family endure .

Mountains: Geography Detectives

By Philip Sauvain; illustrated by David Hogg. (1996, Carolrhoda Books)

This age-appropriate book highlights the major features seen in mountains around the world and describes the processes that form and shape them.

Out of the Dust

By Karen Hesse. (1999, Scholastic Paperbacks)

The tragedy of the Dust Bowl is experienced through the eyes of Billie Jo, an adolescent living in Oklahoma in the 1930’s.

Planet Earth: Visual Factfinder

By Neil Curtis and Micheal Allaby. (1993, Kingfisher Books)

Explores how the earth’s landscapes are shaped through weathering, erosion, deposition, and forces such as mountain uplift and volcanoes. Includes hundreds of detailed color illustrations and photographs with interesting fact captions throughout. Although out of print, this book is well worth searching for in a local library.

Planet Earth

By Jean Burke Crawford. (1997, Time-Life Books)

This age-appropriate resource book contains content on a wide variety of topics, including volcanoes, weather, rivers, and earthquakes. It also highlights the effect that earth forces have on humans around the world. There are hundreds of excellent photos and illustrations.

River: Landshapes

By Brian Knapp. (1993, Grolier Educational Corporation)

Using beautiful photographs from around the world, this out of print book explains how rivers form and the wide range of landforms that are created by rivers through weathering, erosion and deposition.

Sand Dunes

By Jan Gumprecht Bannan. (1990, Econo-Clad Books)

Discusses dune areas in Oregon and elsewhere in the western hemisphere, describing, with detailed photographs, the formation of sand and the forces which shape it into dunes. A good book for independent readers.

Shaping the Earth

By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. (2000, Houghton Mifflin Co.)

This colorful and informative book shows how the earth’s surface is shaped by shifting tectonic plates, mountain uplift, volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, and wind. It explains the role of living organisms in landscape formation and the profound influence of human beings on the landscapes of our planet. The text is splendidly illustrated with color photographs.

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

By E. Moones. (1995, Time-Life Books)

An exciting illustrated reference, this age appropriate book uses stunning visuals to introduce the study of volcanoes and earthquakes. It includes games, quizzes, puzzles, and activities.

Other Recommended Reference Books for Teachers

Earth Story: The Shaping of Our World

By Simon Lamb and David Sington. (1998, Princeton University Press)

This book is a companion to the BBC—Learning Channel series. Vivid images and illustrations show the earth’s structure and how the surface of the earth is shaped by an interacting system of atmosphere, water, tectonic plates in motion, and living organisms. The authors express a passion for planet Earth and the diverse life it supports.

Geology Crafts for Kids: 50 Nifty Projects to Explore the Marvels of Planet Earth

By Alan Anderson, Gwen Diehn, and Terry Krautwurst. (1996, Sterling Publishing)

A fun collection of 50 activities and craft projects that teach children about geology topics such as minerals, crystals, volcanoes, erosion, and fossils. Includes great full-color illustrations and easy-to-follow directions.

Glacial Geology: How Ice Shapes the Land

By Jon Erickson. (1996, Facts on File, Inc.)

Details the science of glacial geology. A good reference book for teachers who would like to learn more about the ice ages, causes and effects of glaciations, and glacial structures.

How the Earth Works: 100 Ways Parents and Kids Can Share the Secrets of the Earth

By John Farndon. (1992, Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.)

This exploration of earth science topics is designed for adults and children and offers a hands-on approach to learning. It has detailed instructions on how to build models and carry out experiments, as well as suggestions for how to record experimental data and draw conclusions.

Janice Van Cleave’s Earth Science for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work

By Janice Pratt Van Cleave. (1991, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)

This book has 101 easy experiments that cover topics such as rocks and minerals, crust movements, erosion, mountain building, weather, and the oceans. There are detailed step-by-step instructions and illustrations, as well as a scientific explanation of the results. The experiments are fun and use inexpensive, easy-to-find materials.

Origins: The Evolution of Continents, Oceans, and Life

By Ron Redfern. (2001, University of Oklahoma Press)

This coffee table-style book has extraordinary panoramic photographs that reveal how the earth was formed and how it evolved through time. The text examines the dynamic processes that have shaped and continue to shape the earth’s surface. The text is advanced, but the stunning images could be a useful resource and reference.

The Practical Geologist

By Dougal Dixon. (1992, Simon and Schuster)

Nice informative text for teachers wishing to gain a core background in geology and geological processes. Good chapters on erosion and geomorphology. A useful teacher resource.

Film and Multi-media Resources

Desert: Eyewitness Series [video]

(1996, Cafe Production for BBC Worldwide Americas and Dorling Kindersley Vision in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Director, Andrew Jackson; written by Lynette Singer. 35 minutes.)

This film has a great general overview of desert habitats and examines how deserts form, humans’ relationship to them, and the types of creatures that live in deserts.

Mountain: Eyewitness Series [video]

(1997, BBC Scienceworld Production and Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc. Director/writer, Mike Tomilson, narrator, Andrew Sachs. 35 minutes.)

This wonderful film provides a fun and captivating overview of how mountains are formed and mountain habitats around the world. The video highlights humans’ connection to mountains.

National Geographic: In the Shadow of Vesuvius [video]

(1987, National Geographic. Directed by Jeff Myrow and Ed Spiegel. 60 minutes.)

Mt. Vesuvius has been active for more than 17,000 years. In A.D. 79 a huge eruption (10 times the size of Mt. St. Helen’s) destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The film observes archaeologists excavating Pompeii and explores the fascinating history of Vesuvius.

Natural Disasters [video]

(1997, BBC Scienceworld production for BBC Worldwide Americas, Dorling Kindersley Vision in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. 35 minutes.)

This film explores the cataclysmic forces that shape our planet and affect our lives, from hurricanes to volcanoes. Rare footage reveals the earth at its most violent.

Physical Geography: Weathering and Erosion [video]

(2000, TMW / Media Group. Starring and narrated by Laurence Jankowski.)

This film provides a sweeping overview of landscapes around the world that have been shaped by water, ice, wind, and storms. Beautiful footage and clear explanations make this an engrossing exploration of the earth’s changing landscapes.

Pond & River [video]

(1996, Cafe Production for BBC Worldwide Americas and Dorling Kindersley Vision in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. New York, NY. Director, Leanne Pooley; writer, David Hanson; narrator, Martin Sheen. 35 minutes.)

This video looks at the range of plants and animals found in fresh water, examining the living conditions and survival mechanisms of creatures dwelling at the edge of water, on its surface, or under the mud.

Volcano: Eyewitness Series [video]

(1996, Cafe Production for BBC Worldwide Americas and Dorling Kindersley Vision in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. New York, NY. Director, Sanjida O'Connell; writer, Anne MacLeod; narrator, Martin Sheen. 35 minutes.)

Mount Vesuvius is one of the volcanoes featured in this video offering excellent footage of volcanic eruptions and their aftermaths as well as related background information on volcanic structure and plate tectonics.

ExploraGear kits contain equipment and consumables for student explorations. Scroll down to view the entire ExploraGear list.

Each module also lists easy-to-find Classroom Supplies used in the lessons. Scroll down or click the link on the right to see the Classroom Supplies list for this module.

ExploraGear

QUANTITY	ITEM
5	Squeeze Bottles, 8 oz
5	Styrofoam Bowls, 12 oz
1	Non-waxed Paper Cups, 3 oz, pk/25
1	Pea Gravel, 1 lb
1	Dual Magnifier Hand Lenses, set/10
6	Jar w/ Lid, Shatterproof, 16 oz
1	Map, Raised Relief
1	Moss, Sheet, 325 in2 bag
20	Foil Pans, 10-1/2" x 13" x 1-11/16"
1	Pebbles, Rough Rocks, 1 lb
1	Rock, Limestone, set/10
1	Rock, Pumice, Grey, set/10
1	Rock, Quartzite, set/10
2	Rock, Sandstone, Red, set/10
1	Rock, Slate, Grey, set/10
1	Rulers, set/10
4	Sandpaper, Medium, 9" x 11"
1	Soil (Topsoil), 1 lb
1	Straws, pk/50
2 rolls	Duct Tape
1	Plastic Tubing, 5 ft
1	Storage Chest w/ Lid, 11" x 18" x 15"

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Classroom Supplies

QUANTITY	ITEM	LESSONS
1	Camera (optional)	1, 4, 10, 13
1-2 sheets	Chart paper (optional)	1, 10, SBA 1
Class set	Colored pens or pencils	1, 3, 6, 10, 13, SBA 1
1 or more	Globe, relief style (optional)	2
1	Overhead projector	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12
1 or more	Relief map (optional)	2
1	Measuring cup, 500 ml (2 C)	3
Several sheets per group	Newspaper	3, 7, 8
1-2 rolls	Paper towels	3, 6, 9, 12
1 box	Plastic bags, medium resealable	3, 7, 8, 12
5	Plastic bottles, 2 L (64 oz)	3
1 per group	Rulers, 30 cm (12 in)	3, 8
1 bag	Sand	3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12
1 per group	Scissors	3, 7, 12
Several sets of 2 per class	Slope supplies	3, 4
Various amounts	Water	3, 5, 6, 12
5	Water catchers	3
1 -2 boxes	Modeling clay	4, 6, 8, 11, 12, SBA 3
Various amounts	Dirt	4, 7, 12
5 sheets of different colors	Construction paper, colored	5
4 sheets per group	Construction paper, dark colored	5
Class set	Safety goggles	5, 7, 8, 9
8	Markers, permanent	5, 6
1 roll	Masking tape	5
Variety	Rocks supplied by students	5
1 piece per pair	Aluminum foil, 8 in x 11 in	6
1	Bowl, medium size	6
1	Cooler (optional)	6
2	Ice cube trays	6
1 per pair	Index cards, 3 in x 5 in	6
8 or more	Trays	6, SBA 1
1 per pair	Wood block	6
1 per group	Cardboard boxes, approx. 30 cm x 43 cm x 23 cm (12 in x 17 in x 9 in)	7, 12
2 per group, plus 6 extra	Paper bowls, 375 ml (12 oz)	7, 9
1 per group	Plastic cups, 250 ml (8 oz)	7, 8
1 pair	Earmuffs	9
1	Hammer	9
1 per group	Paper cup, 375 ml (12 oz)	9
1 per group, plus 20 extra	Plastic bags, sandwich size, resealable	9
1 piece	Wood, 25 cm (12 in) from a 2 x 4 or 2 x 8	9
1 pair	Work gloves	9
1 per volunteer	Notepads (optional)	10
1 per volunteer	Pencils (optional)	10
Large assortment	Dish towels	11
Large assortment	Fabric or foam (optional)	11
1 per pair, plus 1 extra	Hard-boiled eggs	11
1 per pair, plus 1 extra	Plastic knives	11
1 per pair	Oranges	11
1	Spoon	11
1 -2 boxes	Toothpicks	11
250 ml (1 C) per group	Flour	12
1 bottle	Food coloring, red	12
1	Measuring cup, 250 ml (1 C)	12
1 bag	Rocks (optional)	12
1 or more	Binoculars (optional)	13
1	Compass (optional)	13
1	Map of field trip location (optional)	13
1 per group	Apples (same kind, similar in appearance)	SBA 1
1 sheet per group	Paper	SBA 1
1 sheet per child	Paper, white (optional)	SBA 1
1 or more per group	Pencils	SBA 1
2	Dolls	SBA 3
Class set	Drawing materials	SBA 3
Variety	Fabric	SBA 3
Several bottles	Glue	SBA 3
1 pack	Pipe cleaners	SBA 3
1 pack	Straws	SBA 3
2	Stuffed animals	SBA 3
2	Toy cars	SBA 3
1 pack	Twist-ties	SBA 3
Several spools	Yarn, various colors	SBA 3

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