Synergy: Zoology

ZOOLOGY is the study of animals including their behavior, structure, classification, and distribution. This branch of biology studies the entire animal kingdom.

Read the recently published nonfiction book for children, then extend the experience by viewing a video series:

5,000 AWESOME FACTS (ABOUT ANIMALS) from National Geographic Kids features thousands of fascinating facts along with hundreds of amazing animal photographs. This fact book is designed for readers who enjoy browsing, as well as those who prefer to deep dive into specific animals or creature categories. Visually stunning, this large format book will be popular with young zoologists and trivia nerds alike.

ARC courtesy of National Geographic Kids.

WHAT IS AN ANIMAL? is the first in a series of Crash Course Zoology videos. This short video provides an introduction to zoology. The fourteen-episode series is perfect for young people interested in the biology of animals.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/zgM0F6UmC70.

To watch the entire Crash Course Zoology playlist, go to https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNRgJI4gHRLFtOD_r4hfJaF.

Book Review: Almanac 2017

ALMANAC 2017 by National Geographic Kids is a reference book chuck-full of fascinating facts and activities.

The almanac begins with a table of contents including Your World, Amazing Animals, Going Green, Culture Connection, Awesome Adventure, Fun and Games, Super Science, Wonders of Nature, History Happens, and Geography Rocks. Each section includes photographs, diagrams, games, jokes, and lots of activities.

Color-coded tabs make it easy to thumb through the book looking for sections of interest. An index also helps with access.

Almanacs are always a hit with youth. Librarians will find the 2017 edition contains about 40% new content. Readers will find expanded content at the national Geographic Kids website.

For online content, go to natgeokids.com/almanac.

Published by National Geographic Kids on May 10, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Tech Review: Weird but True!

WEIRD BUT TRUE! from National Geographic Kids is a trivia app designed for children.

The free version of the app features two dozen “weird facts” on topics from ants and bacon to pigeons and ice cream. Additional apps can be purchased. Children will enjoy the sound effects and basic animations.

Although there’s not much to the app, it could be a fun way for librarians to introduce the idea of “fact-checking”. In small groups, ask students to explore the 24 weird facts. Then, choose three to verify. Involve youth in conducting web searches to “fact-check” the weird facts found in the app.

To download the app, go tohttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/mobi…/apps/weird-but-true/.

Technology Review: Quandry

QUANDARY is both a web and app-based learning game for middle grade students that promotes critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Exploring concepts related to ethical decision-making, users are immersed in a futuristic colony on the planet Braxos. Colonists must make decisions about the future of the colony based on facts, opinions, and alternative solutions. The game contains three episodes addressing different types of dilemmas. In Lost Sheep, colonists must weigh the value and threat of a native predator. In Water Wars, the community must deal with issues of water pollution and cooperation. In Fashion Faction, colonists must consider the pros and cons of conformity.

The scenarios are presented using an attractive, graphic-novel style approach. Participants can explore the perspectives of a dozen different characters by reading their cards contains text and animation. Users sort these cards into three categories: fact, solutions, or other opinion. To proceed students must correctly sort the cards. Users work their way through a series of problems and solutions to come to a conclusion that addresses the dilemma.

Librarians will find that the game can be associated with reading, listening, and speaking standards. Skills related to critical thinking, perspective-taking, and decision-making can be directly connected with the Standards for 21st Century Learners.

The website contains teacher support materials to facilitate discussions related to the game.

To try the web-based version, go to http://www.quandarygame.org/
To download the app version, go to https://itunes.apple.com/WebObj…/MZStore.woa/…/viewSoftware….

Book Review: By the Numbers

BY THE NUMBERS: 110.01 COOL INFOGRAPHICS from National Geographic Kids is packed with amazing statistics, facts, and figures.

The book begins with an introduction to infographics and a table of contents providing quick access to specific types of visuals such as word clouds, heat maps, and timelines. Each two-page spread contains an attractive infographic containing facts, graphs, charts, word clouds, maps, photographs, timelines, diagrams, or other types of engaging images. Featuring measurements, trends, statistics, and other kinds of data, this book will bring numbers alive to middle grade readers.

Covering a wide range of subjects, each reader will find topics of interest to explore. Woven throughout the book are interviews with people who work with numbers ever day as part of their jobs.

Librarians will find this book to be a great way to connect infographics with math and information literacy. Create a display containing this book along with others featuring infographics. Provide youth with tools for creating their own infographic projects.

Published by National Geographic Kids on October 13, 2015.

Book Review: Everything series

National Geographic’s EVERYTHING series contains over a dozen books that will jumpstart the exploration of science and history topics.

Topics include Birds of Prey, Insects, Dolphins, Mythology, Sharks, Ancient Egypt, Sports, Soccer, Dinosaurs, World War I, Big Cats, and Robotics. Two new titles include EVERYTHING VIKINGS and EVERYTHING SPACE.

EVERYTHING VIKINGS includes both historical and fantasy representations of Vikings. It begins with a history of key individuals and the Viking life. Next, it explores famous vikings and the Viking Gods. The book ends with Viking games and fun facts. The colorful photographs, diagrams, maps, and graphics will draw in readers of all ages.

EVERYTHING SPACE begins by exploring the space in our neighborhood then branches out to examine the secrets of the universe. Space programs and heroes are featured along with an exploration of facts vs fiction. The book is filled with fascinating diagrams, infographics, photos, charts, and other appealing visuals.

Librarians will find that this entire series will fly off the shelves. Each short, highly visual book is chuck-full of fascinating facts that will ignite the imagination.

EVERYTHING VIKINGS and EVERYTHING SPACE are published by National Geographic Kids on September 8, 2015.