Synergy: Camouflage

Camouflage is a defense mechanism used by creatures to blend into their environment. Also called cryptic coloration, these organisms are able to disguise their appearance, location, and even movement.

Read the informational picture book for youth, then learn more at the websites:

MASTERS OF DISGUISE: CAMOUFLAGING CREATURES & MAGNIFICENT MIMICS by Marc Martin uses brightly colored watercolor and cut-outs to explore the world of biomimicry in nature. Featuring a dozen animals from around the world, readers learn about how each creature is able to blend into its natural habitat. Of particular note are the seek-and-find activities woven throughout the book to get students thinking about the importance of observation in the natural world.

CAN YOU FIND THE CAMOUFLAGED ANIMALS? from Earth Rangers shows viewers an image and asks them to identify the creature. After revealing the answers, viewers learn facts about the creature. This video would be effective as a whole class, small group, or individual activity.

To view the video, go to https://youtu.be/kGZX1_Zy-74.

32 EXAMPLES OF CAMOUFLAGE IN NATURE is an online article containing lots ideas educators can use to teach about how predators and prey animals use camouflage.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/34FJXiJ.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Artist Ben Shahn

Ben Shahn (1898-1969) was a Lithuanian born, American social realist artist and educator. Through his paintings, murals, prints, photographs, and illustrations, he told the stories of civil rights activists, political protestors, and ordinary people facing injustice.

Read the biographical picture book for youth, then learn more at the websites:

THE PEOPLE’S PAINTER: HOW BEN SHAHN FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE WITH ART written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Evan Turk tells the true story of a boy who escaped injustice and spent his life sharing the stories of others who faced persecution. Notes, a timeline, and resources are useful in learning more about this artist.

The Archives of American Art contains collections, oral histories, and digital reproductions of the work of BEN SHAHAN.

To visit this collection, go to https://s.si.edu/34ytHjt

BEN SHAHN: PASSION FOR JUSTICE is an award-winning PBS documentary telling the story of this socially engaged artist. Told through interviews and examples of his work, excerpts from this documentary would be useful in helping students understand the continued relevance of this artist.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/LFYwcq0veXc

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Synergy: Animals Using Tools

From birds and fish to insects and cephalopods, mammals including humans aren’t the only animals who use tools for work and play. Animals use tools to achieve specific goals such as grooming, defense, communication, and food gathering. Primates are particularly known for their use of tools in hunting, gathering, shelter, and self-defense.

Read the informational picture book for youth, then learn more at the websites:

ORANGUTAN HATS AND OTHER TOOLS ANIMALS USE by Richard Haynes and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis is an informational picture book sharing the many ingenious ways that creatures use tools for a wide range of activities. The book is divided into chapters exploring tools for hygiene, health, defense, gathering food, comfort, and fun. The author concludes with a useful glossary and index. This well-organized work of nonfiction would be useful to teaching about the parts of an informational book. Use this engaging picture book to jumpstart an inquiry-based experience focusing on an animal and its use of tools.

INCREDIBLE TOOL USE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM is an online article from the BBC that includes text, images, and video sharing the many ways animals use tools.

To read the article, go to https://bbc.in/3uEsYYq.

THE ANIMAL’S TOOL BOX from the Davidson Institute of Science Education is an online article that defines tool and provides many examples of tool use among animals around the world. Many video examples are embedded.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/3fVqyiZ.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Dark Matter and Vera Rubin

Dark matter is made up of particles that do not emit, reflect, or absorb light. It can’t be seen directly or detected through electromagnetic radiation, so we only know about it through its effect on objects that we can observe.

Vera Rubin (1928-2016) was an American astronomer who provided some of the first scientific evidence of dark matter and expanded our understanding of how galaxies work.

Read the informational picture book for youth, then learn more at the website:

THE STUFF BETWEEN THE STARS is a biographical picture book exploring the life of astronomer Vera Rubin. This inspirational story shares the challenges Rubin had as a woman astronomer along with the process of making her discoveries about dark matter and the universe.

VERA RUBIN AND DARK MATTER is a short article about Rubin and her scientific discoveries from the American Museum of Natural History.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/3i5HAgZ.

Open Mind’s VERA RUBIN AND DARK MATTER is an engaging short video exploring her life and work.

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

DARK MATTER from NASA’s SpacePlace explains the basics of dark matter to children.

To read the article, go to https://go.nasa.gov/3i12AWe.

ARC courtesy of Abrams for Young Readers.