Synergy: Butterflies

BUTTERFLIES are insects with a four-stage life cycle. Part of the Lepidoptera order, some butterflies like the painted lady migrate over long distances. Butterfly gardens contain plants that provide nectar for adult butterflies and a habitat that nurtures the stages of their development.

Encourage students to learn about the butterflies common to your area, then involve them in designing a butterfly garden to attract these creatures.

Read the recently published informational children’s picture book, then learn more at the websites:

THE STORY OF A BUTTERFLY by Margaret Rose Reed explores the life cycle and habitat of the Painted Lady butterfly. Two friends take a field trip to a butterfly garden along with their class and decide to make their own community garden. The storybook approach introduces young readers to the science of butterflies along with the joy of learning. The picture book concludes with additional information about the Painted Lady butterfly and a comparison of moths and butterflies. ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks eXplore.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA is a database providing information about the wide range of Lepidoptera found in North America. Readers are encouraged to participate in their online project.

To search the database, go to https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org.

To read about the Painted Lady, go to https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-cardui.

BASICS OF BUTTERFLY GARDENING from the North American Butterfly Association provides the basics of starting a butterfly garden.

To read the article, go to https://nababutterfly.com/start-butterfly-garden/.

Synergy: Concrete

CONCRETE is a composite material made of stone, sand, water, and cement. From bridges and dams to lighthouses and skyscrapers, concrete is used in a wide range of construction projects.

Create a display featuring concrete examples, building models, and LEGO bricks. Ask children to design a building that could be made with concrete.

Read the recently published nonfiction children’s picture book, then learn more at the website:

CONCRETE: FROM THE GROUND UP by Larissa Theule and illustrated by Steve Light defines concrete and traces its history. Part of the Material Marvels series, readers learn about the many types of structures built with concrete. The illustrator’s use of speech bubbles on captivating color drawings along with the author’s short, informational texts combine for an engaging and informative picture book. ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press. 

CONCRETE from Kids Britannica defines concrete and provides several examples in an easy-to-read format.

To read the article, go to https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/concrete/403923.

WHAT IS CONCRETE? from Concrete Network provides an introduction to concrete, its components, and its uses. Users can access numerous articles for further information.

To learn more, go to https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete.html.

WHAT IS CONCRETE? from Practical Engineering is a short video explaining the basics of concrete. Other videos in the series explore Roman concrete.

To view the video, go to https://youtu.be/UOHURuAf5iY.

Synergy: Cats

Cats are small, carnivorous mammals that have been domesticated as pets. They are known for catching mice, rats, and other small rodents. While some cats are kept as house pets, others live outdoors as feral cats or farm cats. Around 60 cat breeds are formally recognized.

Involve students in selecting a breed and creating a poster persuading others to adopt cats of this breed.

Read the recently published children’s picture book, then learn more at the website:

ATLAS OF CATS by Helena Harstova and Jana Sedlackova is part of the Atlases of Animal Companions series. This engaging picture book introduces readers to the world of cats, then provides an overview of a couple dozen breeds. It concludes with celebrity cats, cat care, and record holders. Readers will enjoy the attractive illustrations and short, informative text blocks. ARC courtesy of Albatros Media, an imprint of Ingram Publisher Services.

Purina’s CAT BREEDS section features information about dozens of popular cat breeds. Each page includes basic information, temperament, characteristics, lifespan, colors, and other useful facts.

To visit the website, go to https://www.purina.com/cats/cat-breeds.

DAILY PAWS features a searchable cat breeds page. Users can search by cat length, pattern, temperament, or other traits.

To search the database, go to https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds.

Synergy: Cherry Mine Disaster

The CHERRY MINE DISASTER of 1909 is the third most deadly tragedy in American coal mining history. Nearly 500 men and boys were working in the mine when a coal car caught fire killing 259 people. Twenty-one trapped miners were rescued after eight days. Following the tragedy, the Illinois legislature established stronger safety regulations and a workmen’s compensation program.

Read the recently published middle grades nonfiction book, then learn more at the websites:

UNDERGROUND FIRE: HOPE, SACRIFICE, AND COURAGE IN THE CHERRY MINE DISASTER by Sally M. Walker is an hour-by-hour account of the challenges faced by trapped miners and the rescue workers trying to save them. Through a dozen heart-pounding chapters, Walker uses riveting narrative and primary source documents and photos to keep even reluctant readers engaged in this historic, tragic mine disaster. ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

CHERRY MINE DISASTER from the Travel Channel is a short video describing the tragedy.

To watch the video, go to https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/cherry-mine-disaster-0223505.

THE CHERRY MINE DISASTER: FROM TRAGEDY TO REFORM is a student-produced video about the disaster.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/BzqEZ-yXPok.

CHERRY COAL MINE DISASTER shares historical news articles and a photo from the disaster.

To read the articles, go to http://genealogytrails.com/ill/bureau/History/CherryCoalMine/index.html.

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learners: Insects

 

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learners: Insects

Insects are critical to healthy ecology systems. Unfortunately, these essential creatures are sometimes overlooked and often maligned. From wasps and moths to bees and beetles, several new and upcoming books explore the world of entomology and the important role of these tiny creatures. These titles invite readers to even respect cockroaches and crickets.

The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires that Run the World
Oliver Milman, Mar 2022, W.W. Norton                       
Themes: Science, Life science, Nature, Entomology

From bees to beetles, THE INSECT CRISIS explores the impact of collapsing insect populations around the world. Of particular note is the wide range of examples and situations used to provide evidence of the crisis.

Take-aways: Educators will find the many examples useful in discussing the consequences of insect loss.

Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps
Seirian Sumner, Jul 2022, HarperCollins                   
Themes: Science, Life science, Nature, Entomology

Exploring the world of wasps, ENDLESS FORMS provides an in-depth look at this often misunderstood insect.

Take-aways: Use wasps as an example of the importance of the insects in our increasingly fragile ecosystem. 

The Surprising Lives of Bark Beetles: Mighty Foresters of the Insect World
Jiri Hulcr & Marc Abrahams, Sep 2022, Univ of Florida Press         
Themes: Science, Nature, Entomology

Through amazing macro-photography and useful informational text, THE SURPRISING LIVES OF BARK BEETLES shares fascinating facts about beetles. While often viewed as destructive pests, the bark beetle is under appreciated in the insect world.

Take-aways: Discuss the use of macrophotography to learn more about lesser-known creatures. Involve youth in their own insect study using digital photography.

Of Cockroaches and Crickets: Learning to Love Creatures that Skitter and Jump
Frank, Nischk, February 2023, Greystone Books       
Themes: Science, Life science, Nature, Entomology

Combining engaging anecdotes with compelling factual information, OF COCKROACHES AND CRICKETS convinces readers that these insects are much more than their negative stereotypes.

Take-aways: Use cockroaches and crickets as examples of insects that have been maligned and need to be reconsidered as an important part of ecosystems.

What a Bee Knows:  Exploring the Thoughts, Memories, and Personalities of Bees
Stephen L. Buchmann, March 2023, Island Press     
Themes: Science, Life science, Nature, Entomology

Through engaging anecdotes and useful ecological connections, WHAT A BEE KNOWS invites readers to follow entomologists as they dive into the bee universe. 

Take-aways: Use the author’s exploration of the bee mind to challenge student thinking about insects. Encourage students to take the perspective of an insect.

The Jewel Box: How Moths Illuminate Nature’s Hidden Rules
Tim Blackburn, May 2023, Island Press                     
Themes: Science, Life science, Nature, Entomology

Through engaging anecdotes and useful ecological connections, THE JEWEL BOX introduces readers to a wide variety of moths and their unseen world.

Take-aways: Use the moth to discuss the essential role of insects in ecology.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb