STEM Friday: Animal Homes

April 13, 2012 by Shirley Duke | 4 Comments

STEM Friday: Animal Homes
By Shirley Duke of SimplyScience.

Animal Homes

By Angela Wilkes

Kingfisher, 2012

Discover Science Series

ISBN #9780753467756

Nonfiction

Grades K-3

“Animals need home for all of the same reasons that people do. Homes provide shelter and keep animals warm in the winter. They are a safe place to rest and raise babies.”

Animal Homes introduces the variety of homes and locations where vertebrate and invertebrate animals live. An introductory paragraph sets the facts included about the specific home; short text passages give detailed information about animals living in that sort of home. Large, clear photographs support the text information that will appeal to the readers of this age range. Each spread discusses a specific kind of home following the introduction.

After defining homes, the book covers homes along the water and in it, nests of all kinds, underground homes and hibernation, colonies and cells such as honeycombs, and snow homes. The animals inhabiting each location are described by explaining how and why they live there.

This book addresses many areas of science. Life cycles, habitats, adaptations, and animal habitats are included within the information. Something else I noticed is the attention to aspects of the Common Core. Topics address the nonfiction reading and information. Rings point out details in photos to illustrate specific information. Back matter suggests specific activities to do that relate to the reading and extending the knowledge. It also has parent and teacher notes that include extension activities across the curriculum, as well as table of contents, glossary, a short quiz, and a find out more section.

The beauty of this book and its series is that it covers so many parts of life science. This book in a library will not only enhance the collection but it will provide a wide range of science for one reading. Kingfisher books are excellent choices for their quality and well-chosen information.

Activity

Set up a field notebook for recording observations to use throughout the year. Inlcude qualitative observations and quantitative observations. Qualitative observations include information observed using the senses. Quantitative observations are those that include recording facts numerically. Choose one of the activities on pages 50-51 and do it. Record the findings in your field notebook.

National Science Standards: growth and development; adaptation

Book provided by publisher.

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Author: Shirley Duke

I taught science for twenty-five years and then began to write for children. My first trade book, No Bows! (Peachtree), came out in 2006. Since then I've written eight other work-for-hire books, teacher guides, and teen magazine pieces. A YA horror, Unthinkable, is out this fall in the Night Fall series (Darby Creek/Lerner). I have two science books coming in 2011. They are You Can't Wear These Genes and Infections, Infestations, and Disease (Rourke). It's so exciting to be writing science books. I'm guest blogging at The Secret Life of Scientists for NOVA's website. You can see the series at this link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/secretlife/ I'm also speaking on a panel of nonfiction authors at the 2011 ALA Conference in New Orleans. You can see more at my website www.shirleysmithduke.com I love science and it can be simple. Using elementary level books and a few books for the older kids, I'll give you some practical ideas you can use in your clasroom, library, or with your children.