STEM Friday with African Animal Alphabet

September 13, 2012 by Shirley Duke | 4 Comments

Welcome to STEM Friday. Add your links in the comments and check out all the great STEM offerings today.

By Beverly and Dereck Joubert

National Geographic, 2011

ISBN #978-1426307812

Grades PreK-3

Nonfiction

“As we lie in our tent at night in the African bush listening to the barks, chirps, twitters, and roars of the animals around us, we understand that all these animals have their own way of talking. We’ve filmed and photographed these creatures for many years and have come to know them very well. Each animal is different, just like you and me.”

This alphabet book is filled with short fact blurbs and large, exquisite photographs of African animals centered on the alphabet theme by the authors, who have spent more than 25 years in Africa. Familiar and not-so-familiar animals are presented in the spreads and come following a map of Africa showing the terrain and a short introduction about finding more words in the text that begin with that letter.

Readers and listeners will find the pictures appealing and the layouts draw the reader’s attention to some of the “Did You Know” text boxes. Back matter includes more short facts about each animal presented, a glossary, and more information and web sites.

The appeal of this book is that it appeals to a wider age range than most alphabet books and would be a fun read, reference, introduction to animals, or an excellent way to introduce Africa. From pictures to facts, this is a terrific book and would make a great gift, too.

Activity

Make an alphabet book of animals from your state, region, or country. Look up animals and make a book as a group of individually. If you are working with young children, assign each child a letter of the alphabet to research. Write 2-4 facts about the animal, draw a picture, put it in a category, and try to use alliterative words in the animal facts.

National Geographic has animal information for kids.

This site has child-friendly information.

National Science Standard: structure and function; growth and development

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.