Search results for ""Author Mary Kay Carson""

America's national parks have been called the country's "best idea," and some of the best scientific ideas are happening inside these protected spaces. There are geysers and grizzlies in Yellowstone, Gila monsters and saguaro cacti in southern Arizona, and the world's only known population of red-cheeked salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains. And in some parks you can roll up your sleeves and actively participate as a citizen scientist. There is much to see, do and learn, right here in America's own backyard! AGES: 10 to 12 AUTHOR: Mary Kay Carson and Tom Uhlman are married and live with their dog Ruby in a century-old house surrounded by deer, hawks, woodchucks, songbirds, and other creatures in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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In the Arizona desert, scientists conduct studies and experiments aimed to help us better understand our environment and what sort of things are happening to it due to climate change. The location is Biosphere 2, an immense structure that contains a replica ocean, savannah, and rainforest, among other Earth biomes. It's a unique take on the Scientists in the Field mission statement - in this case, the lab is a replica that allows the scientists to conduct large-scale experiments that would otherwise be impossible. AGES: 10 to 12 AUTHOR: Mary Kay Carson and Tom Uhlman are married and live with their dog Ruby in a century-old house surrounded by deer, hawks, woodchucks, songbirds, and other creatures in Cincinnati, Ohio. Check out Mary Kay's other Scientist in the Field books including Park Scientists, Emi and the Rhino Scientist, The Bat Scientist, and Mission to Pluto.

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NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 2014 listHumans have gazed into the night sky for thousands of years and wondered, What are those twinkling lights? Though the sun, moon, and planets moved across the background of stars, the stars themselves appeared immovable, forever fixed in constellations. Only when astronomers began taking a closer look did anyone realize what a fascinating, ever-changing universe lies beyond our solar system—red giant and white dwarf stars, spiral galaxies, wispy nebulae, black holes, and much more.In Beyond the Solar System, author Mary Kay Carson traces the evolution of humankind’s astronomical knowledge, from the realization that we are not at the center of the universe to recent telescopic proof of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. In addition to its engaging history, this book contains 21 hands-on projects to further explore the subjects discussed. Readers will build a three-dimensional representation of the constellation Orion, model the warping of space-time caused by a black hole, see how the universe expands using an inflating balloon, and construct a reflecting telescope out of a makeup mirror and a magnifying glass. Beyond the Solar System also includes minibiographies of famous astronomers, a time line of major scientific discoveries, a suggested reading list, a glossary of technical terms, and a list of websites for further exploration.

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Dr. Merlin Tuttle is fascinated by bats, with good reason. Bats fly the night skies the world over, but are the least studied of all mammals. As the major predator of night-flying insects, bats eat many pests. But bats are facing many problems, including a scary new disease. White-nose syndrome is killing millions of bats in North America. Dr. Tuttle and his fellow bat scientists are on the front line of the fight to save their beloved bats. This edition features updates with the most recent information about WNS.

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In this addition to the critically acclaimed Scientist in the Field series, scientist Robin Tanamachi and her team are trying to save countless lives across America’s heartland, chasing one tornado at a time.Robin Tanamachi has been captivated by tornadoes and extreme weather her entire life. When she realized people researched weather for a job, she was hooked.She now studies tornadogenesis, or how tornadoes form, and what causes them to get weaker versus strengthen. For her, driving around in a Doppler radar truck aiming towards storms is a normal day in the office. The data she collects is then modeled and studied on computers—with math, physics, and computer science working hand in hand with meteorology.At the end of the day, knowing exactly how, when, and where these violent storms happen can give more warning time for everyone involved.

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From the everyday phenomena of wind and clouds to the awesome, destructive power of lightning, tornados, and hurricanes, children can explore weather in detail with this fascinating science activity book. Throughout the text instructions for building weather-measuring tools—barometers, psychrometers, anemometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, and thermometers—allow the reader to assemble them into a working weather station. More than 40 weather projects are included, such as building a model of the water cycle, creating a tornado in a bottle, calculating dew point, and reading a weather map. Most of the experiments also include ideas for expanding them into full-fledged science fair projects. Weather-related environmental issues are also addressed, such as global climate change, ozone depletion, and acid rain, as well as profiles of scientists working in the field of meteorology.

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The heroic struggles of the thousands of slaves who sought freedom through the Underground Railroad are vividly portrayed in this powerful activity book, as are the abolitionists, free blacks, and former slaves who helped them along the way. The text includes 80 compelling firsthand narratives from escaped slaves and abolitionists and 30 biographies of "passengers," "conductors," and "stationmasters," such as Harriet Tubman, William Still, and Levi and Catherine Coffin. Interactive activities that teach readers how to navigate by the North Star, write and decode a secret message, and build a simple lantern bring the period to life. A time line, reading list, glossary, and listing of web sites for further exploration complete this activity book. The Underground Railroad for Kids is an inspiring story of brave people compelled to act in the face of injustice, risking their livelihoods, their families, and their lives in the name of freedom.

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In July of 2015, a robotic spacecraft reached Pluto after a nine-and-a-half-year journey. Explore with New Horizons in this new-to-paperback book about the first mission to Pluto, which revealed the ice dwarf and its five moons as they had never been seen before. Images from the mission show a reddish surface covered in mountains of frozen water, moving glaciers, hints of possible ice volcanoes, and an underground ocean. Pluto is geologically alive and changing!

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This title features dramatic photographs and gatefold images that vividly portray these most violent of storms. It is suitable for children aged 9 to 12 years. Tornadoes are the most violent storms on the planet, as these dramatic photographs and gatefold images vividly reveal. Young readers will get the inside scoop on them in this electrifying volume. They'll discover what makes a tornado, where they strike and what scientists discover as they risk their lives driving equipment as close as possible to these storms. With first-person accounts of historic storms, fascinating facts on climate change and its potential affect on tornadoes and hands-on activities, this book will fascinate curious readers.

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Winner of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Children’s Literature Award. This activity book tells the amazing true story of how two bicycle-making brothers from Ohio, with no more than high-school educations, accomplished a feat that forever changed the world. At a time when most people still hadn’t ridden in an automobile, Wilbur and Orville Wright built the first powered, heavier-than-air flying machine. Woven throughout the heartwarming story of the two brothers are activities that highlight their ingenuity and problem-solving abilities as they overcame many obstacles to achieve controlled flight. The four forces of flight—lift, thrust, gravity, and drag—and how the Wright brothers mastered them are explained in clear, simple text. Activities include making a Chinese flying top, building a kite, bird watching, and designing a paper glider, and culminate with an activity in which readers build a rubber-band-powered flyer. Included are photographs just released from the Wright brothers’ personal collection, along with diagrams and illustrations. The history of human flight and its pioneers, a time line, and a complete resource section for students are also provided.

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As concern for the welfare of species like honey bees and monarch butterflies grows alongside awareness of the impact of climate change, inspiring the next generation of citizen scientists is more important than ever. With Wildlife Ranger Action Guide, kids can make the world better for the animals and insects they love, starting right in their own backyards. Dozens of hands-on activities and habitat creation projects, such as making a frog pond from a kiddie pool, planting a pollinator garden for bees, painting a bat house, and building a lodge for lizards, encourage children to learn about and take an active role in protecting local wildlife. Lively photographic field guides covering 78 North American wildlife species teach kids about the habits and habitats of each and include tips for providing the plants and food needed for their survival.

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Winner of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Children’s Literature Award. How do we know that Mars is covered in rusty dust, that a day on Venus lasts longer than its year, and that Neptune has 13 moons? Human exploration! Exploring the Solar System relates the rich history of space exploration using telescopes, satellites, probes, landers, and human missions. This book has been updated to include the recent discovery of Eris, which, along with Pluto, has been newly classified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. In addition to history, this book contains 22 hands-on projects to explore the planets and other celestial bodies from right here on earth. Exploring the Solar System also includes biographies of 20 space pioneers, details of specific missions, a time line, and a 20-page Field Guide to the Solar System with detailed scientific data on each of our celestial neighbors and the historic missions to visit them.Download the free teaching guide.

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This book offers fascinating facts about our universe from award-winner Mary Kay Carson. Kids will learn about the asteroid belt, Martian volcanoes, dwarf planets, how did Saturn got its rings and more. It is suitable for children aged 7 and over. Why is there life on earth? How did Saturn get its rings? Which planet is biggest, which one's hottest and which has a cloud named Scooter? Take a trip into outer space to learn about the asteroid belt, Martian volcanoes, dwarf planets and other fascinating facts about our universe.

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With 448 full-color, highly illustrated pages, Outdoor School is your indispensable tool for the outdoors. This interactive field guide to plant and mushroom spotting includes: - Immersive activities to get you exploring - Write-in sections to journal about experiences - Next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers. No experience is required-only curiosity and courage. Inside you'll find easy-to-follow instructions on how to: - Grow mushrooms with cardboard - Compare bark types - Count tree rings - Survey leaf patterns - Create fern spore prints - Press and preserve wildflowers And so much more!

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Rewild your life! With metal corners and 448 full-color, highly illustrated pages, Outdoor School is your indispensable tool for the outdoors. Make every day an adventure with the included: - Immersive activities to get you exploring - Write-in sections to journal about experiences - Next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers. No experience is required-only curiosity and courage. This interactive field guide to animals includes: -Animal tracking -Identifying birds by silhouette, size, and color -Reading animal range maps -Bird nest spotting -Essential animal-watching gear -Identifying mammals -Bird calls and animal sounds -Finding amphibians, reptiles, and fish -Spotting scat -Recognizing eyeshine -Recording animal behavior And so much more!

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