Bookworms in the 'Burg: May 2020

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Cavort with the Cetaceans

There are a number of books about dolphins and whales that you can borrow from Libby, including Dolphins! by Sharon Bokoske and Little Dolphin by Sue Unstead.

Be a Citizen Scientist:

Researchers in Canada need your help in identifying beluga whales! Beluga Bits is looking for volunteers to examine photos taken underwater in Hudson Bay. During the summer, over 50,000 belugas hang out there! Scientists are looking for marks and scars to identify individual animals. This information can tell them more about social structure, life history, and habitat use.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Books to Read While Physically Distancing: Wolf Hollow

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

Books to Read While Physically Distancing (BtRWPD) will focus on books available for checkout through Libby.

Wolf Hollow
by Lauren Wolk
New York: Puffin Books, 2016

Eleven year old Annabelle is growing up in a small town in western Pennsylvania in 1943. When a new girl moves to town, Annabelle suddenly finds herself the subject of bullying. She finds the situation growing more dangerous as her friend Toby, the former soldier suffering from PTSD, becomes involved.

So, this book won all the awards and was on all the best-seller lists when it came out. It gets frequent comparisons to To Kill a Mockingbird, and it's easy to understand why. It should be noted that it deals in heavy subjects like bullying, PTSD, and growing up. It's not a happy book but it is a very well-written book. I'm still thinking about it the next day. The publisher lists it as middle grade, ages 10 and up. I would hesitate to recommend it to the younger readers in this age group, even if they're reading at that level or above. So while I can absolutely recommend this on the basis of the writing and story, please be aware that it's not for everyone, especially if you're not looking for a heavy read right now.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Swim with the Sharks

There are a number of books about sharks that you can borrow from Libby, including Wild Sea Creatures by Chris and Martin Kratt and 101 Amazing Facts About Sharks by Jack Goldstein.

Watch:
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland has several live webcams for you to check out. So spend some time watching the Blacktip Reef, Jellies Invasion, and Pacific Coral Reef habitats.

Observe:
Now that you've had a chance to look at the three different feeds, spend some time focusing on the Blacktip Reef cam. The habitat has two species in class Chondrichthyes, blacktip reef sharks and reticulated* whiptail rays. Can you find both of them? How many species of bony fish (Osteichthyes) can you find? How do the sharks look different from the other fish? Do they swim differently? Do they behave differently; do they tend to swim with other sharks or on their own? Is their behavior different during different times of the day?

*reticulated means the animal has a net-like pattern. Reticulated giraffes and reticulated pythons are some other animals with this name.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Make a Volcano

There are a number of books about volcanoes available through the Galesburg Public Library's catalog of ebooks, including Earth's Changing Surface by Conrad J. Storad and A Changing Earth by Heather Miller.

Create:
There are a lot of sites out there that will teach you how to create a volcano out of play dough, baking soda, and vinegar. For that extra science kick, I'm using the information found the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's page. So we're going to create our eruption, measure it, model it, and investigate it!

You'll cut (or have an adult help you cut) a paper cup so it's only about half an inch high. Tape the cup to a piece or cardboard and label the directions North, South, East, and West.

Add a spoonful of baking soda to the cup. Then slowly pour in vinegar (you can add a couple drops of red food coloring) so you get an 'eruption' and 'lava flow'. What sort of reaction do you think is going on between the baking powder and vinegar to cause such an event?

Trace around the area of the 'lava' and dab it up with a paper towel. Put down a thin layer of dough to cover the area that was covered with 'lava'. On a piece of paper, make a map of how the lava flows. Do you think it will change now that the dough is down?

Continue to make more eruptions and lava flows, adding dough after each time, a different color if you have it. How is your volcano changing with the new material added?

Use clear plastic straws to push down into the dough. Can you see distinct layers? This is called a core sample.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Adopt a Tree

There are a number of books about trees available through Libby, including Roots by Marissa Kirkman and Rain Forest Explorer by Rupert Matthews.

Adopt: Today's activity comes from Project Learning Tree and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.

Find a tree in your yard or neighborhood to adopt. You'll make observations about it throughout the seasons and see how it changes. Apps like PlantSnap will help you figure out what species your tree is. Once you know what type of tree you have, you can start recording your observations. How is your tree similar or different to other ones around it? Why do you think that is? Why did you choose this tree? What color and shape are the leaves?

Make a sketch of your tree. How do you think it will look different in the fall?

Make a rubbing of your tree's bark and one of the leaves. Do they look different from other trees? Why do you think that is?

Is your tree alive? How can you tell?

How do you think your tree would look from a bird's eye view? From a mouse's eye view?

Do you see any animals on or near your tree? Be sure to look closely for insects and spiders.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Books to Read While Physically Distancing: Number the Stars

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

Books to Read While Physically Distancing (BtRWPD) will focus on books available for checkout through Libby.

Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcout, 1989

It is 1943 and Annemarie Johansen is ten years old and lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Nazi soldiers have occupied her city and country for several years now, but have rarely bothered her or her best friend Ellen Rosen. But now there is talk of 'relocation' and Annemarie must be very brave to help Ellen and her family escape to safety.

I'm not sure how I never read this Newbery Medal winner. I was the right age and audience for it when it came out. Regardless, this is a fantastic piece of historic fiction. A friend of the author told her what it was like living in Copenhagen during World War II and Lowry followed up with trips there to do research and conduct interviews. It does a wonderful job of telling the story of the rescue of the Danish Jews, an event I was completely unaware of. I highly recommend this story of bravery and friendship.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Birds of a Feather

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

I'll be pairing up Libby books for GPL patrons with STEM activities, live webcams, educational programs, and citizen science projects.

So, let's go check out some

Birds of a Feather!

We know birds are some of the most colorful animals out there, but like certain robots, there's more to them than meets the eye. Many birds can see in the UV (ultraviolet) range of the light spectrum. This means they can see colors and patterns that are invisible to humans. We just learned in 2018 that puffin beaks glow under UV lights. Now scientists want to learn more about these hidden secrets. Project Plumage is photographing preserved specimens from the Natural History Museum in London with both regular and UV lights. They're taking picture of both male and female birds, since male birds are often much more colorful (why do you think that is?). They need your help to analyze the photos!

Read:

There are a number of books about birds that you can borrow from Libby, including Jungle Animals by Camilla Gersh and Animals in Flight by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.

Be a citizen scientist:
You can help the researchers at Project Plumage unlock the secrets of how birds see each other, how they communicate, and how they evolved. You'll get to see museum specimens that are rarely taken out for display, some of which are hundreds of years old! You'll then mark key points on each photograph, and trace an outline so the researchers know where to measure.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Sing with the Gorillas

There are a number of books about African great apes that you can borrow from Libby, including Good Morning, Gorillas by Mary Pope Osborne and My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall.

Watch:
You can see the first video of mountain gorillas humming over their food in this YouTube clip from Nature. That was taken with a (in my opinion) really creepy baby gorilla robot camera.

Observe:
Now that you've seen how other primates vocalize when they eat, make some observations of your own. Do you make noises when you've got yummy food to eat? What about other members of your family? If you've got pets at home, do they make noises when they eat? What about when you're getting their food ready?

Monday, May 11, 2020

Books to Read While Physically Distancing: Aru Shah and the End of Time

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

Books to Read While Physically Distancing (BtRWPD) will focus on books available for checkout through Libby.

Aru Shah and the End of Time
by Roshani Chokshi
New York: Disney Hyperion, 2018

Aru Shah doesn't have a lot of friends at school. Well, any friends, really. She has a tendency to lie a lot. She doesn't feel like she really fits in; most of her classmates are rich, and she lives with her mother in an apartment connected to the Indian museum that her mother runs. One day, in response to her classmates' teasing, she does what her mother always told her not to do. She lights the clay lamp that will bring about the end of the world. Because it couldn't possibly be real. Right? Now Aru finds herself in a land of Hindu gods and demons, with time ticking away. Can she stop the end of the world?

This is the first book in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Well known for his novels incorporating Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology, here Riordan uses his experience and platform with Disney to highlight and publish authors from underrepresented backgrounds and cultures who have amazing stories to tell. Aru Shah introduces the reader to the world of Hindu mythology, with its many gods, demons, and other denizens. It's a fantastic setting that's a welcome change from the more standard Western European flavors of fantasy for all ages. Twelve year old Aru is the main heroine (not hero, thank you) and is the most flawed protagonist I've come across in awhile. She lies constantly, and is selfish. She does experience character growth, but her portrayal can be off-putting to some. I personally found the descriptions of the world and the story interesting to move past issues with the main character, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Gala in Gorongosa

There are a number of books about African animals that you can borrow from Libby, including Baby Animals by Seymour Simon and Wild Reptiles by Chris and Martin Kratt.

Be a citizen scientist:

Help the researchers. Go check out WildCam Gorongosa and start identifying animals today! There are camera traps all around the park. These battery operated cameras take photos when they sense movement. There is a grid of 60 cameras in the park, and there are hundreds of thousands of images that have been taken over the years! You can tell scientists what animals are in the photos, and help them build a data set for studies in ecology, behavior, and more.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Physical Distancing STEM Break with Ms. Meghan: Sound Off

There are a number of books about sounds both natural and man made available through Libby, including Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle, and Demolition by Sally Sutton.

Make a sound map: Today's activity comes from Project Learning Tree and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.

We hear so many sounds every day. Right now, inside, I can hear the computer and a lawnmower outside. It can be hard sometime to hear the sounds of nature. Find a safe, comfortable, quiet spot where you can sit outside. Close you eyes and just listen for a couple minutes. What do you hear? Now use pencils, marker, and crayons to make a sound map. Put an X in the middle of the paper to show where you are. Now draw and write what you hear around you. You can use arrows and lines to show how far away something is, or how the sound is carrying. Are there some sounds you liked better than others? Were you able to identify all the sounds; do you know what made them all? How do you think the sounds might change if you listen during a different time of day?

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Books to Read While Physically Distancing: Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy

Did you know that your Galesburg Public Library card allows you to check out e-books and audio books through the Libby app? All you need is your library card and your PIN (your birth date in MMDDYYYY format) and you'll be on your way to reading on your phone or tablet!

Books to Read While Physically Distancing (BtRWPD) will focus on books available for checkout through Libby.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy
by Nathan Hale
New York: Amulet Book, 2012

It's the Revolutionary War and Nathan Hale is an American soldier, about to be hanged by the British for spying. Suddenly, he's swallowed up by a gigantic book! After he reappears, he tells the shaken British officer and hangman about how he's now been in the history book, and describes the events that led him to his current predicament, and hints about the future.

So, it should be noted that the author was named after the historical figure and it is not, in fact, a clever pen name. This graphic novel provides a wonderful introduction to the Revolutionary War, the major characters, and really gives a feel to the events of the time. It follows the titular character (he of "I regret I have but one life to give" fame) through his career in Washington's army. The book is chock full of information, and there were several times where I stopped in order to look up people and events in order to learn more. I did find some of the hangman's puns a little tiresome, but otherwise the dialog is quite good. While this is listed for grades 3-8, it does contain multiple deaths on the battlefield, although Nathan himself isn't hanged by the end of the book. The rest of the series covers a range of topics and time periods. I highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to learn more about history.