Finalist for the 2020 AAAS / Subaru SB&F Excellence in Science
Book exemplify outstanding and engaging science writing and illustration
for young readers
DID YOU KNOW...
- Scientists believe that mosses, the first plants, may have changed the
Earth's climate from hot to cold by removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere?
- Many members of the cabbage family release a poison "mustard" gas to
fend off grazers?
- Plants are used in thousands of industries, from low-cost sewage
treatment to new medical cures?
Young nature enthusiasts will learn these and other fascinating facts
about plants in this colorful, interactive resource. Plantology
contains fun, kid-friendly discussions and activities to explore many
topics--from seeds, roots, and sprouts to plant skeletons, leaves,
petals, and fruits. It then goes beyond the basics to delve into the
unknown world of common weeds, fascinating plant defense systems, and
the countless roles plants play in our lives. With encouragement to "Try
This," "Smell It," and "Look For," kids participate in 30 hands-on
activities that promote observation and analysis, writing and drawing,
math and science, and nature literacy skills. Children will keep a
journal, examine and sketch plant structures, start a seed collection,
make tasty vegetarian dishes, and more. Readers from any environment
will start to notice the plants around them--not just in parks, gardens,
and woods but also surrounding the schools, buildings, and sidewalks of
their town, and in their own backyards. Useful resources include a
glossary of scientific terms, a list of nature organizations and groups,
and a teacher's guide to initiate classroom discussion and
investigation.
