This month authors Janet Fox, Barbara Rosenstock, and Liz Garton Scanlon are shining a light on our National Parks with a series of blog posts - Page Through the Parks. I am joining them with this post and another later in the month.
On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service celebrates 100 years. Did you know fourth graders can get into national parks for free and bring their families? Educators there is information for you as well at Every Kid in a Park.
To celebrate National Parks month, I am shining the spotlight on Park Scientists: Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears by Mary Kay Carson and illustrated by Tom Uhlman (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014)
Description from GoodReads:
America's National Parks are protected places and have become living museums for as many as 270 million visitors per year! In addition, researchers are able to perform long term studies of a wide number of subjects from salamanders the size of thumbnails to gigantic geothermal geysers. These parks are natural laboratories for scientists. Did you know that Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming sits on top of an active (and very large) volcano? This volcano is monitored and studied on a daily basis, not only as a means of protection (though it seems a long way off from erupting) but also as a way of understanding how the environment changes and influences what goes on deep underground.
The scientists profiled in The Park Scientists also study grizzly bears in Yellowstone, the majestic Sagauro catci in Arizona, and fireflies in Tennessee -- and suggest many ways for the average reader of any age to help out. The emphasis here is twofold: the great science that happens everyday in these important, protected spaces, and the fact that you can visit all of them and participate in the research.
It's backyard science at its biggest and best in this latest resourceful addition to the Scientists in the Field series!
Quick thoughts on this book:
If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that I am a huge fan of the Scientist in the Field Series. Of course, when thinking about National Parks, I immediately thought about Park Scientists. In looking at the Scientists in the Field website, they are on the same wavelength. Harriet Low has a blog post about Park Scientists that you can read, Definitely check out the links included in the post.
Park Scientists features three different parks and the work of scientists studying Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears.
One thing that I appreciate with this book is that you can start with whatever interests you the most and move to the other sections. For some student readers, this is a great way to hook them in and before you know it they have read the whole book. I of course started with the grizzly bears because I have a special love of bears.
Check out this video about Park Scientists:
Look for Park Scientists and other Scientist in the Field books at your local indie bookstore or public library. Check out the discussion and activity guide here.
Join the giveaway for teachers and librarians sponsored by Janet, Barb, and Liz. For more information about the giveaway, check out Janet's post here.
Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: