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Building Science Skills with Compare and Contrast Picture Books

Kids love animals and have an innate desire want to categorize and sort things into groups. Why not combine these passions to build early observation skills in science? I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to review this year's Compare and Contrast books from Arbordale Publishing. I'd love to share this engaging book series with you along with resources and activity ideas for science class.

In this post you will find information about Compare and Contrast books, written by seasoned zoo and aquarium educators, as well as links to an infographic activity and how to use graphic organizers to build science skills in observation and categorization.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission from purchases made through links, at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Animal Compare and Contrast Books

The newest compare and contrast books from Arbordale Publishing feature dazzling photos of animals. In many cases the pictures give a glimpse of something we would not have an opportunity to see otherwise. We especially loved the images of turtles in Turtles: A Compare and Contrast Book. You can preview the turtle book here. (Recommended for ages 4-9, grades K-3)

Each book in the series is well organized. For example, Birds: A Compare and Contrast Book is organized by feature and adaptation. I think this makes this series perfect for the classroom or at home because students can find interesting information in a way that is logical and scaffolds off of their prior knowledge. You can preview the bird book here. (Recommended for ages 4-9, grades K-3)

While the turtle and bird books focus on one group of animals, others compare and contrast two similar yet different types of animal. These are wonderful for finding out why we may confuse two types of creatures and what actually makes them different from one another. These titles include: Alligator or Crocodile?, Black Bear or Grizzly Bear?, Hippo or Rhino? and Octopus or Squid?.

We definitely learned some interesting things we didn't know before from this book series.

Did you know?

There are 16 subspecies of Black Bear in North America. All subtle differences in DNA.
In addition to eight arms, squid have two tentacles covered in suction cups and hooks.
Black rhinos can grab onto things with their prehensile upper lip.

And many, many more interesting facts, but I don't want to spoil them all!

I loved that each book contained additional learning material, activities and ideas in the back. You could read the book just for fun, or turn it into a deeper learning experience with these extensions.

I believe the Compare and Contrast series would be an excellent addition to any classroom or home library. Engaging images, interesting and understandable content on topics kids get excited about.

Comparing and Contrasting for Preschool

Little ones love to sort! After a Compare and Contrast book read-aloud, get out a big sheet of paper (we love big paper rolls!) tape it to the floor and draw some sorting circles. Grab some animal toys (our Octonauts made it into the mix!) and have the kids sort based on color, type or however they choose.

This is excellent practice in making observations, looking carefully, comparing and contrasting.

Create an Infographic with Elementary Students

Use the Compare and Contrast series to have students design their own infographics. Using this template, kids can illustrate and write about an animal they have read about. Bits of information comparing their animal to another are explained with text and information. Once everyone is done the students can become the teachers and share their illustrated information with their peers.

Grab the infographic template worksheet here.

Graphic Organizers

Here is a great article on using graphic organizers in literature-based science instruction. After reading a compare and contrast book help students organize and process new information by using a graphic organizer such as a T-chart or Venn diagram.

T-charts are an easy way for young students to organize information when comparing two things. Circle the kids up and get out the chart paper to have them help you populate information into two categories.

If you're looking for another book to inspire some STEM learning in the elementary classroom, check out my post: Poetry and Engineering Inspired by Nature.

Free Bird Counting Printable: Great Backyard Bird Count

If you enjoy sharing wildlife with kids, then bird watching is a great way to start! Even the youngest learners are enamored with visitors to a bird feeder. Keeping track of the birds that come to visit your home is an excellent family activity, and is also easy to incorporate into the classroom.

It is never too early to start bird watching, so grab your preschoolers and head to the window! We love bird watching at our house, so we look forward to February's annual Great Backyard Bird Count, or GBBC. As the bird count spans academic days and the weekend, this is a fun activity to do in your classroom or at home. You can go on a bird walk and count, or count from your window as you watch the feeders.

Free Bird Counting Tally Sheet for Kids Great Backyard Bird Count

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking a product link. Please see disclosures page for more details.

Free Bird Counting Printable

We put together this bird tally sheet printable to help kids (or adults!) with their bird count. On it you'll find some of the more common birds observed in North America. Keep it near your bird-watching window at home or school, or laminate it to make it sturdy and waterproof for an outdoor bird hike!

You can download the free printable tally sheet here.

Learn More about the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Get your children and students excited about citizen science! Anyone can contribute to scientific research and advancement. It is a great way to encourage a love of learning and is fun to boot.

The Great Backyard Bird Count and Other Winter Citizen Science Projects

Winter Citizen Science for Families Great Backyard Bird Count

The GBBC and Woodpeckers Galore!

Family Bird Watching Great Backyard Bird Count

Valentine's Day is for the Birds (Make a bird treat!)

Make a Valentine's Day Treat for the Birds Bird feeder

Winter Season Science Experiments and Activities

There are so many fun science activities to do in the winter! Here are a few you might like to try. I've separated them into winter holiday related, and simply winter related posts so you can find just what you're looking for!

Winter Holiday Science

Winter Science

Looking for other activities and projects to try? Check out one of these Pinterest boards!

Fall Nature Walks: Can You Spot a Bird's Nest?

Now that the leaves have fallen from the trees, there are a lot of natural wonders exposed and easy for the careful observer to find. I recently noticed a bird's nest high up in an oak tree while out for a walk. I continued to look up and noticed a big bunch of leaves that was most likely the handiwork of a squirrel.

Next time you are out for a fall or winter nature walk, look carefully in the bushes and up in the tree branches around you, I bet if you are observant and patient, you'll spot a bird or beast habitat too!

While you're out there, see what you can see for lichen, galls and fungus too!

Celebrate Darwin Day!

Did you know that February 12th is Charles Darwin's birthday, now known as "Darwin Day"? Charles Darwin was a naturalist, geologist, and biologist. As one of the fathers of evolutionary theory, he is a historical figure worth celebrating in science class.

Darwin Day is a great opportunity to thank Darwin for his contributions to science and learn through some great adaptation and natural selection activities. When the science lessons are over, celebrate Darwin Day with a party!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission on purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Who Was Charles Darwin?

Charles Darwin is known for summing up evidence for the theory of evolution and developing the theory of natural selection through his travels on the HMS Beagle. His book, On the Origin of Species, shaped modern biology and evolutionary theory. Some of Darwin's most interesting work, and what I believe to be the best introduction point for children, was on the diversity of species, particularly the adaptations of island finches.

Voyage of the HMS Beagle.

Darwin observed the finches on the Galapagos islands and found that their beaks varied due to the different types of food and environments on each island. Variation is not only seen in bird beaks around the world, but across bird species.

Darwin's Finches. By John Gould (14.Sep.1804 - 3.Feb.1881) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Student Activities: Bird Beak Adaptations

A wonderful hands-on way to engage students in the idea of adaptation is to have them model how these various bird beaks work. There are many activities where this is explored.

In general, the idea is that you provide your class with various items that will serve as "beaks", straws, nutcracker, ladle, chopsticks, etc. The students try to forage for food items with these different beaks.

You may provide things like gummy worms in soil, goldfish in water, sunflower seeds to crack, etc. You can get creative with this, keeping in mind you want to model something fairly realistic to nature. Many of the items you use can easily be found around the house.

I love this Bird Beaks Lab from Wild Earth Lab, it provides everything you need to make this a hands-on lesson in the classroom or at home.

You can find a similar activity in the fifth lesson of this Feathered Friends download (free!) from the Cornell Lab.

The Bird Beak Buffet is also a similar activity suggested for ages 11-18.

Throw a Darwin Day Party!

Wouldn't it be fun to throw a Darwin party after you explore adaptation science? Here are just a few fun ideas for you!

Read the book, Who Was Charles Darwin?
Give out Darwin stickers as party favors!
Decorate with life size Darwin decals and cardboard cut-outs!
Have a talented actor come portray Darwin and answer student's questions.
Combine your Valentine's and Darwin celebrations by handing out some famous scientist valentines including Charles Darwin.
Visit a local museum that is holding a Darwin Day celebration! Search for events here.

See it? Share it! Bird Migration

As the seasons change plants and animals exhibit many adaptations for survival. Migration is a behavior adaptation. Many birds migrate to warmer climates when the weather gets cold. Fall is an awesome time to study animal migration in your science classroom.

Have you noticed a lot of bird activity outside house recently? I certainly have. Lots of different types of birds very busily collecting seeds from this summer's flowers, and scratching around in the fallen leaves. You can tell that the seasons are changing and preparations are happening for the cold weather that will soon be upon us.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission when you make purchases through these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

All About Bird Migration

How can you find and observe birds during the months of fall? Which birds migrate?

Birds migrate to be sure they can find enough food to feed themselves throughout the year. For birds whose breeding grounds are in climates that receive snow or frigid temperatures this means that many have to travel to warmer areas. Migrating is a very difficult task, and many birds do not make the trip. This time of year birds are bulking up so that they will have the energy stores to fly hundreds to tens of thousands of miles to their winter habitat.

Neotropical Migratory Birds are those that spend their spring and summer in Canada or the United States and the winter in warmer places like Mexico, Central and South America, or the Caribbean. There are many species in North America that fall into this category. As migration is difficult, actions like the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act are in place to aid in conservation efforts and maintain our avian populations.

Observing Bird Migration

How can you observe bird migration? Migration forecasts are available through Cornell with their BirdCast site. You may also live in one of the regions recognized as a migration flyway. Birds don't just fly straight south- there are 4 major flyways in the United States that many bird species follow. You can also visit eBird and find where certain species have been spotted in your area.

Observing the migration of hawks is very popular and there are many sites devoted to this. You can find information and data at the Hawk Migration Association of North America and HawkCount sites.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird ©SBF

Neotropical Migratory Birds

Which birds migrate? Many that you are familiar with! For a list of birds that migrate to warmer climates see this table from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.

Tracking wildlife is not always easy, although the data being compiled about bird migration is improving all the time. Between technological advances such as transmitters and GPS, and the work of citizens through programs like eBird and Project Feederwatch, we have a clearer picture of where birds are and where they are going.

Educational Resources for Learning About Bird Migration

Click on the links below to learn more about bird migration, some great book suggestions for children, and resources and lesson plans about bird migration!

Read more:

Cornell: "The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why and Where"
Cornell: "Where Can I Go To Watch Hawk Migration?"
Audubon: "Tracking Birds' Migration Paths Online"
Audubon: "Unlocking Migration's Secrets"

Bird Migration Resources:

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Pirate Science! Fool's Gold, Parrots and Shipwrecks

©SBF 2015

Ahoy Mateys! Are you ready for Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th? If you aren't then you've come to the right place! Not only will we delve into some Pirate-y science, you'll find all sorts of links to other pirate activities in this post.

Scroll down to find out how to test your rock collection for real gold, learn how parrots talk and build your own pirate ship!

This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more info.

Before we begin, you might want to bone up on your pirate speak by using this handy translator! ARRRGH!

Fool's Gold:

Now we know that pirates are always in search of treasure, and gold is their favorite! But how does a pirate know if what they have found is genuine gold? Science of course!

I've never met a young pirate who hasn't enjoyed a good rock collection. You can find rocks anywhere- at the park, at the beach, in your yard, or even the gravel in the driveway! How can you classify and identify these rocks and minerals? Pirate scientists use many clues, such as hardness, cleavage/fracture, luster and color. You can use these to help you identify the rocks in your collection- is it gold or pyrite (fool's gold)? There's only one way to find out!

Pyrite, or Fool's Gold By Didier Descouens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Hardness: The Mohs hardness scale is a way of classifying how hard your mineral is. Talc is the softest mineral on the scale and diamond is the hardest. Can you classify your rock collection from softest to hardest? How can you test it? How easily does it crumble? Can you scratch it with your fingernail? If you're a pirate who's had an accident with a crocodile, you can use your hook to scratch and test your rock!

Cleavage and Fracture: Now that you've ordered your rocks from softest to hardest, check out their shape and form. When a rock breaks into layers, we call this cleavage. Fracture describes other shapes that a mineral forms when it breaks. Be careful if you try to break a rock in your collection. It's a good idea to wear safety goggles and supervise young scalawags in the process.

Luster: Luster describes how shiny a rock or mineral is. Pirates like the shiny ones! Pirate scientists describe these as having a metallic luster. Non-metallic lusters might be described as pearly, silky or greasy. What type of luster do you see in your rock collection? You might notice more than one type of luster in a rock because it is made up of more than one type of mineral.

Gold Nuggets by Arum Dulyan, public domain

Color: Pirate scientists use a tool called a streak plate to determine a mineral's color. A streak plate is a piece of unglazed porcelain tile. When you rub the rock or mineral along the plate you will see a streak left from the mineral's powder. Different minerals make different color streaks.

"Streak plate with Pyrite (L) and Rhodochrosite (R)" by Ra'ike - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

You can purchase an actual streak plate, or use the back of a glazed porcelain tile from a hardware or craft store. If you need help cleaning your streak plate, there is some information about that here.

If you have a mineral collection and a streak plate you can test your minerals and keep track of your data on this handy sheet from Kids Love Rocks!

**A word of caution: Please do not test your rocks for gold by biting them like a pirate! Pirates are known for having horrible teeth because they don't heed this advice!

Best of luck to ye on your treasure hunt!

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Parrots
Although many a story pirate carries a parrot on his shoulder, it turns out that it probably didn't happen. (Birds do go to the bathroom a lot after all!) However, pirates most likely did deal with parrots through the exotic pet trade. The beautiful birds were worth a lot of money and they were probably entertaining to have on the ship.

Blue and yellow Macaw. photo: I, Luc Viatour [GFDL, CC BY 2.0, or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

New scientific research completed this summer has identified the genetics and parts of the brain that parrots use to speak. After comparing structures in parrot brains to other birds and humans the researchers from Duke University made discoveries about these bird brains that have been a mystery up until now. Turns out that they aren't really bird brains after all!

How do parrots mimic people so well? Just like humans, but unlike other birds, parrots move their tongues to make different sounds. They don't have lips or teeth, so they can't form their words exactly the same at us, but they are pretty impressive! Try speaking without moving your lips, just by moving your tongue. How does it work for you? Can you say, "Polly want a cracker?"

Check out this link to a brief but neat video showing how the parrot's tongue moves while it "speaks".

credit: Verena Ohms

Shipwrecks:

The high seas can be a dangerous place and many a pirate's ship sunk to Davy Jones' locker. Modern technology has allowed oceanic archaeologists and modern treasure hunters the opportunity to explore these shipwrecks. Excavation of the infamous pirate Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, is ongoing off the coast of North Carolina. The state uses this project as a way to educate about history. You can learn more at their website.

Pirates wanted ships that would carry lots of plunder and move swiftly. Boats come in many shapes and sizes. Which of these are best for cargo and speed? Why not experiment to find out what makes the best boat shape? Gather some materials, fill up the tub and get to work! That treasure won't wait forever.

Materials to experiment with: tin foil, foam trays, balsa wood and recyclables. See how much weight your boat design can take! Using something that is similar size and weight to test your boat is best. Try pennies, nickels or other change, metal washers, marbles, etc. Which design holds the most plundered treasure?

If you'd like to delve further into ship building, you might want to explore this science project I designed for Education.com, "Keep The Boat Afloat". You'll learn about the different shapes of hulls and keels and engineer your own ship. Careful you don't run aground!

Looking for more pirate activity fun? Hop on over to these other blogs to finish your Talk Like a Pirate Day preparations!

Pirate Blog Hop at Peakle Pie

Backyard Pirate Treasure Hunt (Map) - Umbrella Tree Cafe

Make Your Own Pirate Treasure - The Gingerbread House

DIY Pirate Vest & Patch - Play Dough & Popsicles

Toilet paper roll pirates - Just Another Mom

Set Sail with this DIY Pirate Boat - The Resourceful Mama

It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me - Study at Home Mama

Pirates Love Underpants Sensory Bin - Adventures of Adam

Free Pirate Play Dough Mats Numbers 1-10 - Life Over C's

Pirate Science: Fool’s Gold, Parrots and Shipwrecks! - Share it! Science News

Pirate Colouring Pages - In The Playroom

Pirate Books for Kids of All Ages - Superheroes and Teacups

Treasure Chest Craft - Messy Little Monster

How Did Pirates Navigate? How to Read a Map - Schooling a Monkey

Pirate Sensory Bin - Life with Moore Babies

Pirate Preschool Printable - Living Life and Learning

How to Make Some Great Pirate Flags - Witty Hoots

Perfect Parrot Masks for Pirate Day Fun - Peakle Pie

Pirate Perler Bead Patterns - Brain Power Boy

Going on a Pirate Treasure Hunt - Play & Learn Everyday

DIY Pirate Ship and Pirate Movie Night -CraftCreateCalm

Pirate Treasure Math Printables - Kidz Activities

Treasure Alphabet Match - The Kindergarten Connection

Make Your Own Pirate Map - My Little Poppies

Treasure Map Grid Activity - My Little Poppies

Make Your Own Map and Treasure Hunt - My Little Poppies

Create a FLOATING Pirate Ship! - Milk and Cuddles

Pirate Puppet Craft -Sugar Aunts

Hidden Treasure Cupcakes - Emmy’s Mummy

Non Scary Pirate Books and Movies - Edventures with Kids

Gold Nuggets - Kelly’s Classroom

Fizzing Pirate Treasure Adventure - Preschool Powol Packets

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See it? Share it! Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager (image credit: Matt Tillett)

I love those moments when nature surprises and amazes us. Recently we were out for an early morning dog walk and I saw a burst of bright red high up in a tree. I was excited to see that it was a Scarlet Tanager! I had never seen one of these in "real life" so it was a bit of a thrill. Although I've never spotted one bird watching before, it is hard to identify the male Scarlet Tanager incorrectly. They are a sight with their blazing red bodies and dark black wings.

Our morning walk takes us through an unfragmented mixed evergreen and deciduous forest, which is perfect Scarlet Tanager habitat. You can find them in North America during the summer, but they migrate to South America for the winter months. The female of the species is not as conspicuous as the male with yellow-green feathers and dark wings. The tanager feeds mostly on insects and some berries. They are often difficult to spot because they spend a lot of time high in the tree canopy.

It must be an exceptionally active time of year for these birds, because low and behold I saw another a few days later while driving some back roads not far from my home. My husband saw another in a different nearby location, and a friend saw another one within the same week! Pretty amazing!

We were excited to add another bird to our bird list. We like to keep track by adding them to our list on www.ebird.org, a site run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. After adding a bird to our account we always check to see where else it has been spotted. If it is something that is difficult to spot, like the tanager, it is exciting to see if others have seen and reported it, or if you have been the first. We found that there have been many of these beautiful birds spotted in our area.

Not all birds are as easily identified as this one. If you spot a bird that you are unsure of, you can try to find it in a field guide, or use one of several online or app options. Cornell's All About Birds website is one of my favorites because they have lots of information, recordings of bird calls, etc. Another that is helpful in identification is Whatbird.com. If you are looking for an identification app, you might try Cornell's "Merlin". Merlin asks you several questions about the bird's size, shape, color and behavior and then generates some possible matches with images. This app gets its information from eBird, so if no one has submitted any data about a particular bird in your area, then you might not see it listed from your description.

If you like birds you might want to check out some of my other posts about birds and nature: