With lyrical language and blooming illustrations, Mara Plants a Seed demonstrates the transformative power of simple actions. By cleaning up an empty lot and planting fifty sunflower seeds, Mara begins to create a flourishing, wild garden — but she doesn’t do it alone. AVAILABLE NOW! How does an imaginative girl turn an empty lot into a flourishing garden? With lyrical language and blooming illustrations, Mara Plants a Seed demonstrates the transformative power of simple actions. By cleaning up an empty lot and planting fifty sunflower seeds, Mara begins to create a flourishing, wild garden — but she doesn’t do it alone. Little does Mara know, flying insects, digging worms, hungry birds, noisy neighbors, and other secret gardeners are working to help transform the lot into something even more beautiful than she imagined. Rain storms wash away seeds, but rabbits leave some behind. Some helpers nibble up weeds, and others fertilize the soil. Each time Mara visits the garden, she’s expecting to see her sunflowers growing. But as the flowers blossom, she uncovers the exciting secrets waiting for her! Mara Plants a Seed inspires young readers to develop a deeper connection to the environment around them and study the many ways natural processes and ordinary animals help plants grow and thrive. Children will watch as Mara’s simple action of restoring an empty lot transforms a community and the beautiful way the garden bursts to life. . ORDER NOW Book Details Hardcover (ISBN 978-1-958629-76-5) $18.95 Age range 2 - 7 years Grade range Pre-K - 2nd Grade Trim Size 10" x 10" Page Count 40 pages PRESS RELEASE Praise for Mara Plants a Seed "While the book’s empty-lot-to-garden conceit is well-trod ground, the emphasis on ecological interdependence offers readers an enduring takeaway." - Publishers Weekly "A sweet and endearing story of hope and all of the delicate and special pieces required to sustain it." - Tyler Thrasher, Botanist, Artist, and Author of “The Universe in 100 Colors.” “Such a wonderful book that shows children that just one small act can make a beautiful difference. 'Mara Plants a Seed' is a perfect story to share with young readers that is packed with valuable lessons." - Melissa Inferrera, 1st Grade Teacher and Plant Mom, @musicmindandsoul “This precious tale of a girl’s journey into the garden inspires us to take a look around and imagine the possibilities. People, insects, bugs and even beings one can not see all come together in harmony. Powered by hope, tenacity and the help of community, we see how magical a single seed can be!” - Tamara Elmore, Tam in the Garden @taminthegarden "A once barren and neglected lot is transformed into a gorgeous, natural garden full of life, though Mara keeps an eye out for those sunflowers she's planted. She's not at all disappointed and neither was I! We're treated to a delightful, vertical two-page spread that I couldn't help but smile wide for when I turned to it. Bailey does a fantastic job of conveying how utterly wonderful it is to behold a wild garden, and Napoli and Furrow do an equally excellent job of explaining the process of seed to flower (including a blurb in the back encouraging readers to plant their own seeds)." - Goodreads Reviewer , Charessa "The principles of seed growth are entwined into this simple story leading to further discussions in the classroom about plant needs, ecosystems as well as ways to turn the unattractive and unused into something beautiful and well-loved." - Primary Teacher, Melanie Dulaney "Mara Plants A Seed is a lovely, heartfelt, relatable, lesson-filled, and creative story! This book is absolutely charming! Mara is a precious character. With her little act of kindness a trashed vacant lot begins to flourish. Her patience, love, and kindness helps nature become activated. The reader sees all the intentional, natural, and accidental actions which help the lot turn into a garden. The resiliency of nature and the joy nature brings to everyone is on full display. I adore this book!" - Goodreads Reviewer, Bailey Young (Check out the full review here ) Meet the Authors Robert Furrow is a gardener, a wildlife educator, and a birder. He is also a professor of teaching at the University of California, Davis, where he lives with his wife and daughters and dog. He teaches many shades of introductory biology, including wildlife natural history and how to garden for wildlife habitat. This is his sixth book co-authored with his mother Donna Jo Napoli. Donna Jo Napoli has published books for preschoolers through high schoolers. She is a gardener, a dancer, and a dual citizen of Italy and America. She is also a linguist who works on sign languages, advocates for the language rights of deaf children, and co-directs the website RISE, which offers bimodal-bilingual video books for free. She lives with her husband outside Philadelphia . Meet the Illustrator Melissa Bailey is the daughter of an avid gardener and granddaughter of a farmer. She is also an award-winning illustrator of 50+ children’s books and the author-illustrator of 2 picture books. Melissa loves living in rural Michigan, thinks it would be awesome to live in a treehouse, and tries to remember to water her plants.

Diciembre Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios cortos que resuelves con matemáticas! Un aventón La escuela de Jada y Michelle estaba cerrada por ser un día de capacitación de maestros, por lo que sus padres decidieron tomarse un día libre del trabajo para llevar a la familia a esquiar. Se alegraron al llegar, al ver que no había colas para montarse en los telesillas. Las dos niñas esquiaban bien, por lo que se dirigieron a la zona de la montaña con los senderos de diamantes negros, los más difíciles. Tres diferentes telesillas arrancaban del mismo sitio y subían la montaña hasta un sitio en la cima que conducía a varios senderos diferentes. —Tratemos de hacer el mayor número de recorridos —dijo Jada. Se fijaron en un rótulo para decidir cuál de los telesillas debían utilizar. La Caída en Picada tenía asientos para cuatro y capacidad para 1,200 esquiadores por hora. La Agárrate el Gorro tenía asientos para dos, y capacidad para 800 esquiadores por hora. Y la Acantilados Blancos tenía asientos para tres y capacidad para 900 esquiadores por hora. El letrero indicaba que cada telesilla tenía la misma cantidad total de sillas. —¿A dónde crees que deberíamos ir? —preguntó Michelle. REVELAR RESPUESTA

¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí para resolver... December Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! Getting a Lift Jada and Michelle’s school was closed for a winter teacher training day, so their parents decided to take a day off from work to take the family skiing. They were glad to see when they got there that there were no lines at the chair lifts. The two girls were good skiers, so they headed to the part of the mountain with the black diamond trails, the hardest ones. Three lifts started next to each other and ran up the mountain to a spot on the top leading to many different trails. “Let’s try to get in as many runs as we can,” Jada said. They looked at a sign to decide which lift to use. The Sheer Drop lift was a four-seat lift, and its capacity was 1,200 skiers an hour. The Hang onto Your Hat lift was a two-seat lift with a capacity of 800 skiers an hour. The White Cliffs lift was a three-seat lift that could move 900 skiers an hour. The sign said each lift had the same number of chairs. “Where do you think we should go?” Michelle asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing science and math literacy in early childhood education. Come See Us As much time as we spend working on exciting new books for you to enjoy, the real fun is getting out and meeting you! We travel far and wide to introduce our books to families, educators, and book lovers. Here are some places you can find us soon: Here's where we've been recently: May 3, 2020 Literary Hill Bookfest Washington, DC March 11-14, 2020 ITEEA Annual Conference Baltimore, MD Join Science Naturally president and founder Dia Michels for her session Creativity, Curiosity, and Critical Thinking Combined on Friday, March 13 at 1 pm in Room 342 . December 7, 2019 NoVa Labs Maker Market and Artisan Fair Reston, VA October 18-20, 2019 CA Science Education Conference San Jose, CA June 20-24, 2019 ALA Annual Conference Washington, DC We had an amazing time at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference! Did you catch our friendly mascot Snugglepus roaming the hall? We were thrilled to see our Spanish-language books featured at the Diversity in Publishing Pavilion Snugglepus enjoyed an evening in ALA's Central Park... ...and even got to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog! Plus, company president and founder Dia Michels recorded a podcast! Listen to it here: Dia Michels @ ALA June 2, 2019 BookCon New York, NY Come visit the Family HQ tent to hear Nathan Levy , author of the award-winning 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science and 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math do a short presentation. June 2, 2019 Maker Faire NoVa Fairfax, VA We had a great time at Maker Faire NoVa this weekend! We loved meeting all of you and seeing what the other Makers had in store. Jill, from the Fairfax County Library booth, shows kids how to play a carrot piano Guitars crafted from maple, made by 8th graders at the Ideaventions Academy in Reston, VA Anay checks out the laser printers A 3D printers makes an sea-blue octopus We loved this T-shirt! June 1, 2019 A Carnival of Games Washington, DC Folks came from all over the area to partake in Labyrinth Games & Puzzles' Annual Tabletop Game Day. Justin from Labyrinth Games & Puzzles serving popcorn and getting ready to hand out prizes. Jim from Semper Smart Games introducing kids to their game, Election Night. Mariah was on-site offering lessons in juggling to anyone willing to give it a try! Catherine from Catlilligames introducing kids to their biology game, Cycles. Oliver with Catlilligames playing Crazy Cats with families attending Tabletop Game Day. May 18, 2019 TJHS Techstravaganza Alexandria, VA Techstravaganza is a free, open to the public hands-on STEM activity fair that attracts thousands of visitors from the DMV area each year. At Techstravaganza, you will find over 50 different labs and demonstrations that cover a wide range of STEM concepts so there is something for everyone! This event is open to children of all ages. However, the labs specifically target elementary and middle school students. May 5, 2019 Literary Hill BookFest Washington, DC The Literary Hill BookFest began as a way of turning the Literary Hill column that Karen Lyon writes for the Hill Rag into a live event. Karen’s column showcases local writers and, after more than a decade of monthly columns, it was clear that Capitol Hill seems to have an almost limitless supply. What if we could bring together some of these authors who live on or write about Capitol Hill to meet their readers, as well as each other? Thus was born the 2011 Literary Hill BookFest. Everybody liked it so much that they encouraged us to do it again, and now we’re gearing up for another year. Also represented at the BookFest are the Hill’s booksellers, libraries, publishers, and other organizations with a focus on books. Our ultimate goal is to make Capitol Hill a respected center for literacy and the humanities in the metropolitan D.C. area. And we’re well on our way. Our first BookFest attracted more than a thousand visitors; last year, an estimated 1,500 people came to Eastern Market to meet our local writers and learn more about literary services in our area. Please join us this year and make it our best BookFest ever! May 4, 2019 National Math Festival Washington, DC April 28, 2019 Rockville Science Day Rockville, MD Thanks to our animal books, we were stationed in the nature room! We were excited to be placed next to these tortoises; one is African Spurred and the other is Red-Footed. President Dia Michels met a Blue-Tongued Skink and Brian Kristal of Reptile Wonders. There were plenty of other amazing vendors at the event! Here are Natan and Zoe with a robot "bug" from Code Sensei. April 27, 2019 Love Our Local Authors Day Alexandria, VA On Saturday, April 27, Science Naturally authors Dia Michels and Eric Yoder were featured at LOLA, hosted by Hooray for Books in Alexandria , Virginia. March 27-30, 2019 ITEEA Annual Conference Kansas City, KS March 22-23, 2019 Clippers SciFest SoCal Los Angeles, CA We had an amazing time at the Clippers SciFest SoCal! We're so glad that the Gardiner family (L) and students from Adams High School (R) enjoyed checking out our Women In Science books. March 20-23, 2019 CABE 2019 Annual Conference Long Beach, CA It was great exhibiting at the Latino Literacy Now! booth run by Edward Becerra alongside Georgette Baker (another Award Winning Author). We also had the pleasure of meeting conference attendee Karolin Rascon and bilingual children's educator, author, and recording artist Jose-Luis Orozco! How cool is this book truck? If you're in San Diego be sure to check out Letras Sin Fronteras ! February 14-16, 2019 AAAS Annual Conference Washington, DC Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at AAAS Family Science Days! We had a great time investigating how to tell if an egg has been cooked or not without breaking it open, how whales stay warm in freezing water... ...and even dueling with all of you! January 26, 2019 Haymaker STEAM Expo Haymarket, VA We had a blast at this event! Thanks to David Boyd (pictured here with his granddaughter) and the other event organizers. Company president and founder Dia Michels loves getting out and meeting all of you! Here she is (L) showing some Expo attendees one of our newest titles — My First Science Textbook: Electrons . December 13, 2018 John Burroughs ES STEM Expo Washington, DC November 30 - December 2, 2018 CST Annual California Science Education Conference Pasadena, CA What an incredible event! Here's our table all set up with our engaging science and math activities. Science Naturally president and founder Dia Michels was working hard but still found time to be a little slothful... We met so many great people at the event! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth. These table visitors are demonstrating our Double Dealing activity. November 3, 2018 VA Tech Maker Festival Falls Church, VA We had a blast at the VA Tech Maker Festival this weekend, where we met some some incredible Makers and attendees! We were thrilled to be at the booth next to TGAW and JellyBox 3D. Everything in this picture was 3D printed! These fish were printed in front of us all in one piece with flexible interlocking joints! The blue-footed boobie is now hanging in our offices. After watching kids freak out over virtual reality all day at the SAMSUNG VR booth, we had to check it out ourselves. Here's Victoria exploring a school in Borneo where orphaned Orangutans learn how to climb trees before returning to the wild! Thanks to the Samsung employee who stayed late to show us the VR headsets. Mariah (R) had a great time running our Eggcellent Idea activity with the kids who came to our presentation! Thanks to Christine (L) for organizing the presentations! We were also running science and math activities from our booth. This family is practicing questions from our One Minute Math Mysteries book ! November 3, 2018 GWATFL Fall Conference for World Language Educators Bethesda, MD September 23, 2018 KIDfest Silver Spring, MD Even though the rain forced them inside, Science Naturally salespeople Anay and Mariah had a blast meeting attendees at the festival on Sunday! Martin, Countess, and Amira Simiyu were delighted to see our award-winning One Minute Mysteries books. As a women-owned business, we just had to get a picture of this young customer's shirt! #WomenInSTEM There were so many other incredible exhibitors at KIDfest, including PARO , an advanced interactive robot which provides psychological and social comforts to humans through physical interaction. These therapeutic robots have been in use in Japan and throughout Europe since 2003. It mimics the comforts of a therapy animal in places and contexts where real animals are not welcome, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and around patients with allergies. By interaction with this animatronic and artificially intelligent cuddly creature, people's memories of pet animals or cherished stuffed animals are triggered, helping patients feel amused, relaxed, and motivated. Here, Science Naturally president and founder Dia Michels poses with a PARO representative and a PARO baby harp seal therapeutic robot. July 11-13, 2018 STEM Forum and Expo Philadelphia, PA July 7-10, 2018 UNIDOS Annual Conference Washington, DC "We are so excited to be a Latino Literacy Now award winner! It is very important to us that our content is accessible to both English and Spanish speaking students. This recognition will help spread the word about the quality STEM books that are available for the Latinx community!" -Dia Michels, Science Naturally founder and president We had an incredible time at the 2018 UNIDOS US National Latino Family Expo at the Latino Literacy Now booth. Dora explores Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado On Saturday Dia worked the Latino Literacy Now table with Randy Jurado, author of In The Struggle , and Diana Santamaria, author of the DLee's World series . Big thanks to Kirk Whistler (right), cofounder of Latino Literacy Now. On Sunday, Dia worked the Latino Literacy Now table with Randy Jurado and Fey Berman, author of the Mexamerica . We also had the pleasure of meeting Jose Sueiro, the executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Publications . June 12, 2018 Capitol Hill Maker Faire Washington, DC May 6, 2018 Literary Hill BookFest Washington, DC The Savor family took the Science in a Minute book set home from the festival with them. Don't worry! According to his mom, this frowning nine year-old actually does like books—he just hates posing for pictures! April 5-7, 2018 USA Science & Engineering Festival and Expo Washington, DC The Science Naturally team shows off our Math and Science books to convention-goers. Our corner booth had a great view of the US Postal Service area and the Einstein Stage! Company founder and president Dia Michels poses with one happy customer at the booth.

Looking for bilingual gift and/or stocking stuffer ideas this holiday season? Our bilingual book selections make for the perfect gift! Plus Free Shipping through the end of 2018! Free gift wrapping and gift notes available. Gifts for Language Learners Looking for the perfect bilingual holiday gift? We have a wide array of languages and topics to choose from for kids of all ages and their parents! Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés This beautifully illustrated book’s overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers. La lactancia como tema central del libro motiva conversaciones acerca de la paternidad, la biología, los espacios naturales, la supervivencia y demás temas afines, haciendo de este libro una opción entrañable tanto para los infantes como para lectores en la escuela primaria. Click Here to View Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado Beautiful images introduce the reader to attachment in the natural world. Watching mothers lend a paw, wing, flipper, or hand to care for their young fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion. Supplemental back matter and a free Teacher's Guide helps parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively describe caretaking, while introducing a range of early science concepts. Un hermoso libro bilingüe que celebra la entrañable relación entre un padre y su crío en el reino animal. Click Here to View Bilingual Science and Math Book Set / Conjunto de libros bilingües Two award-winning titles from the One Minute Mysteries series are now available as bilingual, Spanish-English, editions. These books are filled with entertaining, literature-based brainteasers that take just one minute to read. These books help kids see science, math, and—now—a new language, as approachable and learnable. Put on your Super Sleuthing cap and try solving these engaging and educational challenges! Dos títulos premiados de la serie One Minute Mysteries ahora están disponibles en ediciones bilingües, español-inglés. Estos libros están llenos de rompecabezas entretenidos y basados en literatura que toman sólo un minuto para leer. Los libros ayudan a los niños a ver la ciencia, las matemáticas y, ahora, un nuevo lenguaje, como accesibles y posibles de aprender. ¡Póngase su estupendo casco de sabueso y trate de resolver estos desafíos atractivos y educativos! Click Here to View One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! / Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencias! Become a science sleuth with the bilingual edition of our award-winning book, One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Each one-page mystery is featured in both English and Spanish. Conviértase en un genio de la ciencia con está edición bilingüe de nuestro premiado libro, Misterios de Un Minuto: ¡Más misterios cortos que resuelves con ciencia! Cada misterio de una página es disponible en inglés y español. Click Here to View One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! / Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios cortos que resuelves con matemáticas! The need and interest in bilingual education has never been greater, and this book is a powerful tool for helping English Language Learners to see math as approachable, learnable, and solvable--while continuing to improve their English skills. As a parallel reader, this book will help both native Spanish speakers and English speakers on the road to bilingualism. This book joins the bilingual Science Mysteries book as the second book adopted from the One Minute Mysteries series. This series of entertaining and educational literature-based math and science challenges for kids, is recognized as valuable supplemental resources for schools, extended learning programs, and home education. The bilingual editions make these powerful tools accessible to young students learning the English language. Click Here to View

The school student council was putting up decorations for the Valentine's Day party later that day in the multi-purpose room. Elinor came into the room... Febrero Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Más misterios Cortos que Resuelves con Ciencias! Helados de frío —No puedo creer que mi madre me hizo usar este abrigo pesado —se quejaba Paige mientras caminaba a la escuela con sus amigas una mañana. —Mi madre es igual —dijo Tyra, chapoteando en un charco con sus botas impermeables. —Oigan, esperen un momento —dijo Lin, recogiendo el sombrero que se le había volado de la cabeza—. ¿Sus madres estaban escuchando esa estación de radio nueva que toca las canciones viejas que le gustan a los padres? —¡Sí! —dijo Paige—. ¡No puedo creer la música que tocan! —¡Algunas de esas canciones deben tener 20 años! —añadió Tyra. —Estaba puesta en nuestra casa también —dijo Lin—. Escuché al locutor decír que se sentiría como -4 grados Celsius esta mañana y fue entonces que mi mamá me entregó estos guantes. —¿Y qué? —preguntó Paige. —Entiendo lo que quiere decir Lin —dijo Tyra, saltando de charco en charco—. A -4 grados Celsius el agua estaría congelada. El agua se congela a 0 grados Celsius o menos. —Creo que nuestros padres debieran empezar a escuchar otra estación de radio —dijo Lin. —No creo que eso ayude —dijo Paige. —¿Por qué no? La gente de esa estación claramente no sabe nada del tiempo ni de la música —dijo Tyra. REVELAR RESPUESTA

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing bilingual science and math literacy in early childhood education. About Science, Naturally! Science Naturally: Enhancing Literacy in Science and Math Science Naturally, an imprint of Platypus Media, operates as an independent press situated in Washington, D.C. Our mission revolves around fostering a deeper understanding of science and math by demystifying these subjects in entertaining and enlightening ways. Utilizing both fictional and nonfictional forms, diverse characters, and engaging formats, we strive to make intimidating topics intriguing and accessible to scientists, mathematicians, and book enthusiasts of all ages. Diverse Reach and Accessibility Initiatives: To ensure broad accessibility, we've translated our books into over six languages, developed bilingual, eBook, and braille editions, and partnered with literacy programs offering discounted books to under-served students. Refer to our list of partners below. Empowering Educators: Our Professional Development seminars and complimentary educational resources empower educators, enabling them to bridge the gap between the blackboard and the blacktop. Our books have earned recognition as valuable supplemental resources, receiving awards and accolades from literacy, education, and parenting groups. Each book holds the esteemed "Recommends" designation from the National Science Teachers Association. Alignment with Educational Standards: Our content aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards and supports the Common Core State Standards. Visit our website for detailed articulations and additional standards. Distribution and Inquiry: Science Naturally books are distributed by the National Book Network. For more information, publication catalogs, or details on becoming one of our esteemed authors, reach out to us via phone or visit our online platform. Discover, Read, and Stay Curious: You might encounter our books in schools, neighborhood book boxes, or literacy programs. Wherever you find them, we hope they inspire you to read, tackle challenging problems, and nurture your curiosity. Meet the Team Dia L. Michels Owner / Publisher Ali Trujillo Chief Operating Officer Meet the Full Team Partners Our Partners We are proud to partner with many organizations that bring important educational books and resources to as many students as possible. Our partners include: Platyus Media Want to know more about our parent company? Check out Platypus Media!

Belinda and Madison are sure their witch jack-o-lantern will win their neighborhood pumpkin-carving contest. They’ve even covered all the openings with construction paper so the light will glow green. But when they come back from trick-or-treating, their candle has blown out…again! Halloween Bonus Mystery Selected from: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! Pumpkin Patch "Where's Linus? We have the Great Pumpkin," Belinda said. Madison laughed. It was Halloween, and all the neighbors around the cul-de-sac were in a contest to see who carved the best pumpkin. The prize was a gift certificate to the video store. She and Belinda had carved a pumpkin with the face of a witch and then used colored paper to cover the openings so that the light from the candle inside would make the face glow green. They lit the candle, put the top back on the pumpkin, and went out trick-or-treating. As they went from house to house, they looked over the other entries for the contest. Carly had done a nice carving of a ghost, and Peter had used an odd-shaped pumpkin to make a funny-looking frog. They came to Sam's house just as he was setting out his pumpkin. "This is the winner right here," Sam said, in a not-too-friendly voice. Madison had to admit, he'd done a good job of carving a haunted house, but she still knew her and Belinda's pumpkin was better. "Watch out for him," Belinda said, as they went to the next house. "He'll probably smash the other pumpkins just so he can win." After they made a lap of the neighborhood, they returned to Madison's house to drop off the candy before everyone would meet for the winner to be announced. Their pumpkin was not smashed, but the candle was out, so it didn't look like anything special. "I know who's to blame," said Madison. "Who?" Belinda asked. REVEAL ANSWER

Science, Naturally is an independent press committed to increasing bilingual science and math literacy in early childhood education. We know that every classroom in the country needs more STEM materials, but we also know that schools in the US are chronically underfunded. We are here to solve both problems! Our award-winning trade books are the perfect way to expand and enhance your classroom and ELO curricula. We've helped numerous schools apply for grants to get these STEM resources in their classrooms and libraries. Let us help you! This page contains: Foundation Grant Resource Document Freelance Grant Writers Grant Resources gRANT wRITERS Need a grant writer? Hiring a grant writer can be an effective way of bringing resources into your institution. A number of individuals who have worked as grant writers and may be able to work with you on grant requests either as a writer or as a consultant is listed below. ** Science, Naturally! has no financial connection to any of these individuals. ** Audella Patterson | Independent Consultant | 909-609-4035 Patterson has helped to research, review, match, and prepare grant/proposal applications for various nonprofit entities, including school districts, museums, children and youth afterschool, faith-based, etc., covering a variety of areas, including education, STEMs, health, physical fitness, technology, capacity building, etc. 23 successful years in: Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies, Foundations, and Corporate Grant/Proposal Research, Project Development and Writing Program/Project Design/Development Budget Development Strategic Planning ~ Retreat Facilitation (3-5 year development plans) Material Development: By-Laws, Conflict of Interest Statements, Agency Policy, Employee Handbooks, Training Material, P/R material (brochures, donor letters/solicitation, media ads and PSAs) Events Design/Planning to Cultivate Individual Membership Donor Development Board/Staff Development/Training 6 successful years in: Non-profit design, mission, vision, purpose setups, state corporate applications, and 100% IRS 501 c3 nonprofit approvals including areas for Native American, health, senior residential facilities and faith-based organizations. Published Amazon Kindle Book: How to Set Up a Non Profit Pamela Chapman | Director of Science & Urban Education | Exploring the Elements Exploring the Elements strives to provide quality STEM educational pathways for under- served and underrepresented students. We provide a variety of services to meet the needs of the 21st C. student and educator. We provide consulting services for integrating STEM components into the curriculum. Over the last 10 years, Pamela Chapman has assisted various schools in procuring almost $1 million in grant funding. Thomas Medcalf | K-5 Science Resource Teacher Thomas Medcalf is a science resources teacher, science curriculum writer, and elementary science professional development trainer in West Palm Beach, FL. He has successfully written and received elementary STEM grants. FOUNDATION GRANT RESOURCE DOCUMENT We have helped many schools locate foundations that support STEM education and successfully apply for funding. Click the links below for our guide: Successful Foundation Grant Recipients Schools, camps and other educational programs have used grant money to buy large quantities of Science, Naturally books at discount prices. Here are some of the recipients: Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, Mississippi State, MS ATOMS2XP, or Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science, is a program with the goal of increasing the number of highly qualified 4th - 8th grade science teachers across Mississippi. Using funds from a U.S. Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant, they were able to purchase Science, Naturally! math and science books to distribute to the teachers attending their 2013 Spring Training Workshop. Prince George’s County Public Schools, Prince George’s County, MD Prince George’s County Public Schools used STEM grant funds to purchase 1,000 copies of Science, Naturally! titles. For two consecutive years, these books were given as gifts to students who qualified to participate in the annual Kids for Science STEM Fair. Each participant received a book the morning of the Fair to read while the judging was taking place. The kids, whether they placed in the Fair or not, all took home a quality STEM item to enjoy and help form a STEM home library of their own. Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, Washington, DC Capitol Hill Montessori educates over 300 children in grades preK-6, and they have no library budget. They received a community grant to purchase hundreds of new books from Science, Naturally!, greatly expanding their school library and allowing them to send books home with students as gifts. In a city where a full third of the adult population lacks basic reading skills, not only do these books enhance students’ math and science education, but they provide encouragement to students to read at home. Watauga Middle School, Watauga, TX Watauga Middle School is a Title I school that serves a high population of at-risk and economically disadvantaged students. They had Title I funds that were not earmarked for specific disciplines, but since science and math were their lowest performing areas, grant requests in those areas were given priority consideration. According to the school, the textbooks they use for math and science are not engaging and are often above the reading level of their students, so having something fun for the students to read in math and science was a huge benefit. They will incorporate Science, Naturally! books into their science classes’ interactive journaling campus-wide. Palomar College, GFSPS, San Marcos, CA This summer camp for underprivileged kids in San Diego bought 1,100 Science, Naturally! titles using state and federal GEAR UP funding. The books were used to inspire the kids about math and science and to stimulate camp activities. Participants were given the books to keep at the end of the program. Robert Brent Elementary School, Washington, DC Robert Brent Elementary is a Washington, D.C. public school. They serve 330 students, pre-K-5. Their diversity drops dramatically as students advance to upper grades. Almost the entire 4th and 5th grade classes qualify for free or reduced lunch. Their students scored in the 56th percentile in both math and reading on the DC-CAS, and the school believes that the number of word-problems on the math test contributed to the low scores. They submitted a successful grant request to a community foundation to purchase Science, Naturally! books for instructional resources nd as additions to their very limited school library. The Need for STEM Education A recent survey from Wired Magazine found that parents are more comfortable talking with their kids about drugs than about science and math. It’s not that parents don’t recognize that math and science are critical to their child’s future success, but when it comes down to actually doing something — that’s where they’re lacking. If parents need help connecting what they learned in school to the real world, is it any surprise that their children struggle with this, too? Scientists, educators and government experts agree there is a general lack of public understanding of science. Educators and employers are worried that too few Americans have functional literacy in math, science, technology and engineering. In a recent poll, just 26% of Americans believe they have a good understanding of science; 44% couldn't identify a single scientist, living or dead, whom they'd consider a role model for the nation's children. On a recent round of international tests, U.S. students rated below average in math and science literacy. Not only do a small fraction of our students understand the intricacies of science and math, but very few of America’s youth are preparing for careers in math and science. In 2009, the reading achievement gap between 8th grade students in low-poverty versus high-poverty schools was 34 points (out of 500). The mathematics achievement gap was 38 points. Here are some excerpts from a Washington Post article (Nov. 18, 2010) “Nation's public schools are improving, but still have a long way to go”: “The nation's high school seniors are performing slightly better in math and reading than they did in the middle of the last decade, new test results show, but a large majority continue to fall short of the federal standard for proficiency. But analysts said the federal test results (from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress) offer plenty of reason for concern. The scores mean that 38 percent of seniors demonstrated proficiency in reading and 26 percent reached that level in math. In addition, reading scores remain lower than they were in 1992. And the report found essentially no progress in closing achievement gaps that separate white students from black and Hispanic peers. “Those results suggest that public schools must make quantum leaps to approach President Obama's goal of college and career readiness for all graduates…. ‘We've got a huge mountain to climb if we're serious about college readiness for everyone,’ said Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank…Finn said the federal test results have implications for the nation's ability to compete globally. ‘We're not getting worse,’ he said, ‘but we're not getting better. And the rest of the world is getting better faster.’” How do we get our children interested in these subjects? How do we show kids that in real life, beyond the classroom, math and science are all around us? How do we explain the mysteries of math and science in ways that are exciting and easy to understand? President Obama is putting his money where his mouth is. With his increasing commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, groups promoting STEM are now in the national spotlight. His “Educate to Innovate” campaign is further proof of his commitment to math and science literacy in today’s youth. The new Museum of Math, the World Science Festival in New York City and the upcoming USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., with satellite events all over the country, are evidence of a national awareness that science and math are priorities—and that we need to inspire our kids about these subjects at a young age. The Importance of Trade Books "Why? This book helps kids answer that important question. Filled with kid-centric mini-mysteries and clear and concise solutions, One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Mysteries You Solve With Science encourages kids to think critically about real-life situations. With Next Generation Science Standards on the horizon, this book will be a sure hit in the classroom. An entertaining and educationally-engaging tool for science teachers everywhere!" —Gail O. Schulte, Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Instructional Facilitator, Rutherford County Schools, TN “These books are some of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read! They correlate so well with our science curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. The reason we love them is because they have real-world applications. With Mississippi adopting the new Common Core State Standards, using nonfiction texts is very important. Science, Naturally!’s books are an excellent asset to our teachers' resource libraries!” —Sonya Smith, Science Field Coordinator, ATOMS2XP (Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science) and IMPACT2 (In-depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training), Mississippi State, MS Too many students today are filled with "book knowledge" they don't know how to use. They have memorized facts and filled in bubbles on standardized tests until their #2 pencils are worn down to nubs. Parents and educators are saying education should be more than that; it should place emphasis on problem solving, deep thinking, and critical analysis. When was the last time your biology textbook led to a stimulating discussion? Studies show that in contrast to textbooks, trade books can be a powerful tool to promote critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. Instead of defining knowledge as memorized, disconnected facts, trade books promote real-world problem solving skills. Students who understand there are many “correct” ways to solve problems have a great advantage over those who believe there’s a single answer for every question. The Common Core State Standards, which are being implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia, require well-researched informational text, well-crafted narrative text and readings that engage critical analysis and reward re-reading. Nonfiction texts will account for a full 70% of all reading assigned in the classroom. Textbooks will be de-emphasized and trade book use will be increased. Trade books can be used in math and science education in several ways: To read aloud to a class To introduce a math and science topic and related facts To answer student questions and generate further student questions To further explore a topic combined with hand-on experiences The most immediate benefit of using trade books is an increase in student engagement. Math and science is real and part of everyday life: it is alive in books that children, teachers and parents enjoy reading. Kids learn how to extract the important data needed to solve science and math problems while strengthening and rewarding reading skills. Sparking delight in a good book makes math and science more enjoyable to read and not as scary. References: Cox, Carol. “What the Research Says About Literature-Based Teaching and Science.” Reading Rockets. 25 Oct. 2012. Web. Price, Ruth, and Colleen Lennon. “Using Children’s Literature to Teach Mathematics.” Quantile. 25 Oct 2012. Web.< http://www.quantiles.com/resources/literaturemathematics.pdf> Ways to Use Our Supplemental STEM Books The main goal of providing these titles to your students is to increase their excitement about math and science by engaging them in fun, new ways. Some of them will go on to pursue STEM careers, others will not. The bottom line is that not being a scientist or a mathematician does not excuse them from understanding these subjects. Understanding these subjects will give them the tools to succeed in any field. Here are some suggestions of ways to incorporate the books into your program: Curricula Enrichment: Combining literature with science and mathematics blends fact and fiction to improve students’ language and communication skills, as well as adding dimension and understanding to these subjects. When they come together, literature, math and science become more interesting, engaging and applicable to real-life situations. Research has shown that students are more comfortable talking about math and science when it is incorporated in literature, and teachers can more easily identify misunderstandings students may have. When adults regularly discuss math and science concepts, children discover new connections around them on a daily basis. Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs): Many of the kids attending America’s public schools struggle with reading and have experienced limited success in math and science. They lack motivation to reach higher in these subjects because they do not understand how the material connects to daily life. You may propose to use grant money to create a demonstration project for implementing math and science enrichment that dovetails and extends existing curriculum. ELOs could be before-school programs, after-school programs, science and math clubs, Saturday extra learning time, and even summer programs (creating summer programs also aids in the reduction of Summer Learning Loss). You might propose using grant funds to create a detailed curriculum showing how these books can be used in ELOs to help children connect to and extend their classroom curriculum. Incentives for Success: Many organizations use our books as incentive rewards. Rewarding students can lead to academic and behavioral improvements, while sustaining their interest. You may propose grant funding to provide you with the ability to offer products to your students that are both relevant and useful. These incentives can be used for successful completion of the annual Science Fair, excellent class participation and/or satisfactory class grades. The affordability of these books means that schools can acquire them for not much more than they spend now on ribbons and trinkets. Giving students a high-quality book sends the message that they are worthy of a quality product. These motivational prizes will not only help them in the classroom, but will also help them establish and/or expand their home library. Classroom and School Library Expansion: You might state a goal for grant funding of using the money to enhance classroom libraries for the 3rd to 8th grade math and science rooms, as well as the school library. These books help build skills in reading, problem-solving, science and math, with supporting content correlated to your school’s math and science standards. Having these books at their disposal will get your kids excited about math and science through creative extensions of existing curricula with real life applications. In taking these steps to provide resources that can help students succeed in school, you are working to ensure the future of our nation by raising a generation of children who will feel confident in the crucial fields of math and science and will carry that knowledge into adulthood. Optimizing Downtime: The beginning of class can often be downtime as students take their seats and the teacher takes attendance. These books can be used to get students on task the moment they enter the classroom. Teachers around the country have embraced these books as perfect bell-ringers, helping students get focused and getting their brains warmed up. Similarly, they can help fill a five or ten minute gap at the end of class when the lesson is over but learning should not stop. Additionally, students are often inspired to write their own mysteries or science/math and questions, using the books as models. Content for Non-STEM Educators: These books add instant energy to the classroom. After all, a mystery (or a question) a day keeps boredom away! The books can be great resources for non-STEM educators who are taking over a STEM class temporarily or are tasked with incorporating STEM content into their classes, such as in a Literacy and Numeracy period, which many schools are adding to their school day. Book Fair and Other Fundraiser Resources: If your school holds book fairs, consider adding Science, Naturally! books to the selection. Book fairs promote an excitement for reading while providing a place where kids can easily preview and purchase affordable books to develop their home libraries. You might purchase the books at the bulk discount rate of up to 50% off (contact us for 500+ quantities) and use the fairs to raise funds to support your school library budget. Incredible Discounts and Sample Budget Small, but powerful. That’s the adage by which Science, Naturally! operates. Without the ties of a large, bureaucratic publisher, we can offer discounts up to 35% (contact us for 500+ quantities). Our award-winning products speak to our credibility. Our prices demonstrate our commitment to the great thinkers of tomorrow. 10-24 books................15% discount 25-49 books................20% discount 50-99 books................25% discount 100-499 books............35% discount 500+ books.................Please contact us All prices are in U.S. dollars Bulk discounts apply to quantity of the same item purchased. All orders are non-returnable. All orders must include company check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) or PayPal information. Purchase orders accepted from recognized government/institutional accounts. Shipping and Handling Rates USA USPS Media Mail 9% of order total ($5.95) USPS First Class/Priority, FedEx Ground or UPS Ground 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) + actual cost of shipping Prepaid & Collect Shipments 5% of order total ($5.95 minimum) CANADA & INTERNATIONAL Please contact us Sample Grant Budget:

Explore our STEM Homeschool Gift Guide: The Ideal Selection of Educational Gifts for Homeschooling, Packed with Engaging STEM Activities and Learning Resources! Gifts for Homeschoolers Do you homeschool your children or know someone who does? We offer blended fiction, science and math mysteries, and "101 Things" books that make learning FUN and make the perfect gift this holiday season! Ghost in the Water John Hawkins is in yet another new school as he begins the 7th grade. His life would be just fine except for the fact that Dowser, the school bully, has it out for him. Things change when his passion for robotics lands him an invitation to be a part of a secret club. John joins Malena, Natsumi, Hector, and Kimmey as the newest member of the League of Scientists. Together, these friends pool their knowledge of biology, technology, logic, and chemistry to unravel the mysteries that haunt their quiet town of East Rapids. The League is in a race to solve the secret of the ghost who is terrorizing the middle school pool. Click Here to View Leonardo da Vinci Gets A Do-Over After being dead for nearly 500 years, the great Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci is back! Readers tag along as 7th graders Max, Tad, and Gina become the reincarnated da Vinci's ambassadors of the modern age—and learn about history, art, anatomy, and STEM topics along the way. Inventive and fast-paced, this story is as engaging as it is educational. Treat yourself to a fantastic adventure with this first book in the new Innovators in Action series. Click Here to View 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science Not your ordinary science book, these mysteries make science fun! Try your hand at dozens of science mysteries (with solutions included) that will keep you entertained--and eager to learn more! No tools or special equipment required, all you need is a willingness to have fun. This entertaining and educational book is great for kids, grown-ups, educators and anyone who loves good mysteries, good science, or both! Click Here to View 65 MORE Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! The mysteries are back! One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! continues the fun. These mysteries have a clever twist—you have to be a super sleuth, tapping into your science wisdom and critical thinking skills to solve them. Each story takes just one minute to read and challenges your knowledge in a variety of science disciplines. Click Here to View 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! These aren't your average math problems… Each minute-long story introduces an engaging mystery that can only be solved with math. The brainteasers are entertaining, but-even better-their real-world connections help kids see math concepts as approachable, learnable, and solvable. The brainteasers help support literacy, problem-solving, and deductive-reasoning skills, while exploring essential math topics. A fun way to develop deductive reasoning skills and discover the joys of math! Click Here to View 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math Math is a critical part of our everyday lives. The second title in the award-winning 101 Things Everyone Should Know series helps you understand how you use math dozens of times—every day.With entertaining connections to sports, hobbies, science, food, and travel, mathematical concepts are simplified and explained using clear, real-life explanations. You’ll even learn some fun trivia and math history! Using an engaging question-and-answer format, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math is perfect for kids, parents, educators, and anyone interested in the difference between an Olympic event score of 9.0 and Richter scale score of 9.0. Click Here to View 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science Science affects everything -- yet so many of us wish we understood it better. Using an accessible question-and-answer approach, 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science expands every reader’s knowledge. Key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and general science are explored and demystified by an award-winning science writer and a seasoned educational trainer. Endorsed by science organizations and educators, this book is perfect for kids, grown-ups, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how science impacts everyday life. Click Here to View

Book Customization Does your organization want customized books? We can do that! We accommodate a number of requests for special editions of our books, including: Languages & trim size View the book Haitian Creole for the Heart of Jesus Orphanage View the book Bengali View the book Washoe for the Alpine County Child Abuse Prevention Council ? Your Project! Branding Front & Back matter & more! We also offer bulk pricing and competitive wholesale discounts . Please contact us for more information on our customization rates. You can reach us at: Info@ScienceNaturally.com 202-465-4798

Can you solve this month's real-life math mystery? Max had offered to stay after school to help with the fundraiser. The parents' association was buying new supplies for the three rooms in his grade, and they had divided the cost among all the students. Each student in the three rooms needed to bring in $15.63... Septiembre Seleccionado de: One Minute Mysteries: Short Mysteries You Solve With Math! • Misterios de un minuto: ¡Misterios cortos que resuelves con matemáticas! Guardián del césped —Papá, realmente necesitamos una nueva podadora de césped —dijo Murphy. De todas las personas, Murphy es quien más sabría al respecto. Desde que había cumplido los doce años, le correspondía podar el césped todos los sábados por la mañana. La norma familiar era que los quehaceres se tenían que completar antes de cualquier diversión. Murphy lo había hecho tantas veces, que sabía el número exacto de veces que tenía que ir y venir por el jardín: 20 veces en cada dirección. El padre le echó un vistazo a la podadora. Era difícil de encender y cortaba el pasto a alturas desiguales, dejando partes del césped desnivelado. —Tienes razón. Vayamos a la tienda a ver qué opciones hay —dijo. En la tienda, el padre de Murphy señaló una podadora y dijo: —Este es el modelo más reciente de la podadora que tenemos, con la misma navaja de 60 centímetros de ancho —dijo—. Y aquí hay una con una navaja de 75 centímetros. El hermano menor de Murphy, Hugh, que los había acompañado a la tienda, agregó: —Aquí hay una con una cuchilla de 60 centímetros, pero es de las que tritura el césped como abono. Dice que la navaja gira un 20% más rápido. —Creo que deberíamos comprar la que me permita terminar el patio en tan solo 4/5 del tiempo que me toma hacerlo ahora —dijo Murphy. —¿Cuál es esa? —preguntó Hugh. REVELAR RESPUESTA