November is Native American Heritage Month! On November 3, 1990 President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November Native American History Month. This month is dedicated to educating the general public about Native American culture, raising public awareness about the unique challenges Native American people have faced (both historically and in the present), and how they work to overcome these challenges. November is a time to celebrate their rich and diverse culture, tradition, and history. Native American Scientists Native American scientists have had an important effect on technology over the years. From the farthest reaches of outer space to the tiniest pieces of computer hardware, Native Americans continue to influence research, science, and applied technologies that change our world for the better! To celebrate this important month we would like to honor some of the amazing men and women who have changed the world through science, technology, and innovation. Mary G. Ross Mary Golda Ross was born in Park Hill, Oklahoma in 1908. She was the great granddaughter of Cherokee Chief John Ross. As a child she lived with her grandparents in the Cherokee Nation capital of Tahlequah where she attended school. Ross became known as the first female Native American engineer. She specialized in aerospace design, and is known for being one of the "first to reach the stars". Her aerospace designs helped interplanetary space travel, manned and unmanned Earth orbiting flights, and the studies of orbiting satellites. Mary G. Ross not only changed the way we view space and space travel, but she also changed the lives of others. After her retirement in 1973 she worked and recruited young women and Native American youth into engineering careers. She also supported the American Indians in the Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the Counsel of Energy Resource Tribes. Lori Alvord Laurie Alvord was born in Crownpoint, New Mexico; located in the Navajo Reservation, in 1958. Alvord is a member of the Tsinnajinne' (Black Streaked Wood) clan (Ponderosa Pine), and of the Ashihii' Dine' (Salt People) clan. After her graduation from Dartmouth College, where she majored in psychology and minored in Native American studies, Alvord attended Stanford University Medical School where she earned her M.D. in 1985. She then became the first board-certified female Diné surgeon. Alvord returned to her home in New Mexico on the Navajo reservation where she practices surgery with the in Indian Health Service. You can read about Alvord’s experiences as a surgeon while incorporating her love for her heritage in her autobiography The Scalpel and the Silver Bear. Wallace Hampton Tucker Dr. Wallace Hampden Tucker was born in McAlester, Oklahoma and is a part of the Choctaw tribe. Dr. Tucker attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned his bachelors degree in mathematics, his masters in physics, and then went on to earn his PhD in physics at the University of California in 1966. Tucker is a multi-talented scientist who specializes in astrophysics, is an award winning playwright, and an active environmentalist. Hampden specializes in high energy astrophysics and is the spokesperson for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-Ray Center. Dr. Tucker keeps in touch with his heritage by writing plays that reflect his ancestry and the struggles of mixed and full-blood Native Americans. Dr. Tucker is an active environmentalist, and he founded two non-profit organizations called the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the San Diego Land Conservation Coalition. Andrea Delgado Andrea Delgado-Olson is a member of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians in Northern Sierra Foothills of California. Andrea is a program manager for Systers and GHC Communities at AnitaB.org, which is a non-profit organization aiming to recruit, retain, and advance women in technology. To help keep her connection with her Native American heritage as well as her love for technology, Andrea founded Native American Woman in Computing. Founding her organization helped Andrea connect with other Native women for support and mentorship in a field that she loves. She also works on multiple projects to preserve the Native American heritage and help raise awareness about Native American history and culture.

Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and TURKEY! Keeping your little one busy while preparing food, entertaining company, and passing the days over break can be challenging. To help you keep your focus on that turkey that needs basting, we’ve rounded up a few activities and ideas that can help keep your child's mind stay busy with some learning and fun! Whether you have a group of kids or just one child to entertain there are thanksgiving activities for everyone to enjoy together! From our Mystery of the Month to some of our Educational Resources, we’ve got something for everyone. One Minute Mysteries What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than a challenging Mystery of the Month that you and your little one can solve together? These one-minute reads will challenge your kid’s knowledge of math and science in a variety of ways. Each mystery is taken from our award winning series One Minute Mysteries and helps challenge your child’s little mind with literature-based math and science brainteasers. In November’s Mystery of the Month Raking their Brains, Hannah and Juliet are raking leaves and decide to have a friendly competition. But Hannah accuses Juliet of cheating! Help them prove that Julia played fair and square in this month’s mystery! Educational Resources While on Thanksgiving break keeping your little one’s mind active is important. We have just what you need to help entertain your child with our entertaining and educational resources, including: Teachers Guides Daily Circuit Activity Sheets Hands-on Activities STEM Education Power Points Importance of Children’s Literature Thanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving is not the same without festive fall decorations! These adorable turkey craft projects will keep your kids busy and brighten up your Thanksgiving break! Paper Turkey What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than crafting your own turkey! With this easy craft you and your little one can create as many gobbling turkeys as you want! All you need is some colored paper, scissors and a glue stick. Turkey Finger Puppets These adorable little turkey finger puppets are fun to make and will help keep your kids busy while you get ready for a festive dinner. After a yummy meal everyone can sit together and the kids can use their imagination to put on an adorable puppet show. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups When everyone is around for Thanksgiving things can get a a little chaotic and messy! With these cute Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups you and your kids can have fun crafting and help the crazy day be a little more organized. Show off your child’s crafting skills by placing these adorable decorations on your Thanksgiving table! Reading is another fun and educational way to stay entertained over Thanksgiving break, and we are offering a Black Friday weekend special of 50% off our entire store, as well as at our partner company Platypus Media -- plus free shipping at both stores! What fun activities do you have planned for Thanksgiving break? Share your ideas with us in the comments! Happy Thanksgiving!

This week is National Human-Animal Relationship week, and we'd like to honor all of the amazing things that animals do for us! Human-Animal relationships have been around for many years. They are our companions, helpers, and they teach us many important life lessons each and every day. Animals have their own social rules, codes of conduct, and methods of communication. Humans can learn from animal connections and relationships, and the ways animals and humans are similar may surprise you! Our Relationships with Pets The relationships between pets and their owners is unique and provides both humans and animals with comfort, protection, and companionship. Respect, understanding, and the ability to communicate are three elements that help ensure a strong bond with your pet. One thing all dedicated pet owners know to be true is that the amount of love you show your pet, your pet will show you right back, and then some! We show love to our animals by caring for their needs, showing affection, playing with them, exercising them, and keeping them as healthy as possible. But did you know there are many health and wellness benefits pets bring to us, too? Pet owners are often: Healthier More active Experience less stress and anxiety Are more socially connected Have a stronger immune system Form strong emotional bonds Have more compassion and empathy Humans have animals for more than just companionship, and they are helpful to us in several ways. "Humans surround themselves with a variety of animals. Many serve a specific purpose: cows make milk, horses provide transportation, and sheep provide wool. Non-human animals have similar close relationships with one another (for example, birds pick off and eat pesky parasites from zebras), but humans also keep animals for companionship. We are the only creatures who keep pets." ~Excerpt from Babies Nurse, by Phoebe Fox and illustrated by Jim Fox Lessons Animals Teach Us About Community Animals are a joyous and wonderful gift to humankind. They have distinct personalities and emotions, and just like other humans they merit our respect. Of the myriad of things we can learn from animals, compassion is one of the most important. From inter-species friendships to fostering orphaned animal children (sometimes also between different species), animals' compassion can be truly amazing. Animals can show us to look beyond our own needs and imagine those of another who is different from ourselves. Another important value animals can teach us is that we are all connected. Everyone is different in their own unique way, however none of us can function without help from others. For example, dolphins have their own highly sophisticated way of communicating with each other and with their community, and even call each other by unique names! They travel in groups, like families, and will bond together to escape predators, hunt and feed their young, and share emotions like love and joy. Elephants are also highly social animals, and they come together as a community to provide support and comfort during hardship and loss. Elephants demonstrate a wide range of emotions, and are known to actively grieve the loss of a young one, or another member of their family. Animal and Human Families are Similar in Many Ways! Another way animals and humans are similar is they way we love and nurture our young. Did you know that there are several species of animals who nurse their young just like human mothers do? Tigers, for example, may seem different than humans in many ways, but mother tigers care for and nurse their young just like we do! Other animals that breastfeed their young include: horses, dogs, cats, monkeys, seals, zebras, pandas, bats, and even ocean dwelling creatures like dolphins! In the book If My Mom Were A Platypus, author Dia L. Michels explores the parent/child relationship for many different animal species, and we learn that animal families are not that different from our own! Like all parents animals nurture, care, protect, and feed their young. Do you ever wonder what it would be like if your Mom were a giraffe? Let's hear about it from a baby giraffe's perspective! Now that I am six months old, I have started following my mom as she feeds. She shows me how to strip the leaves off acacia trees with my long, flexible tongue. ~ Excerpt from If My Mom Were A Platypus, by Dia L. Michels Anyone who has ever loved an animal knows they have strong, unique feelings and emotions. Do you notice how your dog wags his tail when you pet him? Or how your cat will lick your face when you pay attention to her? Does your horse run over to you when he sees you? These are just some of the many, many ways animals express their love and gratitude to their human family members. What are some of the ways you bond with your pet? What are the ways you see how your pet is similar to humans? Let us know in the comments!

We learn a lot about the world (and well-being) through science, math, and engineering. We have fallen behind, however, in encouraging young female students to pursue career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). According to recent research, as girls get older their confidence in STEM plunges. Girls who seem enthusiastic and undaunted by STEM through most of elementary school tend to lose that confidence starting around puberty. Boys' and girls' confidence levels in STEM are about the same until estrogen and testosterone waves start flooding their brains. At this stage girls tend to start worrying more about grades and trying to please others, so they begin to get discouraged by an ingrained (but erroneous) belief that they would be better at a “softer” or a more “helpful” profession (or subject) than STEM. Confident girls become confident women, and we want to encourage young women to grow up believing in their abilities to become whatever they want, encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, and embrace their limitless possibilities. Tips for Increasing STEM Confidence in Young Girls Positive Self-Talk: Pejorative statements like: “I can't do math and science” would decrease anyone’s confidence level, so teaching young girls to speak confidently to themselves is important. We can teach girls that they have the ability to change any statement from a negative to a positive. Use 'can' instead of 'can’t’ and turn their attention to the positive. Getting rid of "should" statements, like: "I should be better at math" is important as well. Helping girls take time to value what they have already achieved and set attainable goals (that don't include negative or disparaging self-talk) is crucial. Take the fear out of failure: Sometimes when taking risks failure will strike, but that is no reason to quit what you are doing. Teaching young girls to learn to move through it, normalize it, and rebound will help them be ready for it the next time they make a mistake. Teach them to learn from their mistakes - after all, no one succeeds the first time at everything. Set an Example: Parents are powerful role-models for their children when it comes to any subject, but especially to young girls when learning about STEM. Setting an example of how to move through adversity is important, so talk to your daughter and let her know when you’re worried about a new challenge. Include her in your process and ask her advice about it. This will show her that she is not the only one who is afraid of something new! You'll prove to her that being afraid of a new task is scary, but it is normal. Show your daughter what it means to make a mistake and then recover. If we are obsessing about being perfect, our daughters will absorb that unhealthy standard, no matter how many books on confidence we hand them. Here are a few steps from the book “Confident Code for Girls” to help young women through mistakes: Change the channel. Immediately after a disaster, do not analyze what went wrong, or assure her that you can fix it, or tell her that it doesn’t matter. Her amygdala (fear center) is on fire. Before rational thought can ensue, she needs a break. Have her take 30 minutes, or three hours, to do whatever will allow her brain to switch gears and take a breather. She can read a book, watch a show, play with the dog, kick a ball, or take a walk. Even looking at pictures of nature on her phone or computer can reduce stress, or looking at pictures of cute animals can help her focus on something else. Take a virtual hot air balloon ride. When she’s ready to put things in perspective tell her to imagine herself floating way above her problem, looking down above her house, her town, her school. Talk about how she sees her situation from up there, compared to what she usually sees. This will help her pull her brain from the fiery center of the drama and go wide. Next steps. Help her make a plan to study differently for that next exam, or to practice dribbling to get the ball down the court, or to come up with language to use in a confrontation. Learning from failure allows her to move forward, rather than retreat. Encourage Confidence and Passion: By encouraging STEM subjects, you can give young girls something to be confident and passionate about. Work together to show them (both by example and through their own experiences) that they can do anything they set their mind to! Helping young girls value the responsibility they have to bring their own talents to the world - whatever they may be - is the best confidence builder out there.

Science, Naturally and our sister company Platypus Media, are honored that our Bilingual Nurtured and Nuzzled Set and the Bilingual Science and Math Mysteries Collection are sparking an interest in reading for the children of Honduras through a wonderful organization called the Chispa Project! About the Sara Burkes, Executive Director of the Chispa Project Sara Burkes lives in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. She first went to Honduras seven years ago, to visit a friend in the Peace Corps. Inspired by the lives of the people there, she decided to get involved by volunteering in a local school’s 1st - 3rd grade classroom. At the time, she only knew a little Spanish from college and high school, but she ended up learning the language along with the children, working with them daily. Eventually, she founded The Chispa Project. Chispa means "spark" in Spanish, which reflects Sara's belief that access to books can spark a lifelong interest in learning. The Chispa Project is changing lives, not only for the kids of Honduras, but for Sara herself. For her, the reward has been how the community has made her feel: “Honduras has a rough reputation, but as an outsider they have been so hospitable and so welcoming. I think their warmth should be revered, and it sets an example for us as Americans to be gracious and compassionate to the complex story of immigration. I know it is hard for us to understand something like that, but we have not lived their lives or felt their love and desperation that leads to such a decision. Community is key.” The Chispa Project’s Mission Through book donations, teacher development, and international volunteer projects, the Chispa Project works with Honduran educational institutions to spark a passion for learning that will grow and be nurtured within the local communities. Their vision is to create a desire for lifetime learning which enhances the quality of life for all. Over the last several years - solely through volunteer efforts - approximately 14,000 books have been donated to more than 50 different schools! Because most Honduran families live below the poverty line and can’t afford children's books, 60% of Honduran children are below a satisfactory reading level. Literature helps develop creative thinking, gain fluency in their language, and encourages communities to come together. The Chispa Project focuses on putting libraries in rural schools that have low income and resource and a high risk of gang violence. Most of these schools have multiple grade levels learning in one room, leading to a poor teacher/student ratio. This results children teaching themselves most skills, and copying lessons from the board and books. The Chispa Project, Science Naturally, and Platypus Media We are always on the look out for ways we can support early childhood education and literacy efforts all around the globe, and we were thrilled to send the Chispa Project copies of our bilingual books. As Sara tours the country, she brings donated books to more school libraries, spreading literacy and an interest in reading throughout the country. How You Can Help Sponsor a Library: It costs about $6,000.00 to establish a library in Honduras, of which the Chispa Project sponsors $3,000.00. Sponsoring a library is a great way to impact the lives of these children for generations to come. Sara’s goal is to establish 10 new school libraries this year. Donate Books: Book donations are very helpful, and if you would like to donate books here are some general guidelines: The Chispa Project emphasizes Spanish books. Although bilingual literature is helpful for learning dual languages, the Chispa Project is focused on teaching Hondurans their own language first. They seek a variety of fiction and nonfiction books for pre-k to 9th grade at approximately 10-20 books per title. Kids struggle with math and critical thinking skills as much as they do reading—60% in Honduras are below satisfactory levels—so books with mathematical word problems are also great. The Chispa project is grateful for books of all subjects, but they do try to avoid books with the standard blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess, Christmas stories with an abundance of presents, and false historical narratives. All of the financial support for the Chispa Project comes from individual donations. Outside of that, community involvement is what makes the program sustainable. If you would like to donate books or financial assistance, please contact Sara at info@chispaproject.org.

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Science Naturally wants to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the second article in a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites! About Reading Rockets Reading Rockets brings research-based strategies to teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, childcare providers, and anyone else involved in helping a young child become a strong, confident reader. Their goal is to "bring the reading research to life — to spread the word about reading instruction and to present 'what works' in a way that parents and educators can understand and use." Reading Rockets provides hundreds of articles on teaching reading, classroom strategies, in-classroom video, parent tips in 11 languages, video interviews with top children’s book authors, a daily news service, and much more. Free Reading Guides Parents and Educators can access reading guides that are ready to download, print and share, including parent tip sheets in multiple languages and companion guides to their popular PBS series! Literacy and the Sciences There is a strong correlation between the skills that are needed to grow strong readers and writers and the core skills used in science and math. Predicting, understanding cause and effect, understanding sequence, acquiring a rich vocabulary, building background knowledge, and developing the ability to read and write informational text are some of the skills Reading Rockets addresses in the Literacy in the Sciences series. Reading Rockets provides free tip sheets all about literacy in the sciences are written just for parents, available in both English and Spanish. Each tip sheet includes simple activities you can do with your child to build literacy and beginning science skills. Each tip sheet also includes a set of recommended picture books to extend the learning. These tips sheets include: Outdoor Explorations Steps of the Scientific Process STEM Tools at Home Making Predictions Taking Measurements Recording Observations: Journals and Field Notes Recording Observations: Capturing and Sharing Images and many more! Science and Math Books for Children Reading Rockets also has an extensive list of recommended science and math reading books for kids, including: An Anniversary Blast Count It Out Count, Think, and Play with Math How Things Work Numbers, Counting, Measuring and More: Books About Math Take Flight! Science Naturally's Science and Math Books for Kids Bilingual Science and Math Book Set/ Conjunto de libros bilingües is filled with entertaining, literature-based brainteasers that take just one minute to read! These books help kids see science, math, and new languages as approachable and learnable! Put on your Super Sleuthing cap and try solving these engaging and educational challenges! The I Love A Mystery Book Set blurs the line between entertainment and education. Make math and science fun with these literature-based books. Each mystery takes just one minute to read and features real-world scenarios. The brain teasers challenge kids to use critical thinking skills. Perfect for a long car trip or quick errands.

It's Earth Sciences Week! It can be difficult to think about how to teach science to young children, but science is based on curiosity, and when children aim to learn more about the world around them, it's science that holds the clues to a better understanding. Introducing kids to science at a young age will shape their development, teach them to ask questions, make predictions, and experiment with the world around them. These are critical science skills that help our little ones become better learners. Science doesn’t only have to be taught in the classroom, there are many learning opportunities parents can take advantage of to challenge their child's interest. What children learn while they’re young has a significant impact on their interests later in life. Making science fun can be pretty simple, as science is all around us in our everyday lives. Explore, Explore, Explore! Encourage your child to question their surroundings. The earth we live in is jam-packed with science, all you have to do is open your front door! Explore the outdoors and let them interact with their environment. By providing plenty of opportunities for your child to explore the world, you will increase their curiosity and soon everything they come across will become an important science investigation! Children are already hands-on learners, so they will love discovering new things about their world through exploring. Your own backyard is a great place to start! Think like a Scientist Children love exploring things that are new and exciting to them. When they are exploring the world, encourage questions about their findings. Let them design investigations and interpret the information they gathered. Engage them in conversation about their investigation, and give them the chance to communicate and defend their findings. Don’t always answer their questions - let their curious little minds think like a scientist and see if they can come up with an answer. It's not about being correct or incorrect, it's about sparking interest, curiosity, and investigation! Value Questions Our little ones’ wonder is limitless! They love asking questions, and that lets us know that they are thinking about how the world works. Even if you don't have all the answers, you can respond in ways that encourage their scientific thinking. Enjoy discussing the questions your child asks, and encourage them to share their perspective and observations. You don’t always have to try to answer all your child’s questions, but rather respond with your own questions like: “What do you think?” or “I don’t know, but we can find out together!” These can stimulate more thoughts and additional questions from your child. Create Experiments Who doesn’t love hearing “Whoa!” and “Wow!” from their children while they observe something scientifically amazing? You can help spark curiosity by conducting some at-home experiments with everyday objects you have in your home. Ask questions like, “What will sink and what will float?” or “What will happen when I mix soap and water together?” These questions to spark your child’s interest and gets them wondering! You and your little one can create some amazing science experiments that will make you both say "Whoa!" and "Wow"! The 'Beginnings' Collection Books play an important role in a child's life. Time spent with your child snuggled on your lap, reading a book together, is a part of most families days. This is an important way to lay the groundwork for later literacy. If you choose the right books, this will also set the stage for scientific curiosity. It's never to early to start introducing young children to reading and science! Exposure to animals and their environments—more and more frequently, through the pages of a book—is often at the root of a child’s interest in science. Our 'Beginnings' Collection is a fantastic resource for parents to begin conversations about the animal world and how it relates to human nurturing and development. Young Jane Goodall loved to observe the wildlife near her home, a passion that inspired her groundbreaking chimpanzee research. Charles Turner, pioneering entomologist, spent hours reading about ants and other insects in the pages of his father’s books. Rachel Carson began writing stories about squirrels when she was eight. Spark curiosity in a child and watch them develop a lifelong enthusiasm for learning!

Young children’s brains are growing and changing every day, and parents play a crucial role augmenting what they learn in school. This is especially true of preschool aged children, but it also applies as your child grows; after all they only spend about six hours a day in school, and only a portion of that is math! Children are active learners by nature, so it's really a matter of tapping into the natural curiosity kids (and young adults) have about the world around them. Let's face it, though, math can sometimes be a bit dry. By making learning math fun, parents can help cultivate a lifelong interest in STEM in their child! Here are some fun fall math activities you and your child can enjoy together! Candy Corn Counting Who said that counting can’t be fun? And what makes it even more fun? Adding candy corn! This activity helps kids with counting and checking their work. Encouraging kids to slow down and check their work helps them learn independence and confidence in their abilities. Nothing says autumn more than candy corn, and once you and your child are done counting them out, you get to eat them! Directions for this activity. Pumpkin Counting and Measurement Why not add some math into your pumpkin carving this season? This activity combines the fun of picking out and carving a pumpkin with a little math thrown into the mix. In this activity kids learn counting, comparison, and measurement. Before carving the pumpkins, you can measure their size, use the seeds as counting tools, and compare the two pumpkins! With so many different ways to use the pumpkins, kids get the experience of adding math into multiple everyday fun activities! Directions for this activity Leaf Flashcards Is there anything prettier in the fall than the changing color of the leaves? With this next activity you can have fun outdoors with your child, enjoy the changing season, and learn some math as well! Collect fallen colored leaves outside, number them up to whatever limit you want (depending on your child’s age and stage of development), and get counting! There are several games you can play with these leaf flashcards, and if you laminate them they can last a long time! You and your child can practice number patterns, counting, addition and subtraction, and much more with these colorful numbered leaves. Directions on how to make leaf flashcards. Outdoor Acorn Games With the beautiful fall weather coming our way, you and your child are going to want to take advantage of it while you can. Children love collecting acorns during the fall, so you can add this to their math learning by turning it into a great math game! Challenge their counting skills, measurements, and even some Venn Diagram skills as well. These games help create an outdoor classroom that is full of nature and math! Even if the weather turns gloomy, collect your acorns and bring the activities inside for some more fun! Directions for this activity. Do you have any fun fall math activities you do with your children? Share them in the comments below, we'd love to hear them!

For more than 100 years, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has united and supported educators in their efforts to educate and care for American schoolchildren. While you likely know about AFT, you may not be familiar with one of their most valuable resources: Share My Lesson. Share My Lesson is the premier digital platform where educators can collaborate and share standards-aligned learning resources such as lesson plans, classroom strategies and professional development webinars—at no cost. Science, Naturally wants to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the first article of a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites! Share My Lesson Children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning early in life. And, just as with language and literacy, STEM education should start early in order to maximize its benefits and effectiveness. Share My Lesson is a destination for educators who dedicate their time and professional expertise to provide the best education for students everywhere. Share My Lesson members contribute content, share ideas, get educated on the topics that matter, online, 24/7. On Share My Lesson parents and educators can search more than 420,000 FREE lesson plans and activities, including curated collections! Here is what people are saying about Share My Lesson: "[Uploading lessons] is a great, cathartic and productive process, and it has helped me see where I used to be as a teacher and where I am now." ~Teacher "I would love my son's teacher to use this--that's how good it is!" ~ Parent Science, Naturally is pleased to be a a Partner of Share My Lesson, and offer resources through their site, including: Roll of the Dice: Grades 4-8 This activity challenges students to apply their math skills to solve a real-world challenge. Students will practice probability as they help kids just like themselves resolve a familiar sibling dispute: who has to set the table tonight? More mysteries just like this one can be found in One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math. This book is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools through the First Book Marketplace. Not your ordinary math book, these mysteries make math fun! Short literature-based brainteasers are a great way to get kids engaged in math! Double Dealing: Grades 3-7 This activity prompts students to explore the physics of light, mirrors, and perception. Students will experiment using mirrors and their own reflections to solve a mystery introduced in a short, easily relatable brainteaser. This activity encourages participants to use trial and error to interrogate basic physics concepts. More challenges just like this one can be found in One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science. This book is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools through the First Book Marketplace. Not your ordinary science book, these mysteries make science fun! Short literature-based brainteasers are a great way to get kids engaged in science.

Every child is a curious little learner throughout their childhood. They always have questions to ask like “why is the sky blue” or “how do airplanes fly?” and the simple answer these questions is Science. Science teaches children about life and the world around them. Children are active learners and love hands-on activities which is why introducing experiments and learning about scientific processes will only make them eager to learn more. They can use their natural curiosity to explore their world and discover new experiences around them. These discoveries help spark a passion and desire for science that will only continue as they get older. This innate curiosity about the natural world is a wonderful framework to use to talk to kids about breastfeeding, and the loving, nurturing relationship between parents and their children. Babies Nurse and Cuddled and Carried are two new books from Science Naturally that are the perfect way to begin these conversations! Giveaway - Win a Free Copy of Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse! Enter today to win a free copy of both of these amazing books! Simply click on the link below, and fill out the form with your name and email! We will enter your name in a random drawing. The winner will be announced on October 15th, so please submit your entry no later than midnight on October 14, 2018. To enter, please click here! Babies Nurse This collaboration between a children’s librarian and an NBA- player-turned-watercolor-artist introduces the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. Winner of a Parents’ Favorite Products Award, the book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Compelling childhood facts also broaden the reader’s knowledge about each animal. “What a gentle book! It nurtures a child’s empathy for others and opens their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational.” —Dr. Harvey Karp, FAAP, author, The Happiest Baby on the Block The 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. Elementary school librarian, children’s book author, and mother of three, Phoebe Fox wrote Babies Nurse to show children that all mammals provide milk for their babies. Fox sought to emphasize the warmth and beauty of nursing while demonstrating that all mammals share certain approaches to feeding, protecting, and teaching their young. When it came time to find an illustrator for the book, Phoebe asked her father-in-law, Jim Fox, if he would accept the task. Retired from the NBA where he played for the Phoenix Suns, Jim was himself a recipient of plenty of his own mother’s milk and says the benefits are obvious: he is 6’ 10”, healthy, and has produced wonderful kids and grandkids. Cuddled and Carried This award-winning book celebrates the bond between parent and child with gentle text and gorgeous illustrations of animal babies that will delight and educate children. With warm paintings of animal mothers tending to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks, Cuddled and Carried introduces the reader to a variety of animals and their behavior. Written by Dia L. Michels and illustrated by Mike Speiser, the simple text, supplemental back matter, and stunning illustrations will help parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively describe how babies are cared for. The book introduces a range of early science concepts including habitats, family systems, and survival instincts. The book has already won a Purple Dragonfly Award and a Top Choice Award from Baby Maternity Magazine. The accompanying Teacher’s Guide is also an excellent resource for continuing the discussion, available for free download at PlatypusMedia.com. It includes additional content and hands-on activities to develop cognitive skills, introduce early science concepts, and improve literacy. “This book shows that animal families are not so different from human ones,” explains Michels, who is also the author of If My Mom Were A Platypus. “I want children to think about how each species matures, survives, and what their communities look like—whether pride, flock, or family. Showing children this type of attachment in the natural world fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion.” English Nurtured and Nuzzled Book Set Both Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse also come in a two-book set! (The giveaway winner will receive a copy of both books). These two early childhood books from our Beginnings collection are filled with captivating illustrations of animal mothers caring for their babies. These books demonstrate a wide range of habitats and healthy relationships in the natural world. The elegant text and educational back matter will help parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers adopt new ways of introducing children to attachment, breastfeeding, and early science concepts. Both books model the warm, nurturing bond between parent and child, while encouraging curiosity about childhood, nature, and families. "These gentle books beg to be read aloud with a little one in your lap, but they offer more than mere bedtime stories. Designed to encourage a lifelong passion for learning, they also include supplemental information about the animals pictured as well as suggestions for talking with children about the natural world." —Karen Lyon, The Literary Hill Set includes Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse. Click on titles for more information about each book.  ​Free, downloadable Teachers’ Guides are available to further explore the content in each book.

On September 20th, 1633 over 385 years ago Galileo Galilei was tried before the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for teaching that the Earth orbits the Sun. Galileo was an Italian philosopher and astronomer who created the theory of inertia and contributed to the theories of motions. Galileo was imprisoned for his claims of the earth revolving around the sun but was later released when he recanted them. After his release it was often said that if you listened closely you could hear him mutter "E pur si muove" which means in English "And yet it does move". Galileo’s claims all those years ago helped spark a new beginning of a fundamental change in the study of science. What is Scientific Truth? The scientific truth is portrayed as finding information that can be proven as "accurate" or "reliable" knowledge. The value of science is understanding how the natural world actually works. There other types of “truths” in the world like spiritual and cultural truths that have different beliefs and values. Regardless of a person’s point of view when it comes to the topic of “truth” it is notable to remember that they do not have to reject other sources of meaning. There are many people who believe in the importance of scientific truth as well as in spiritual or cultural truths. Francis Collins is a renowned biologist and former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute who has spoken out about both his spiritual beliefs and his scientific beliefs. Even some religious organizations have been outspoken about science as well, the Vatican for one has astronomy conferences and even owns its own observatory. No matter the person’s belief or view on the topic the prominence of scientific truth is one that can help us comprehend how the world works around us. The Important of Early Science Education Teachers and parents have tremendous influence on shaping the scientific thoughts and opinions of young children. According to research, most children have formed an opinion (whether it's good or bad) about science by the time they reach the age of 7. Elementary level childhood educators have more impact and influence on a child’s potential to seek out a career in science or engineering. Waiting until a child is entering middle school or high school is too late. One of the attributes of a skilled science teacher, especially with younger children, is to watch how he or she uses fun and engaging science demonstrations and experiments to grab the students’ attention and stimulate their natural curiosity. Great science teachers use demonstrations in such a way that they invariably precipitate the question, “How did you do that?" Parents' Role in Early Science Education Parents don’t need to have a degree in chemistry to spark scientific interest in their children. Parents can model scientific curiosity by making observations about the world around us, asking questions, and trying to explain why things are the way they are. Simply by being curious, observing and asking how things work, you can peek a child’s natural curiosity and create a desire to want to learn more. Here are some ways to incorporate science into your day-to-day lives: Ask a lot of “why” questions. Even if you don’t know the answer, asking 'why' and exploring answers together with your child fosters curiosity in your children. This helps children overcome the fear of 'not-knowing', and encourages them to ask questions and observe the world around them. Challenge your child to “prove it!” Scientists don't just arrive at shot-in-the-dark answers, but must prove what they believe to be true using good scientific reasoning. Whether or not your child comes up with the correct answer to a problem, play the devil’s advocate and challenge them to “prove it.” Questions like, “How do you know that?” help to develop critical thinking skills and help the child to analyze his or her own reasoning. Show how science relates to the real world. Try to relate science to real-life situations, such as understanding how recycling helps the environment, why leaves turn colors in the fall, how rain is created, etc. Help your child understand the process is as important as the 'truth': Back to Galileo - if he had believed without question the fact that the earth revolves around the sun, he would never have discovered the theories of inertia and motion! Teaching your child to challenge and question the things they are taught, at least to discover not just that things are true but why they are true, is the very essence of scientific curiosity. Science Naturally's 'Beginnings' Collection Science Naturally's 'Beginnings' Collection offers stunningly illustrated, information-packed titles to introduce youngsters to the wonderful world of animals, and, by extension, to themselves. They encourage children to make real-world connections that sharpen their analytical skills and give them a head start in STEM. Reading these titles together inspires children to think about how each species matures, what they need to survive, and what their communities look like—whether pride, flock, or family. More than a simple scientific introduction, these animal stories are an instance and an analogy of caring love. Showing children attachment in the natural world fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion in both their interpersonal and interspecies interactions. An easy choice for the home, library, or classroom, our Beginnings collection has something to spark or sustain budding curiosity in any child. You can find the 'Beginnings' collection on Science Naturally's sister company Platypus Media's website.

American culture is more diverse than ever. Technology allows us to discover people and cultures that were previously out of reach, and international travel is at an all-time high. Parents interested in raising global citizens, who want to prepare their children for an increasingly global job market, and who value multi-lingualism, are committed to raising kids who speak more than one language—and they are doing their kids a favor! Educational Advantages of Being Bilingual Studies show that students in dual language education programs score higher in Reading and Math than their monolingual counterparts. Bilingual kids are better at multi-tasking and memorization, because the part of the brain that processes language also controls their memory storage and attention span. Other benefits include higher self-esteem and an ability to better relate to, and empathize with, others. Experts agree that early exposure to multiple languages has tremendous advantages. Having a solid foundation before kids enter grade school is the best way to learn a language and retain it. Karen Rivera Geating, a Spanish language consultant in Washington D.C., explains, “It’s easier to stay interested in a language you grew up with. Starting young is the key.” Cultural Importance of Raising Bilingual Children As global cultures and languages are gaining significance for all U.S. citizens, multi-lingualism is increasingly important. Whether you are fluent in Spanish, English, or any other combination of languages, it has now become possible—and valuable—to expose your children to another language from an early age. With so many benefits to your children’s development and future job opportunities, why not raise them bilingual? Nurtured and Nuzzled Bilingual Bookset Bilingual early childhood books belong on your bookshelf! This is the easiest way to introduce new vocabulary in both languages to your children. Being talked and read to—in any language—builds important pre-literacy skills. Reading together is always good for your bond with your child, plus, bilingual books allow parents who aren't fluent in English to share an enriching reading experience with their little one. Our "Nurtured and Nuzzled Bilingual Bookset" of two bilingual paperback picture books is a great way to start growing your bilingual book collection. Celebrate the bond between parent and child in the animal kingdom while beginning to explore early science concepts. This gentle introduction to the wonderful world of animals is sure to spark curiosity in any child! Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado: Babies—whether in snowy dens, warm lagoons, cozy nests, or living rooms—are carried and cuddled, nurtured and nuzzled. Stunning images and gentle verse will capture the curiosity of even the youngest readers as they see how animal mothers tend to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks. Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés: This beautiful collaboration between a children’s librarian and an NBA- player-turned-watercolor-artist introduces the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. Winner of a Parents’ Favorite Products Award, the book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical, bilingual text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. More Great Bilingual Resources Children’s books, home education programs, and television shows that use more than one language can be valuable tools for parents. Here are some places you can find great resources for raising bilingual children: ▪ ¡Colorín Colorado! ▪ De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children ▪ Multilingual Children’s Association ▪ Multilingual Parent