Common core state standards

Science Snippet: Wild & Kooky Critters

Author taking photos on Playa Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island

The Galapagos Islands are home to such bizarre beasts that they seem to have escaped from a Pixar movie. On a recent trip to this volcanic archipelago, my husband and I walked and snorkeled among its quirky creatures, who were unfazed and unflustered by our curiosity . . . and our cameras.

Here’s a selection of some of the dazzling characters we encountered.

Blue-footed Booby and Napping Nestilings

Male Great Frigatebird Displaying Gular Sac to Attract a Mate

Nazca Boobies Bill Clacking Mating Ritual — Nazca Boobies Performing Bill Clacking Mating Ritual

Flycatcher Checking Out Concave Lens as Possible Nesting Cavity

A Curious Sea Lion Investigates Our Guide

Fishing Flamingo — A Flaming Orange Flamingo

When it comes to the Galapagos inhabitants, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction!
See how YOU do in detecting the truth on the quiz below.
Directions:
1. Select the letter of each true statement below.
2. Put the letters (in order) into the blanks.
3. The completed word is the animal whom the islands are named after.
(This animal’s Spanish name is “galapagos.”)
4. Click on the link at the bottom to check your answer.

____ O _ T I ____

1. RED-FOOTED BOOBY

I catch fish by plunging head-first into the water. For protection I

Always wear a helmet. <S>

Have air sacs in my skull to soften the blow. <T>

2. MARINE IGUANA

Marine Iguana Looking Like Movie Monster, Godzilla — Marine Iguana: A Godzilla Look-alike

When I build up too much salt in my body from snacking on seaweed, I

Switch to a salt-free diet. <Q>

Snort clouds of salt spray from my nostrils. <R>

3. GIANT TORTOISE

Galapagos Giant Tortoise — Galapagos Tortoise Mid-Meal

I live a long life. So I may have been plodding along when

The first Hersey bars were invented (1900). <O>

Stegosaurus feasted on ferns. <P>

4. SEA LION

For excitement, I

Play tag with the sharks. <R>

Body surf on the waves. <S>

5. SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB

If someone bothers me I

Make like a water pistol and squirt them. <E>

Get crabby and put out a DO NOT DISTURB sign. <F>

PUZZLE ANSWER

To see more Galpagos photos you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

Read or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

October 25, 2015 0

Science Snippet: Elephantheads & Horsetails

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_123 — A red and gold firecracker “pops” amidst its green foliage.

As blue hydrangea blooms are making way for golden oak leaves, I wanted to share another “look-alike” plant post with you. Previous Post.

As before, six “look-alike” plants are pictured below. After studying their shapes and colors, try to guess their names. Then click on the photos for the answers–and for information about these intriguing plants.

NAMES

Trumpet Creeper Elephanthead

Horsetails Pitcher Plant

Fairy Duster Monkshood

Here are two other fun activities:

Write a fairy tale that explains one interesting fact about a “look-alike” plant.
For Example:
Perhaps the trumpet creeper was once a small girl who annoyed a wicked witch. Every morning she would wake the witch up by blowing her horn, so the witch turned her into a trumpet creeper flower. The spell can be reversed if a hummingbird comes and drinks from her blossom. (Hummingbirds are attracted to trumpet creepers because of their red color.)
Make up your own “look-alike” flower.
Name it after one of the following:
favorite dessert, favorite pet, or favorite sport
Draw a picture.
Label the different plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers.

To see more exquisite flowers you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

Read or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

September 9, 2015 0

Science Snippet: Silver Swords and Fairy Slippers

If you had a silver sword and a fairy slipper, what would you do with them? They sound like magical objects in a fairy tale. But you could plant them in your garden . . . because they are both flowers.

Indian blanket, Indian Blanketflower, Sundance, Firewheel, Gaill — Firewheel, Gaillardia pulchella

Six of these “look-alike” plants are pictured below. After studying their shapes and colors, try to guess their names. Then click on the photos for the answers–and for information about these interesting plants.

NAMES

Shrimp Plant Rattlesnake Grass

Silver Sword Bleeding Heart

Paintbrush Fairy Slipper

Here are two other fun activities:

1. Chose one or two of the plants above and write a fairy tale about magical “look-alikes.”
2. Make up your own “look-alike” flower. Draw it and name it. Then tell where it lives and give three interesting facts about it.

To see more exquisite flowers you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

Read or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

July 28, 2015 0

Student Nonfiction Websites

Here’s an innovative way to delve into nonfiction writing. Have your students create their own websites. After my visit to a third grade class, the inventive teacher, Mrs. Braham did just that.

Her students drew on their own experiences, choosing topics from sewing to soccer to computers to cats. Then, with the technical support of their media specialist, Mr. Pirollo, the children got going on their websites. Their results are showcased on http://weebly.com .

I was amazed at the great work of Mrs. Braham’s students! They honed their nonfiction writing techniques, exercised their creativity, and as Mrs. Braham says, learned how to integrate technology into the curriculum.

Congratulations, children! Thank you for sharing your work! Below is a brief note for each of you. Hope you have lots of reading and writing time this summer.

Zachary: Thank you for teaching me about Chromebooks.
Vincent: Hope you and your Dad have fun wrestling this summer.
Katie: I love your video about the homeless dog who was rescued.
Maeve: Excellent advice about not overfeeding and not tapping the fish tank–common mistakes.

Nadia: Great job: narrative opening, lots of cat information, fun captions, and adorable videos.
Caroline: Hope you and your “gaga” have fun “sewing with compassion” this summer.
Richard: What an exciting opening to your homepage. I see you’re a soccer whiz.
Lauren: I loved the section about emotions and the picture of the retrievers hugging.

Maeve: Great simile for explaining how to hold the violin bow. Have fun practicing this summer.
Joseph: Thanks for teaching me about all those wrestling moves. But I will take your advice and not try them at home.
Jonathan: I’m glad you didn’t give up after your first year playing basketball. Keep having fun.
Elizabeth: Great job with the Do’s and Don’ts of cat care.
Ismael: Now I know why dogs sniff so much. Have fun with your two pups this summer.
Hayden: You created an interesting introduction, with your narrative and steam train video.

Jupiter Locomotive, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Promontory Summit, Utah

Rebecca: I loved your photos of the snow monkeys hugging and the baby eating the banana.
Hawa: Wow! After reading about hero dogs I was “blown away.”
Morgan: I hope you keep “doing your best” practicing gymnastics and writing stories.
Paul: That was a hilarious video of the black lab chasing the bubbles.
Vanessa: Excellent job explaining about gymnastic clothing and equipment.
Christopher: Great simile–comparing the wrestler, Triple H, to a bulldozer.

Thanks again, children and Mrs. Braham. Maybe one day I will be reading your books!

You can view my school program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

View or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

June 12, 2015 0

“Exciting Writing” with Mrs. Cimini’s Class

National Poetry Month is a perfect time to highlight some of the lyrical and lively writing that Mrs. Cimini’s fourth grade students have created. After attending my “Exciting Writing” program, children practiced techniques provided in my follow-up materials to “make music” and “paint pictures.” These techniques apply not only to poetry, but also to prose. ( For related activities, see Teacher Pages: Making Music with Alliteration and Invigorating Vocabulary. )

Below are some the the wonderful writing samples that Mrs. Cimini sent me.

Students “made music” by generating phrases using alliteration:

Wreck it Ralph
Magnificent Minecraft
Noisy Nancy
big band
puny pig
loud lunchroom
chattering children
stubborn staples
naked noodles

Then they combined phrases to make sentences:

The Noisy nerd threw pumpkin pie at the Big Bad Wolf.
My mom makes marvelous meals.
The Wicked Witch had a puny pig and some chocolate chips.
The Big Bad Wolf played Magnificent Minecraft and then went out for french fries.

Children “painted pictures” by using vivid verbs.

The loud, fat Chihuahua trudged over to me.
The wide horse trotted to his hay and gobbled it down.
The huge pet devoured dinner.
I crunched my food.
The plump Chihuahua nuzzled the other dog to get up.

Notice the descriptive adjectives they used too:
loud, fat, wide, huge, and plump

Another way students “painted pictures” was by creating clever similes:

The cat was as sneaky as a shadow.
The man’s belch was as loud as a BOMB!!!
The kitten is as cute as a toy.

Thank you to Mrs. Cimini and her students! To see more of the exciting things they are up to, visit their classroom blog.

You can view my school program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

View or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

April 13, 2015 0

Science Snippet: The Perfect Pizza

Ahhh! Picture the perfect pizza slice: steamy and sizzling, with stretchy cheese dripping from the edges as you lift it from the pan. Its savory scent entices you, as your mouth waters to welcome that first bite.

I LOVE pizza. (Bet you do too!) So I was intrigued when Scholastic asked me to report on the science behind pizza cheese for March’e SuperScience.

My research brought me to materials engineer Bryony James, who is investigating the properties of pizza cheese. In her lab, at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, James has eight pizzas simmering. Each is topped with a different cheese. She wanted to find out what physical properties give pizza cheese those golden patches of toasty bubbles.

When James’s results were in, they explained why mozzarella is the pizza cheese champion. Mozzarella has just the right amounts of moisture, oil, and stretchiness to create that bubbly top that appeals to pizza lovers.

Here’s how the mouth-watering magic happens. When the pizza heats up, moisture evaporates to form steam. The steam expands the stretchy mozzarella to form bubbles. As the bubbles grow, oil slides off, allowing the bubbles to brown.

Scientists like James have been studying pizza cheese for more than a century, because cheese makers are always seeking out improved varieties. For example, when U.S. cheese makers shipped mozzarella across the country, it spoiled. So scientists engineered a drier mozzarella that stays fresh longer. When faster pizza ovens were invented in the ’80s, cheese needed to be tweaked so it wouldn’t melt quickly and burn. Today, scientists are experimenting with making pizza cheese with less fat and sodium. Their challenge: make a healthier pizza that also tastes good.

If you want more historical information to chew on, read The Power of Pizza.

Here’s a question to whet your appetite:

Cultural historians believe pizza became popular in the United States after World War II because:

1. American G.I.s grew to like it while serving in Italy.
2. It was easy to eat in front of the newly invented TV.
3. Lots of cars enabled take-out, delivery, and road food.
4. 1, 2, and 3

See paragraph nine for the answer.

Still hungry for more cheese information? Click on James’s picture above to watch a video of her describing her experiments and/or read the NPR story.

You can view my school program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

View or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

March 23, 2015 0

Author Program/School Visit Video

Previewing a program before an author visits is not always possible. In order to give teachers and parents a better idea of my programs, I am adding a short movie to this blog. So break out the popcorn and hope to see you soon!

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

You can view or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

December 17, 2014 0

Science Snippet: Gotcha!

Prowling predators is the subject of the story I wrote for this month’s SuperScience magazine. [SuperScience]

Contrary to what you may see in horror films, all predators are not jagged-jawed giants like sharks, grizzlies, or crocodiles.

Predators come in all sizes, shapes, and species.
And they use a variety of tactics to bag their lunch.
Some trick, some trap, some shoot, and some smash.

Want to test your prowess at identifying predators?
Then take the quiz below.

For answers and intriguing videos, click on the link beneath each question.
Good luck nabbing the correct answers!

SPIDERS

Which spider clutches its web in its legs and flings it over prey?
1. Trapdoor Spider
2. Net-casting Spider
3. Tarantula
ANSWER and VIDEO

CRUSTACEANS

Which crustacean punches through its prey’s shell with club-shaped claws?
1. Spiny Lobster
2. Red King Crab
3. Mantis Shrimp
ANSWER and VIDEO

FISH

Which fish shoots down insects by spitting at them like a water pistol?
1. Archerfish
2. Airbreathing Catfish
3. Armored Searobin
ANSWER and VIDEO

REPTILES

Which reptile launches its sticky tongue like a slingshot at insects, lizards, and even small birds?
1. Crocodile
2. Komodo Dragon
3. Chameleon
ANSWER and VIDEO

BIRDS

Which bird outwits fish by forming its wings into an umbrella? This fools prey into thinking the shadow is cast by a protective log or stone.
1. Black Heron
2. Pelican
3. Flamingo
ANSWER and VIDEO

Hope you had fun and learned a lot!

Below is a link to a short author visit video:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

You can view or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE
See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

December 16, 2014 0

Delightful Day at Dennett

When I walked through the doors of the Dennett Elementary School for an author visit, my first sight was a colorful display case filled with my photographs and books. I immediately felt welcome.

The Librarian, Geri O’Reilly, showed me the creative response projects her students had written after viewing the photos on my blog.What a clever way to to stimulate her students’ imaginations and to prepare them for the program.

Working with the Dennett School community was fun and inspiring, as we delved into nonfiction, writing, and science. Thank you to the teachers, custodian, principal, and students who gave me the gift of a delightful day!

You can view or download my school program brochure at:
AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS
See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

October 29, 2014 0

Judith Jango-Cohen

Nonfiction Author and Photographer

Category

Science Snippet: Wild & Kooky Critters

____ O _ T I ____

PUZZLE ANSWER

Science Snippet: Elephantheads & Horsetails

Science Snippet: Silver Swords and Fairy Slippers

Student Nonfiction Websites

“Exciting Writing” with Mrs. Cimini’s Class

Science Snippet: The Perfect Pizza

Author Program/School Visit Video

Science Snippet: Gotcha!

Delightful Day at Dennett

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