For G1-3 students

“What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases”  by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld 

Everything on Earth is made of either a solid, liquid or gas. This picture book breaks down the three states of matter in a simplified way, providing real-life examples that many children encounter in their daily lives. It also explains the different states of water—ice, liquid, and vapor—through observation.
Here is a quiz for you: What state are the following objects in? Are they a solid, liquid, or gas?  Bricks, milk, wind, clay, the smell of perfume, and water vapor from a boiling pot. The answer is right here in this book!

 

”Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet” by Nanette Heffernan 

Once every year, on the closest Saturday to the spring equinox in March, people from all around the globe will turn off their lights at 8 P.M for an hour to show their commitment towards Earth in an event called “Earth Hour”. Since it began in Australia in 2007, it has become an international event hosted by the World Wildlife Fund. Starting from the island nations in the South Pacific near the international date line, countries participate in succession, turning off their lights in a global relay. It features landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, The Great Wall of China, The Eiffel Tower, The Statue of Liberty, and the Tokyo Tower. The Earth Hour event prompts us to reflect on how we can save electricity in our daily lives. The Earth Hour webpage will be featured at the end of the newsletter.

 

“Dreams of Plants and Trees: The Story of Tomitaro Makino" by Yuji Tamoto

Tomitaro Makino, the subject of NHK’s Drama Serial “Ranman”, is considered to be the father of Japanese botany. He dropped out of elementary school but pursued the study of plants on his own to create the first plant encyclopedia in Japan. He had a passion for plants and this picture book biography depicts the life he led, communicating his love towards them. Here are some quotes from him reflecting his approach towards studying plants:

“Observe as many plants as possible, and acquire knowledge by reading many books.” 
“Draw accurate diagrams and descriptions that are worthy of our findings.” 
“Find people with whom you can study plants with, regardless of occupation, gender or age.“

Driven by his fascination with plants, he kept learning and researching about his beloved subject. This embodies the true essence of inquiry learning.