For centuries, falling water has been used in parts of the world to create energy to run grinding stones at mills and irrigation systems for crops. This interesting book shows how the use of this “clean” form of energy, called hydroelectricity, is being expanded to help us build a more sustainable future. Discover how other forms of water-based energy, such as energy from ocean waves and tides, are being harnessed and used to help create electricity to power our homes, offices, and factories.
What happens when you flip a light switch or press the power button on the TV? Electricity flows to the device and it turns on. Most of us use electrical gadgets all day, every day, without thinking about it. This book follows the journey from source to resource of solar power, one of the most exciting forms of renewable energy today. Readers will learn how electricity is made and collected directly from the sun and how it reaches us to power our modern world. Other sources of energy are also examined, as well as how grids work to move electricity across land and sea, and how it is fed into our homes. Real-world examples look at solar farms, solar furnaces, solar towers, and even solar transportation. With the world's nonrenewable resources such as oil running out, the advantages and disadvantages of solar power as a renewable alternative are discussed.
This visually exciting book takes a unique look at our globe from the perspective of the wildlife and geology of Earth. Using an innovative design, maps are populated by infographics, graphs, and icons to represent information and statistics about a subject in a very visual way. This aids readers in comparing and contrasting the same subjects in different parts of the world. Each spread explores one subject in-depth, such as which areas in the world are most affected by natural disasters, where most endangered species live, how climate change is affecting our planet, and how effectively deforestation is being balanced out by reforestation around the world.
The great outdoors is the perfect "Maker" space for exploring possibilities for creativity, problem solving, and innovation. From designing devices to study the natural world to figuring out ways to find food or water outside, this refreshing title inspires readers to come up with Maker projects of their own in their back yards or communities. "Makers and Shakers" sidebars introduce important innovators and their creations to inspire readers to be environmentally aware and involved in the natural world.
Floods are natural disasters that can be brought on by severe weather. In this informative title readers will learn about what causes flooding, different types of floods, where they most often occur, flood warnings and alerts, and what we can do before, during, and after floods occur to stay safe.
Dark clouds fill the sky, rain falls hard, lightning flashes, and thunder booms - it's a thunderstorm! In this interesting title young readers will learn thunderstorm basics, including how, when, and where thunderstorms occur, how scientists predict thunderstorms and issue severe weather warnings, and how to prepare for and stay safe before, during, and after a thunderstorm occurs.
What is tornado alley and where in the world is it? Why are tornados called “twisters”? This dynamic title answers these questions and more as readers discover what tornadoes look like, how, when, and where they most often form, how scientists predict and track them, and the safety steps they can take before, during, and after a tornado touches down.
This informative book shows young readers how and why long periods of hot weather occur, where and when heat waves happen most often, and how extreme heat can be dangerous to people and animals. Readers will also learn about water shortages, droughts, and fire hazards, the equipment that meteorologists use to forecast heat waves, and techniques to stay safe during times of extreme heat.
Vibrant, full-color photographs and accessible text help introduce young readers to hurricanes. Readers will learn how warm water and wind combine to form these powerful storms, which parts of the world are most affected and when, and what steps to take to prepare for these severe weather events.
Blizzards bring blowing snow, bitter temperatures, and big snow drifts! This cool title introduces young readers to blizzard basics, including how, when, and where blizzards most often occur, how scientists predict blizzards and issue warnings, and what readers can do before, during, and after a blizzard to stay safe.
Human activity often leaves a trail of harmful carbon behind that directly impacts our planet. This informative book describes how every individual produces a “carbon footprint” by using energy made by burning fossil fuels and by creating waste from packaging that gets thrown away. Find out how to measure your own carbon footprint and see what effect you are having on Earth. Learn about new developments being made to reduce the amount of carbon we create and what steps you can take to make your own "footprint" smaller.
This inspiring book describes how people are becoming more aware of the effect of their daily activities on the planet. Find out how more and more people are eating and living "green" by buying food grown locally, eating food that is organic, and even growing their own food. Many people are also building eco-friendly homes and choosing to live “off the grid,” which means they are creating their own, sustainable forms of energy instead of getting electricity from a power station. Discover how eating and living green is becoming more and more possible, and why this way of living could help build a sustainable future for the next generation.
Fun pictograms and infographics about the oceans make learning about math topics easy and fun. In this book, readers go on a mission deep underwater and use their mathematical skills while learning about scuba diving and submarines, and exploring life in coral reefs, deep ocean waters, and underwater volcanoes. Math puzzles and exercises help children build confidence in their math skills.
From the sunlit-filled canopy to the shaded forest floor, readers will discover how a rainforest tree provides shelter, water, food, and other essential resources to meet the needs of a variety of living things.
Content-rich photographs and accessible text combine to guide readers as they discover the often overlooked ecosystems found outside their own back doors! Children will be fascinated to learn more about the animals, insects, and plants they often take for granted, including squirrels, skunks, bees, and dandelions.
Did you know that a Saguaro cactus can live for more than 200 years and grow as tall as 50 feet (15 meters)? Readers will discover how these desert giants are used for shelter by animals such as woodpeckers and owls, and provide food for animals such as bats and other small mammals. This captivating title provides a close-up look at the plants and animals that live in and around the Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert.
One of the biggest adaptations made by some animals is to live and work together as a group to ensure their survival. This intriguing book shows how social animals communicate and interact with members of their own species. Elephants, dolphins and orcas, monkeys, apes, lions, and wolves, educate their young, work together to find food, and take care of their group members. Smaller animals that work together in microsocieties include termites, ants, bees, and wasps. Students will have fun comparing their own social groups to those found in nature. Fascinating photographs accompany thought-provoking questions and activities.
From croaking frogs and quacking ducks to floating lily pads and buzzing dragonflies, ponds are bursting with life. Dynamic photographs and descriptive text help budding young scientists discover the plants and animals that live in these freshwater ecosystems.
Tide pools form from water left on rocky shores when the tide withdraws. From seaweed and sea snails to shore crabs and seabirds, readers will discover some of the plants and animals that live in and around these ever-changing ecosystems.
Vibrant photographs and descriptive text guide readers on an underwater journey through coastal waters to explore coral reefs. Home to more than one million kinds of plants, fish, and other ocean life, readers will discover how living things meet their needs for shelter, food, and more in this dynamic ecosystem.
For nearly two decades, Dian Fossey immersed herself in the study of mountain gorillas in Africa. She became known as a highly respected primatologist - a scientist who studies apes and other primates - and a fiercely devoted champion of their safety and preservation. Fossey had made powerful enemies because of her opposition to the gorilla-related tourism industry and her knowledge of animal trafficking among members of the government. In 1985, she was found murdered in her cabin in Rwanda. The case remains unsolved to this day, but her intense love for this endangered species helped create a legacy that survives in the work of others to this day.
Wild animals are facing huge challenges in the natural world today. Many are endangered - some critically. This eye-opening book shows how animals are being threatened by habitat loss, climate change, non-native species taking over their habitats, pollution, over-fishing, poaching, collisions with cars and boats, and human diseases. Many recovery efforts are in progress to bring back the populations of some nearly extinct animals and to reintroduce some captive ones to their natural habitats. Readers will learn how scientists are working to save blue iguanas in the Cayman Islands, black-footed ferrets in the Canadian prairies, penguins and albatross in Patagonia, and great apes in Africa. This engaging book also encourages students to compare their life challenges to those of animals in the wild.
This fascinating book, illustrated with colorful photographs, makes the topic of symbiosis easy and fun. It looks at the positive, negative, and neutral effects that result when different kinds of animals interact with each other. Symbiotic relationships highlighted include birds and fish that clean parasites off other animals, bacteria that help keep animals and people healthy, mosquitoes that pass diseases such as malaria, predators that hunt prey, and scavengers that help clean the earth. Other examples of symbiotic relationships include several kinds of animals. Students are asked to illustrate symbiosis in human relationships that are similar to those found in nature.
Foxes, rabbits, mongooses, rats, starlings, turtles, Burmese pythons, and Asian carp are just a few of the invasive animals introduced by people into countries and ecosystems to which they do not belong. This important book describes how these animals are destroying habitats and endangering the lives of native animals, some of which have been brought close to extinction. Students will learn how some arrived accidentally on boats, while others were brought in by people, to be used either as a form of pest control on farms, for hunting or hobbies, or as pets that sometimes get abandoned in the wild by owners. Many native animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, and coyotes have also become invaders in cities, back yards, and homes. Students can research invasive species in their areas and help find ways to stop these wild invaders from taking over the natural habitat.
Students will love learning about the way of life of polar bears and the challenges they face as babies and adults. An exciting narrative format supported by fun facts, questions, and activities, tells the story of two polar bear cubs born in a den dug by their mother deep under the winter snow of the Arctic. The cubs snuggle up to their mother to drink her milk and keep warm. In spring, the mother and cubs emerge from the den and face the challenges of moving onto sea ice, where the hungry mother hunts for seals to eat. The cubs are given hunting lessons and have their first taste of seal. They ride on their mother’s back in the ocean, wrestle and play, and explore their cold habitat. Readers will love these majestic animals and learn to write their own stories about them.
