Science: Grades 1 to 5

Buzz Buzz Buzz. 1st English language ed. (Print-Fiction). Uribe, Veronica and Calderon, Gloria. Groundwood Books (GDS), 2001. unp. ISBN 0-88899-430-3 ($15.95 hdc.).

(CAN) Young children will readily identify with this story about a brother and sister who can not get to sleep because of a pesky mosquito. When hiding under the covers and under the bed does not protect them from the annoying insect, they jump out of the bedroom window and into the neighbouring Venezuelan jungle. There they beg for assistance from animals they meet along the way-a monkey, an alligator and a snake. Observant children will notice that each jungle animal the children encounter has a toy counterpart in their bedroom. Woodcut prints help to illustrate this nighttime adventure.
Suggested Use: SCI 1 - Senses
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Changes (Print-Fiction). Condon, Penny. Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies (LRDC), 2000. unp. Order no. 18162 ($7.50 pbk.).

(I/M, SK) Traditional knowledge is explored and celebrated in this delightful story. Kona, a Métis child, undergoes a personal journey by learning that the changing seasons closely interact with her emotions. The Gathering Spirit who teaches her about accepting change and celebrating the richness of life's emotions guides her along the way. Changes offers young readers vibrant and colourful depictions that are respectful, imaginative and inviting. The viewing process will be enhanced through the use of this tale.

Please note that this book is also available in CD-ROM format (see the following annotation).
Suggested Use: SCI 2 - Weather
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Changes: The Turtle's Teachings (CD-ROM). Condon, Penny, et al. Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies (GDI), 2001. No order number is required. ($15.00).

(I/M, SK) This project was designed to help children read along with the book Changes (see the previous annotation) in Mischif and English. The story comes to life as sound effects, music and narrators tell about the Gathering Spirit's teachings while Kona, a young Métis child goes on a journey through changing seasons and changing emotions.
Suggested Use: SCI 2 - Weather
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Clementine of Grasslands Park (Print-Non-Fiction). Carignan, Odette and Sotropa, Vic. Les Editions de la Nouvelle Plume (LEN), 2000. unp. ISBN 2-921385-33-3 ($14.95 hdc.).

(SK) Through Clementine, the eccentric rattlesnake, this amusing title reveals information about the history, environment and inhabitants of Grasslands National Park. The appealing watercolours by Victor Sotropa add interest to the story. A map of Saskatchewan that indicates the location of the park is included.
Suggested Use: SCI 2 - Habitats; SCI 3 - Animals


Cloud Dance (Print-Fiction). Locker, Thomas. Harcourt, Inc. (RAI), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-15-202231-7 ($25.50 hdc.).

A lyrical text accompanies paintings of clouds of many shapes and sizes as they drift and dance across the sky. Cloud Dance reveals the natural beauty of clouds in every season as it skillfully blends fiction, science and art. An informative section at the book's end entitled "About Clouds" links the beauty of the sky to science. This notable children's book could be used in visual art to inspire students to paint their own interpretations of clouds and would be a welcome addition to any library collection.
Suggested Use: SCI 1 - The Sky; SCI 2 - Weather
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Arts Education: Grades 6 to 8; Arts Education: Grade 9; English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Crab Moon. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Horowitz, Ruth and Kiesler, Kate, illus. Candlewick Press (GDS), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-7636-0709-6 ($21.99 hdc.).

Ecology, environmentalism and respect for all creatures are interwoven in this story. Daniel's family rents a cottage at the beach for the first full moon in June, and that night Daniel's mother wakes him to watch horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on the shore as they have been doing for centuries. The next day, the crabs are gone, but Daniel finds one turned upside down and immobile. He rights her, and watches her scuttle back to the sea. Lyrical language and illustrations in oil reflect the awe of the ancient pattern of spawning of crabs. Notes at the back of the book give children more facts about horseshoe crabs.
Suggested Use: SCI 2 - Habitats; SCI 3 - Animals
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


A Crack in the Pavement: Digging In (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 2000. 19 min. Order no. C9100 025 ($34.95).

(CAN) This engaging program from the two-part A Crack in the Pavement Series follows young students from Toronto's Jesse Ketchum Public School as they take steps towards the greening of their schoolyard. Along the way, they receive advice and encouragement from children across Canada. They network with Pauline Public School where students raised $10,000, Broadacres School where a family of wild ducks found a home in their pond, and Queen Mary School where the students' best advice is to "get help from your parents and teachers to make your garden happen!"

A brief teacher's guide is included on the video jacket.

This program is closed-captioned for viewers with hearing disabilities.
Suggested Use: SCI 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level


A Crack in the Pavement: Growing Dreams (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 2000. 20 min. Order no. C9100 024 ($34.95).

(CAN) This upbeat program from the two-part A Crack in the Pavement Series offers an overview of young students' experiences with school ground greening. It shows what children have done to transform bare pavement into very attractive schoolyards: growing trees for shade, flowers for butterflies, vegetables for a food bank; building a greenhouse, a rooftop garden and a courtyard pond.

A brief teacher's guide is included on the video jacket.

This program is closed-captioned for viewers with hearing disabilities.
Suggested Use: SCI 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level


Crickwing (Print-Fiction). Cannon, Janell. Harcourt, Inc. (RAI), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-15-201790-9 ($25.50 hdc.).

An artistic cockroach with a crooked wing and a flair for creating sculptures out of food becomes a bit of a bully when rainforest predators steal his art. He takes out his anger on the busy, successful leaf-cutter ants who eventually capture him, intending to offer him to the voracious army ants. When his captors take pity on him at the last moment, Crickwing repays their kindness by scaring off the army ants with his best sculpture ever-a giant green anteater made of leaves. The acrylic and Prismacolour-pencil art work is magnificent and magnifies the actions of the tiny insects that live under the rainforest canopy. This gripping story of friendship will enchant young readers. The author concludes the book with "Cockroach Notes" and "Ant Notes."
Suggested Use: SCI 3 - Animals
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Dory Story (Print-Fiction). Pallotta, Jerry and Biedrzycki, David, illus. Charlesbridge Publishing (MON), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-88106-075-5 ($25.95 hdc.).

Danny disobeys his parents' warnings to never go out in the boat alone, and he rows out to the peaceful bay to learn more about ocean life. An account of the aquatic food web follows, as Danny observes everything from plankton to killer whales. A tuna capsizes the dory, and the boy heroically swims though the ravenous sea. It is not until he reaches safety that the narrative is interrupted by his mother's voice. The last spread shows him safe and sound in a bubble bath with toy dory and fish in hand. The striking art contributes to the book's strength. This book captures the sense of adventure, awe and danger that the ocean inspires while presenting marine ecology.
Suggested Use: SCI 1 - Animals; SCI 2 - Habitats; SCI 2 - Foods; SCI 2 - Oceans; SCI 3 - Animals
Other Use: English Language Arts: Elementary Level


Gotta Go! Gotta Go! 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Swope, Sam and Riddle, Sue, illus. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. (GDS), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-374-32757-2 ($18.95 hdc.).

Although she does not know why, a creepy crawly bug is sure that she must make her way to Mexico. This book provides an entertaining approach to the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. Children enjoy chiming in with the repeated rhyme, "I gotta go, I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!" Sue Riddle enhances the text with numerous colour drawings.
Suggested Use: SCI 1 - Animals; SCI 2 - Habitats
Other Use: Kindergarten


Growing Frogs (Print-Non-Fiction). French, Vivian and Bartlett, Alison, illus. Candlewick Press (GDS), 2000. 29 p. ISBN 0-7636-0317-1 ($21.99 hdc.).

A mother and daughter watch with wonderment as they witness the life cycle of a frog-from frog spawn to tadpoles to tiny frogs. Rules for observing the growth of frogs in an environmentally friendly fashion are provided. Alison Bartlett's sunny illustrations brighten the humourous, but factual text. Included are a table of contents and an index.
Suggested Use: SCI 1 - Animals; SCI 2 - Habitats; SCI 3 - Animals
Other Use: Kindergarten


Hands-on Science: Air and Water in the Environment (Print-Non-Fiction). Lawson, Jennifer, et al. (Hands-on Science Series). Portage & Main Press (PEG), 2001. 61 p. ISBN 1-894110-86-2 ($18.00 spiral-bound).

(CAN) This module provides nine activities related to the characteristics of air and the various forms of water in the environment. Each activity is organized to include several or all of the following sections:

• Science Background Information for Teachers
  
• Materials
  
• Activity
  
• Activity Sheet
  
• Extensions
  
• Activity Centre
  
• Assessment Suggestion.