Nancy F. Castaldo's Blog, page 16
May 18, 2016
OK to GMOs?
What brings me back to this blog? A new report on GMOs has been released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on genetically engineered crops. This quote was cited on CBS This Morning: "...no substantiated evidence that foods from GE crops were less safe than foods from non-GE crops." Monsanto and other companies selling GE seeds are basking in this validation.
But, it also determined that genetically engineering crops did not produce substantial yields as the companies promised. This was the main reason for producing them in the first place.
So, both sides are claiming a victory here.
But there is a bigger picture -- the impact of GE crops on our environment. The impact on biodiversity is vast.
Most of what we eat is genetically modified -- 90% of US corn, soybeans, and sugar beets.
And what about labelling? We still deserve to know what we are eating and the ability to make our own choices.
I feel like we are race horses with blinders on speeding ahead without looking around us. My only hope is that this, and other studies, further our discussion on this subject.
Read more about genetically modified seeds in THE STORY OF SEEDS: From Mendel's Garden to Your Plate, and How There's More of Less To Eat Around The World.
But, it also determined that genetically engineering crops did not produce substantial yields as the companies promised. This was the main reason for producing them in the first place.
So, both sides are claiming a victory here.
But there is a bigger picture -- the impact of GE crops on our environment. The impact on biodiversity is vast.
Most of what we eat is genetically modified -- 90% of US corn, soybeans, and sugar beets.
And what about labelling? We still deserve to know what we are eating and the ability to make our own choices.
I feel like we are race horses with blinders on speeding ahead without looking around us. My only hope is that this, and other studies, further our discussion on this subject.
Read more about genetically modified seeds in THE STORY OF SEEDS: From Mendel's Garden to Your Plate, and How There's More of Less To Eat Around The World.

Published on May 18, 2016 05:13
July 19, 2015
At the Farm
So, what's this I hear about kale? Can this super food actually be bad for you? Do not panic. There is hope! So before you opt out of eating one of the healthiest greens around, please read this thoughtful and informative post from my fave farm market -- then go straight to your own market and find out how and where they grow their kale.
"Ok. Let's get this straight people. Before you show up to The Berry Farm with pitchforks and torches, let's take a minute to breathe and think this through.Yes, plants that grow in soil use their roots to uptake nutrients and water for their growth above the ground. And yes, plants are capable of also pulling up heavy metals and other forms of soil contamination.Brassicas, (Cole crops in the family Brassicaceae) like kale, collards & mustard, are particularly reputed as having the ability to "photo-remediate" the soil. What this means is that these plants are capable of up taking minerals (desirable and undesirable) from the soil and concentrating them in their above ground biomass aka leaves, stems & flowers.Ordinarily, the term photoremediation is favorable. For example, the use of sunflowers to up take heavy metals from the soil is a good thing because the heavy metals (such as lead) are removed safely from the soil and concentrated in the flowers. The plants can then be removed, thus removing contamination from the soil. So what does this mean? Well for starters, let me just lay out the facts for you about how we grow things here at The Berry Farm:1.) The Berry Farm is situated on agricultural land that is both historically & currently the best & most fertile in the county.
2.) Our farm land has historical agricultural roots. (Yes that pun was intended)
3.) We care about our soil. We practice crop rotation both outside on our fields & inside in our greenhouses. We utilize cover crops & green manures to replenish the soils nutrients.
4.) We make our own compost. We use organic waste (food scraps: egg shells, banana peels, apple cores, spent fruit & veges), grass clippings, and leaf mulch from our farm. We use this compost in both our raised beds and throughout our greenhouses." The Berry Farm, Chatham, NY
Now, don't you feel better? I know I do!
"Ok. Let's get this straight people. Before you show up to The Berry Farm with pitchforks and torches, let's take a minute to breathe and think this through.Yes, plants that grow in soil use their roots to uptake nutrients and water for their growth above the ground. And yes, plants are capable of also pulling up heavy metals and other forms of soil contamination.Brassicas, (Cole crops in the family Brassicaceae) like kale, collards & mustard, are particularly reputed as having the ability to "photo-remediate" the soil. What this means is that these plants are capable of up taking minerals (desirable and undesirable) from the soil and concentrating them in their above ground biomass aka leaves, stems & flowers.Ordinarily, the term photoremediation is favorable. For example, the use of sunflowers to up take heavy metals from the soil is a good thing because the heavy metals (such as lead) are removed safely from the soil and concentrated in the flowers. The plants can then be removed, thus removing contamination from the soil. So what does this mean? Well for starters, let me just lay out the facts for you about how we grow things here at The Berry Farm:1.) The Berry Farm is situated on agricultural land that is both historically & currently the best & most fertile in the county.
2.) Our farm land has historical agricultural roots. (Yes that pun was intended)
3.) We care about our soil. We practice crop rotation both outside on our fields & inside in our greenhouses. We utilize cover crops & green manures to replenish the soils nutrients.
4.) We make our own compost. We use organic waste (food scraps: egg shells, banana peels, apple cores, spent fruit & veges), grass clippings, and leaf mulch from our farm. We use this compost in both our raised beds and throughout our greenhouses." The Berry Farm, Chatham, NY
Now, don't you feel better? I know I do!
Published on July 19, 2015 07:45
April 27, 2015
Nonfiction Monday - On The Trail
Read everything.
When I am researching a book I try to read everything on the subject and then some. Sometimes that reading takes me back...way back...to things I've written earlier. It could be a magazine article on the topic of my book or even a report I wrote back in college.
In this case, I dug out an old report I wrote in elementary school on dolphins. It's a topic I've returned to before when I wrote OCEANS. I remember writing this report. I was totally into it. I read Nat Geo and every book I could find on the topic -- which wasn't difficult because my mom had an extensive library right at home.
Looking at this report I can see the nonfiction author I was going to be. Not only was it complete, it had 9 chapters, was illustrated, and included a bibliography.
I laughed as I read the comments inside. My teacher circled the word BOVINE and wrote beside it - What does this mean? Could she have not known that, or was she suggesting I should have defined the word in text?
The report earned me a grade of O+ which is short for Outstanding + and this note:
Nancy,
It is my pleasure to read such a report. A tremendous amount of work on your part. I'm sure if I had to ever write a report about dolphins I would turn yours in instead of mine.
BAM! the 5th or 6th grader in me is still beaming and thankful my teacher was so encouraging.
Reading this will help me get back into that middle grade head as I write my WIP. What excited me then will probably still excite my MG readers now.
So for today, I'm reading everything and taking some time to connect with my inner middle grader.
When I am researching a book I try to read everything on the subject and then some. Sometimes that reading takes me back...way back...to things I've written earlier. It could be a magazine article on the topic of my book or even a report I wrote back in college.
In this case, I dug out an old report I wrote in elementary school on dolphins. It's a topic I've returned to before when I wrote OCEANS. I remember writing this report. I was totally into it. I read Nat Geo and every book I could find on the topic -- which wasn't difficult because my mom had an extensive library right at home.
Looking at this report I can see the nonfiction author I was going to be. Not only was it complete, it had 9 chapters, was illustrated, and included a bibliography.
I laughed as I read the comments inside. My teacher circled the word BOVINE and wrote beside it - What does this mean? Could she have not known that, or was she suggesting I should have defined the word in text?
The report earned me a grade of O+ which is short for Outstanding + and this note:
Nancy,
It is my pleasure to read such a report. A tremendous amount of work on your part. I'm sure if I had to ever write a report about dolphins I would turn yours in instead of mine.
BAM! the 5th or 6th grader in me is still beaming and thankful my teacher was so encouraging.
Reading this will help me get back into that middle grade head as I write my WIP. What excited me then will probably still excite my MG readers now.
So for today, I'm reading everything and taking some time to connect with my inner middle grader.
Published on April 27, 2015 06:50
April 8, 2015
Research Brings the World Closer
I am in that in-between stage with my writing. I'm researching and writing one book as I finish up the close examination of pages for the last book that will be on shelves soon. It means I have a foot in each book. My thoughts move from one subject to the other.
Each time I work on a book I discover new worlds, meet new people, and travel to new places. Research is a gift to myself. It widens my world. Just like when you travel on vacation and become intimate with a new place, research accomplishes the same thing. For the last book I travelled a lot -- as far away as Russia. But I also spoke to scientists as far away as Iraq.
I watch the news differently now. I think of the people I have met and worked with. I wonder about their safety. I wonder if they are able to continue working.
I watch, frustrated, knowing that I can't help, but hope that when their stories come out into the world, other people with watch a little differently too.
Each time I work on a book I discover new worlds, meet new people, and travel to new places. Research is a gift to myself. It widens my world. Just like when you travel on vacation and become intimate with a new place, research accomplishes the same thing. For the last book I travelled a lot -- as far away as Russia. But I also spoke to scientists as far away as Iraq.
I watch the news differently now. I think of the people I have met and worked with. I wonder about their safety. I wonder if they are able to continue working.
I watch, frustrated, knowing that I can't help, but hope that when their stories come out into the world, other people with watch a little differently too.
Published on April 08, 2015 10:58
March 2, 2015
Nonfiction Monday -- On the Trail
I'm excited to be working on another book for Houghton Mifflin. I had a blast working on Sniffer Dogs and my forthcoming YA title, The Story of Seeds. I thought it might be fun to blog while I research the next one, since nonfiction is really all about the research.
After a thorough online search to find as much information about my subject as I can, I usually head off to the library. Sometimes I visit my local library, but often I need to go to a bigger library at a university.
For this book, I headed to a university science library.
The Roman goddess of wisdom - Minerva graces the SUNY Albany Science Library entrance
with the Latin motto "sapientia et sua docent cause" meaning "Wisdom for its own sake and for the sake of teaching"
This is the spot where I can find, not only current information on my topic, but historical texts that can provide me with the history of my subject. And it's a great library because I can roam through the stacks to find the book I'm looking for. Many libraries don't have open stacks. You have to give a list of books to the librarian and then the books are retrieved for you. The problem is that you don't get to find neighboring books that might provide you with the jewel you never expected.
This first stop on the research trail is much different than the other stops I'll take later on when I'm meeting scientists in the field, but it's a very important first step. And for me - it's loads of fun as I make my initial discoveries.
After a thorough online search to find as much information about my subject as I can, I usually head off to the library. Sometimes I visit my local library, but often I need to go to a bigger library at a university.
For this book, I headed to a university science library.


with the Latin motto "sapientia et sua docent cause" meaning "Wisdom for its own sake and for the sake of teaching"
This is the spot where I can find, not only current information on my topic, but historical texts that can provide me with the history of my subject. And it's a great library because I can roam through the stacks to find the book I'm looking for. Many libraries don't have open stacks. You have to give a list of books to the librarian and then the books are retrieved for you. The problem is that you don't get to find neighboring books that might provide you with the jewel you never expected.
This first stop on the research trail is much different than the other stops I'll take later on when I'm meeting scientists in the field, but it's a very important first step. And for me - it's loads of fun as I make my initial discoveries.
Published on March 02, 2015 06:24
February 4, 2015
Raising a Daughter - Creating a Curious Learner
I just read a blog about how important it is to read science stories to your daughter. I completely agree! Pull out the nonfiction alongside the fairytales!
I also feel it is equally important or more important to encourage your daughters to be curious learners. Read the books, but also get them outside to enable them to have their own experiences with the world around them. Take them on walks in the woods. Show them how much fun a museum can be. Listen to all kinds of music. Providing your daughter with all of those experiences will help them conquer anything that comes there way. Teach them to question. And also show them that there is hardly ever one right answer (except in math). Even science doesn't answer everything.
Explore books of all kinds. Read the fairytales and come up with different endings. And yes, pull out the nonfiction, but don't just read it - explore it!
I also feel it is equally important or more important to encourage your daughters to be curious learners. Read the books, but also get them outside to enable them to have their own experiences with the world around them. Take them on walks in the woods. Show them how much fun a museum can be. Listen to all kinds of music. Providing your daughter with all of those experiences will help them conquer anything that comes there way. Teach them to question. And also show them that there is hardly ever one right answer (except in math). Even science doesn't answer everything.
Explore books of all kinds. Read the fairytales and come up with different endings. And yes, pull out the nonfiction, but don't just read it - explore it!
Published on February 04, 2015 07:51
November 17, 2014
Jip - Doctor Doolittle's Amazing Sniffer Dog
When I was a little girl I was entranced by Doctor Doolittle. It wasn't a crush or anything. I just wanted to be like him. I wanted to talk to animals too! I studied animal behavior in college and even wrote on animal communication, but alas, I could never talk to animals the way he could. He was a super hero!
Last week I listened to Doctor Doolittle while I was driving to and from our Falling Leaves writing retreat. Of course it was different from the movie, but it was still magical for me. And guess what? It features one of the best sniffer dogs in literature -- Jip!
Here's one of my favorite paragraphs about Jip's sniffing:
"Jip smelt the ring and said,"That's no good. Ask him if he has anything else that belonged to his uncle."Then the boy took from his pocket a great, big red handkerchief and said, "This was my uncle's too."As soon as the boy pulled it out, Jip shouted,"SNUFF, by Jingo!—Black Rappee snuff. Don't you smell it? His uncle took snuff— Ask him, Doctor."The Doctor questioned the boy again; and he said, "Yes. My uncle took a lot of snuff.""Fine!" said Jip. "The man's as good as found. 'Twill be as easy as stealing milk from a kitten. Tell the boy I'll find his uncle for him in less than a week. Let us go upstairs and see which way the wind is blowing."" - The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
Jip - the sniffer dog! Jip is searching across the sea using the power of his nose just like Tucker on the cover of Sniffer Dogs.
"Can you really smell all those different things in this one wind?" asked the Doctor."Why, of course!" said Jip. "And those are only a few of the easy smells—the strong ones. Any mongrel could smell those with a cold in the head. Wait now, and I'll tell you some of the harder scents that are coming on this wind—a few of the dainty ones."Then the dog shut his eyes tight, poked his nose straight up in the air and sniffed hard with his mouth half-open.
And later on Jip remarks, "No wonder those silly eagles couldn't see him!—It takes a dog to find a man."
Hugh Lofting was right when he wrote those words for Jip! It does take a dog to find a man!
Have you read about any sniffer dogs in books you've read? There are many others since Doctor Doolittle was written in 1920. Tell me what you've read and I'll include it on my website!

Last week I listened to Doctor Doolittle while I was driving to and from our Falling Leaves writing retreat. Of course it was different from the movie, but it was still magical for me. And guess what? It features one of the best sniffer dogs in literature -- Jip!
Here's one of my favorite paragraphs about Jip's sniffing:
"Jip smelt the ring and said,"That's no good. Ask him if he has anything else that belonged to his uncle."Then the boy took from his pocket a great, big red handkerchief and said, "This was my uncle's too."As soon as the boy pulled it out, Jip shouted,"SNUFF, by Jingo!—Black Rappee snuff. Don't you smell it? His uncle took snuff— Ask him, Doctor."The Doctor questioned the boy again; and he said, "Yes. My uncle took a lot of snuff.""Fine!" said Jip. "The man's as good as found. 'Twill be as easy as stealing milk from a kitten. Tell the boy I'll find his uncle for him in less than a week. Let us go upstairs and see which way the wind is blowing."" - The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
Jip - the sniffer dog! Jip is searching across the sea using the power of his nose just like Tucker on the cover of Sniffer Dogs.
"Can you really smell all those different things in this one wind?" asked the Doctor."Why, of course!" said Jip. "And those are only a few of the easy smells—the strong ones. Any mongrel could smell those with a cold in the head. Wait now, and I'll tell you some of the harder scents that are coming on this wind—a few of the dainty ones."Then the dog shut his eyes tight, poked his nose straight up in the air and sniffed hard with his mouth half-open.
And later on Jip remarks, "No wonder those silly eagles couldn't see him!—It takes a dog to find a man."
Hugh Lofting was right when he wrote those words for Jip! It does take a dog to find a man!
Have you read about any sniffer dogs in books you've read? There are many others since Doctor Doolittle was written in 1920. Tell me what you've read and I'll include it on my website!
Published on November 17, 2014 10:57
October 23, 2014
Organizing My Research
Thanks, Candace Fleming, for posting about how you organize your research. It's great to hear how writers, especially nonfiction authors, deal with this during a book project. I thought I'd join in and post about my own organization.
Like most nonfiction authors I LOVE research. Sometimes it is tough to figure out when it is time to stop researching. And sometimes research takes me in a totally different direction.
Like Candace, I have lots of piles in my office. You can usually tell what I'm working on if you take a look at the size of the piles. The current project usually has the largest pile or piles.
I begin each project by scrawling a chapter outline on a white board. Although this outline usually changes I keep a folder for each chapter. Articles, index cards, post-it notes and post cards/photos fill the folders. Their order can be changed at any time. Those stacks on the floor also include books and notebooks. I use small notebooks for my interviews.
When I worked on Sniffer Dogs, I also had lots of materials on dogs, breeds of dogs, and the scent of smell. Since I took the majority of the photos for that book, I also kept a photo log with dates, dog ID and caption info.
After a book is completed I go through the stacks. I donate any extra books I don't need to keep to my local library. I sort through everything, compile what I want to keep, and store it away.
I grow as an author and researcher with each book. I pick up different research habits and explore new ways to keep everything straight. For a recent biography, I learned how to use my iPad's Evernote app to photograph documents and microfilm. It made the microfilm so much easier to read and saved me lots of time in the library.
Like Candace, I would never dream of using anyone else for my research. That's the icing on the writing cupcake! It moves my book forward and helps shape it's style.
I'd love to hear how others organize their research. Consider yourself "tagged."
Like most nonfiction authors I LOVE research. Sometimes it is tough to figure out when it is time to stop researching. And sometimes research takes me in a totally different direction.
Like Candace, I have lots of piles in my office. You can usually tell what I'm working on if you take a look at the size of the piles. The current project usually has the largest pile or piles.
I begin each project by scrawling a chapter outline on a white board. Although this outline usually changes I keep a folder for each chapter. Articles, index cards, post-it notes and post cards/photos fill the folders. Their order can be changed at any time. Those stacks on the floor also include books and notebooks. I use small notebooks for my interviews.
When I worked on Sniffer Dogs, I also had lots of materials on dogs, breeds of dogs, and the scent of smell. Since I took the majority of the photos for that book, I also kept a photo log with dates, dog ID and caption info.
After a book is completed I go through the stacks. I donate any extra books I don't need to keep to my local library. I sort through everything, compile what I want to keep, and store it away.
I grow as an author and researcher with each book. I pick up different research habits and explore new ways to keep everything straight. For a recent biography, I learned how to use my iPad's Evernote app to photograph documents and microfilm. It made the microfilm so much easier to read and saved me lots of time in the library.
Like Candace, I would never dream of using anyone else for my research. That's the icing on the writing cupcake! It moves my book forward and helps shape it's style.
I'd love to hear how others organize their research. Consider yourself "tagged."
Published on October 23, 2014 17:13
August 11, 2014
The Nonfiction Minute
FREE! Teachable moments from Top Children's Nonfiction Authors.
The Nonfiction Minute is a FREE daily posting of short pieces of nonfiction, by a group of award-winning children’s nonfiction authors (including me!). Each Nonfiction Minute also contains an audio file of the author reading his or her text, so students can actually hear the author's voice making the content available to less fluent readers. The other advantage of the audio is that it will free us from the constraints of children's reading vocabulary, which is what makes textbooks and many children's books designed for the classroom so bland. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself. Read the seven minutes already posted as examples. When we go live on September 8, a new post will appear each day, which will then be archived under topics and author for easy access for future use.
With the current emphasis on reading nonfiction, educators need easy access to high-quality material that they can use right away. The Nonfiction Minute does this consistently on a daily basis; but it also does more. It is a source for finding even more high-quality literature by these award-winning authors. It is a direct connection to longer-form books, essential for inquiry-driven learning across the curriculum. It fosters and feeds curiosity, provides samples of exemplary writing from many voices, presents content and process in many disciplines, and can awaken a love for learning. It creates the possibility that kids want to follow-up on the openings provided by The Nonfiction Minute for more than the brief time it’s in the spotlight on any school day.
Never before have top children's authors organized to work directly with teachers and students to inspire them with the love of learning that drives them in their work. They practice the skills of the CCSS every day of their working lives.
We are currently running an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign to raise the minimum amount needed to sustain The Nonfiction Minute for one school year.
Check it out and spread the word!
Published on August 11, 2014 06:30
July 9, 2014
Plastic, Ahoy! by Patricia Newman

Whether you're taking a cruise, swimming in the ocean, or having a tuna sandwich at your next picnic, the ocean impacts all of our lives. More of our world is covered by ocean water than land. Author Patricia Newman has written an engaging, thought provoking book for kids about the plastics that have invaded our seas.
I had the opportunity to find out more about the complexities of writing this book and the way it can be used in classrooms on a recent chat with the author!
Thanks, Patricia, for being with us today and talking about Plastic Ahoy! The book brings a very huge dilemma to readers. What was the inspiration for telling this story?
The inspiration for PLASTIC, AHOY! started with an article in my local newspaper about graduate student scientists and volunteers who boarded a research vessel in August 2009 to sail to what the media calls the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Garbage Patch was first discovered by Captain Charles Moore, but until 2009 it had not been scientifically studied. This expedition funded by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Project Kaisei would be among the first. While I followed the expedition blog, several facts and fragments coalesced into a possible book idea—the age of the scientists, the open ocean adventure, the “first-of” nature of the expedition and the fact that we had the power to reduce ocean plastic. I traveled to San Diego to interview some of the scientists after they returned to shore and I knew I had a solid idea.
The researchers in the book spend countless hours at sea. Can you tell readers about your own research for this title?
I proposed to my editor a nonfiction picture book for grades 3 through 6, so I had space constraints to deal with, i.e. 3,500 to 4,000 words of text. Seven graduate student scientists gathered observations and data for later research based on this expedition, but I knew that I did not have space to discuss all seven. I printed the expedition blog (all 21 days of it!) so I could highlight and annotate. I chose scientists whose work would feature different facets of ocean plastic: Miriam Goldstein (the lead scientist) focused on the rafting community—the little critters who hitchhike aboard plastic; Darcy Taniguchi studied phytoplankton—microscopic plants that provide the oxygen for nearly two out of every three breaths we take; and Chelsea Rochman studied the chemistry of plastic and how contaminants leach out of plastic and also adhere to it.
I interviewed each scientist for several hours, studied up on the scientific terminology surrounding ocean plastic, watched expedition photographer Annie Crawley’s gorgeous videos of the expedition, and read everything about ocean plastic that I could find, both online and in print. It wasn’t until I started writing that I realized I had chosen three female scientists, which lent an element of “girl power” to an already powerful STEM concept.
Did you experience any challenges in writing this book?
Every book I write comes with its own set of challenges. For me, the hardest part of any nonfiction project is deciding which format is best suited to my story. I chose a narrative format for two reasons—the plastic floating in the ocean is mysterious and that sense of mystery lent itself to storytelling. At the time I wrote the book, we didn’t know much about ocean plastic. The expedition was the epitome of the scientific method at work because the scientists went to sea armed only with questions. They didn’t know what they would find. The second reason I chose a narrative format was because I wanted to include specific information about each of the three wonderful scientists that I met. These women love science and I knew their passion would not only engage young readers, but hopefully interest them in science.
Plastic, Ahoy!’s message poses another challenge. The process of research and writing this book changed the way I look at the ocean and how the products I buy affect it. One of my goals in writing the book was to build a strong case for cleaning up our oceans and rivers and showing readers how to become more ecologically responsible. Now that readers are interacting with PLASTIC, AHOY! I hope they will change their own habits and help spread the message.
The photographs in Plastic Ahoy really bring the story to life. Can you share with us your working relationship with photographer, Annie Crawley?
Annie Crawley and I met because of Plastic, Ahoy! (Actually, we still haven’t met face-to-face, but we talk on the phone a lot!) I contacted Annie after the expedition returned to shore to be sure she was on board with the project. She and I scrolled through thousands of images and video of the expedition looking for just the right shot, the right angle, the perfect photo that showed how scientists lived and worked on board New Horizon. Annie’s photos capture the enormity of the plastic problem. She also used her award-winning video talents to create our dynamite booktrailer .
Annie is tireless in her defense of the ocean. She’s a noted ocean speaker, a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame and the CEO of Dive Into Your Imagination. Annie runs dive camps for kids and photography camps for any age. I am so lucky to have her photos grace Plastic, Ahoy! and we look forward to working on another project together (we have two ideas we’re currently considering).
This book hits on some important core curriculum standards. Any suggestions for using it in the classroom?
I used to teach remedial math to high school students, so I understand that real world examples can facilitate learning. In addition to cutting-edge information about ocean plastic, PLASTIC, AHOY! provides a fabulous segue to the scientific method. My Teacher Guide< http://patriciamnewman.com/CCSSPlasticAhoyGuide.pdf > ( http://patriciamnewman.com/CCSSPlasticAhoyGuide.pdf < http://patriciamnewman.com/CCSSPlasticAhoyGuide.pdf > ) is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. The guide contains a variety of activities that stress vocabulary for the ocean and the scientific method; the ocean food web and how energy is transferred to each organism; forming a hypothesis; and (my favorite) a math activity where students conduct a waste audit analysis of their homes. The last few pages of the activity guide lists in table form the CCSS and NextGen standards covered by each activity.
What’s next for your readers?
Four nonfiction novelty board books will be released in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016. I love these books and am very excited to see how the parents of toddlers react to them. Additionally I have several projects—both fiction and nonfiction—that have just been submitted for an editor’s consideration or will be submitted soon.
Published on July 09, 2014 07:00