Seymour Simon's Blog, page 4

The Cutest Animal: Writing Wednesday

Seymour heard from many of you on Twitter (@SeymourSimon) yesterday about the adorablephotograph of the Western Pygmy Possumthat he posted on his blog.So today, for Writing Wednesday, let’s do some descriptive writing. Look at this photograph and think about everything that you see. Use all your senses. What does this little critter’s fur feel like? Can you feel its little heart beating when you hold it? How does it move? How does it look at you?Of course, since you can’t actually see or touch a real Western Pygmy Possum, you will have to imagine all these things, and that’s ok! You also might want to do some additional research on your own, either in your library or on the Internet, and learn more about this animal. Or you could readyesterday’s blog postto learn more.When you’ve studied the photograph thoroughly, and done whatever reseach you want to do, write a paragraph or two describing this animal with as much detail as you can. Help your reader imagine what it would be like to encounter a pigmy possum in a field.If you would like to post your writing for other students to read, click on the yellow "Comments" link at the bottom of this blog post, copy and paste in your work.Happy writing!

Cool….no…..ADORABLE Photo of the Week!

Meet the Western Pygmy Possum, the subject of our Cool Photo of the Week. This tiny marsupial lives in the dry countryside in various parts of Australia. Its body is just 3 inches (7.7 cm) long and its tail is as long as its body. Like most marsupials (kangaroos, for example), the females in this species carry their young in a pouch until they are ready to live on their own.This photograph makes me want to say: Can I have one, please?!Photo: Amanda McLean

Finishing my Week in Blue Springs, Missouri

I’ve had a great time in the Blue Springs, Missouri elementary schools this week. I’d like to share just a couple of notes that have come in from students. One thing I talk about when I visit schools is that I wrote and illustrated my first book, Space Monsters, when I was in second grade. That prompted this note from a Kindergarten class:Dear Mr. Simon-Thank you for visiting our school yesterday and for sharing so much about being an author and a scientist. We are also writing our first books in our kindergarten class, just like you did when you were little. We can’t wait to check out your books and eBooks.We think you are cool!Mrs. Jennings’ Kindergarten Class I also talk with students about the fact that since we are citizens of the Universe, we need to know how to write our entire address. That prompted this note, from two students named Ryleigh and Khloie who are using our StarWalk Kids eBook collection: Hey, we love your books and pictures. Ryleigh’s favorite book: funny space monster riddles and jokes. Khloie’s favorite book is: earth quake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOULocation: USA Earth Thanks, Blue Springs students. I have enjoyed my week with you, too! If I haven’t been to your school yet, don’t worry. I will be back the week of October 13! Seymour

Writing Wednesday: Skyscrapers!

We’re thinking about Seymour Simon’sSKYSCRAPERSfor today’s Writing Wednesday! Read the two pages from this book below, and as you read, think about the purpose of this text. What does Seymour Simon want to teach you? How does his choice of words and photographs help you to understand what he is writing about? Once you are finished reading and thinking about what you have read, write a paragraph giving your opinion about this text, using information from what you read to support your thinking. When you are done, click on the yellow "Comments" link at the bottom of this blog post and paste in your writing for others to read. And if you are interested in learning more about skyscrapers, you can read the entire book in the StarWalk Kids eBook collection. It’s read out loud, too!Note for Educators: Seymour Simon’s book is part of the affordable, streaming, narrated eBook collection from StarWalk Kids Media.Click hereif you would like to learn more about subscribing to this high quality, affordable collection of Common Core mentor texts.

Electro-Sculptures! Cool Photos of the Week

Here’s a new word - PYLON. A pylon is the name for those huge towers that support the wires that carry electricity to our towns and cities. They are generally considered to be pretty ugly…a necessary, but unattractive feature of modern life. In Europe, they have been holding competitions, asking architects to rethink the homely pylon. Is there a way to make this necessary utility more attractive? To think about it more like a sculpture, or a piece of art? The answer is a definitive Yes! A British company came up with this design, which they call the Flower Tower. And in Russia, a company submitted this design for the Sochi Olympics. Isn’t it magnificent?

Learning about Mars

Our newest Mars explorer, NASA’s Maven satellite, has successfully arrived at the red planet and begun its orbit! It takes a very long time to travel from Earth to Mars, even at the speed that a rocket travels. We launched this satellite 10 months ago, and it has been hurtling toward Mars ever since. This weekend the satellite fired its thrusters——basically jamming on the brakes——so that it would be captured by the planet’s gravity and settle into orbit around Mars. It all went flawlessly, and now the satellite will study Mars’ high atmosphere, collecting more data as we try to piece together the story of the history of the Martian environment—- what is there today, and how it has changed over time. This story has captivated scientists for centuries, and I continue to be fascinated as we learn more and more about my favorite planet (other than Earth, of course!).....which reminds me of a funny story.My eBook PLANET MARS has been updated twice since 2010 because we are learning so much from the rovers that are studying its surface. The second update happened while our sound producer was in the studio, recording the narration for the book. My phone rang, and Dan, the producer, said: "The Curiosity Rover landed yesterday, and I’m just about to record your book. Don’t you want to add a page about Curiosity?" Of course I did. So I quickly did some research, wrote a page and found a photograph to illustrate it, and the new audio was recorded that same day. Now, THAT is what I call up-to-date!These days I am working on a new book about Mars, which will be the third installment in my Shipmate’s Guide to Our Solar System series. It won’t be done til sometime next year, but I can give you a preview of the cover:

Love this Student’s Note!

I posted yesterday about the excellent comments posted by two first grade classes about one of myWriting Wednesdayexercises, calledPandas.Last night, one of those students posted a personal note when she got home. Boy, did this make me smile! Here’s what she wrote:I loved reading your books today in my class so much that I made my Mom read them with me when I got home from school. My sister wants to be awriter when she grows up. I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up yet. Thanks for writing such awesome books for us to read. I hope when I get older I can write stories just like you.Love,Catie in Mrs. Akers/Ballisteri’s 1st grade classThank you, Catiee, for your wonderful note. You made my day!Seymour

Love these Student Notes!

I posted yesterday about the excellent comments posted by two first grade classes about one of myWriting Wednesdayexercises, calledPandas.Last night, several of those students posted notes when they got home. Boy, did these make me smile! Here’s what Catie wrote:I loved reading your books today in my class so much that I made my Mom read them with me when I got home from school. My sister wants to be awriter when she grows up. I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up yet. Thanks for writing such awesome books for us to read. I hope when I get older I can write stories just like you.Love,Catie in Mrs. Akers/Ballisteri’s 1st grade classA second student wrote:Hi my name is Jacklyn. I really really like your panda books. Book 2 gave more info. Sincerely JacklynThank you, Catie and Jacklyn, for your wonderful notes. You made my day!Seymour

Writing Wednesday: Reading about Pandas

It’s Writing Wednesday, and we’ve had some really good comments posted by first grade classes at an elementary school in Bryant, Arkansas.They have been reading a story about PANDAS that I posted last year. I asked readers to compare two different books about giant pandas—- an illustrated book by Susan Bonners, and a photo essay book by Caroline Arnold. Here is alink to clickif you would like to read about pandas, and perhaps you will share your ideas, too.Thank you for writing, Bryant students! Everyone can check out their ideas by clicking on the yellow "Comments" link at the bottom of the pandas blog post.

Cool Photo: A Flock of Goldfinches

On Tuesdays, we usually share a "Cool Photo of the Week." Since Seymour was writing last week about how much he loves to watch American Goldfinches at his birdfeeder, I thought I’d share this photo, taken by Kevin Raymond in Stevensville, PA. How’s that for a flock of goldfinches?!