Books published by publisher Science Slam!

For many months a tiny seed has been warm and safe underground. Now it's spring and a little green shoot bursts from the seed and appears from under the soil. Beneath the surface, the new plant's roots spread out in search of water and nutrients. One day the little shoot will be a tall, strong tree. None of this would be possible without soil! Inside this book, readers will discover how important soil is to plant life. How do plants get water and nutrients from soil? Why would trees fall over if there was no soil? And why is good, healthy soil essential to farmers who grow and produce most of the foods we eat? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts about a material that most of us take for granted, the book makes learning about soil a lively, engaging experience.

From space, our planet looks blue. That's because about 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered in water. From vast oceans to long rivers, massive ice sheets to backyard ponds, this book looks at all the different places we find water on our blue planet's surface. Readers will discover fascinating facts about oceans, seas, lakes, streams, and glaciers. They'll also learn the answers to these questions: How much of Earth's water is salt water? How do lakes and rivers form? Where is Earth's frozen fresh water found? And how does water get into the clouds that float high above our planet's surface? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts, this book makes learning about water an engaging experience.

What is happening when we see a honeybee covered with yellow dust busily buzzing from flower to flower? How exactly is the little bee helping the flowers in a garden? This book explores how plants reproduce, and features a clear, accessible, step-by-step explanation of how insects and other animals pollinate flowers. Packed with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts about plants and their pollinators, What Lily Gets from Bee: And Other Pollination Factsmakes learning about plant reproduction a lively, engaging experience.What Lily Gets from Bee: And Other Pollination Factsis part of Bearport's Plant-ology series.

Some flowers may look beautiful, but their petals and seeds have the power to kill! This book explores how plants use toxins to protect themselves from hungry animals that are looking for a tasty meal. Children will enjoy reading about the fascinating (and sometimes horrifying) ways in which some plants have evolved to protect themselves, all while they learn about plant bodies and life cycles. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From stunning photographs to high-interest facts, Poison Petals: Don't Eat!makes learning about plant defenses a lively, engaging experience.Poison Petals: Don't Eat!is part of Bearport's Plant-ology series.

It's a spring morning in the Arctic. A hungry female polar bear emerges from her den after a winter spent sleeping under the snow. Her two young cubs follow her into their icy new world. The tiny bears have lots to learn. When they get to the ocean, their mother will show them how to swim and hunt for food. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about polar bears and how their bodies are adapted to the extreme cold, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities such as investigating and measuring the size of a polar bear's paw will give readers a chance to gain, insights beyond the facts and figures.

Earth is covered in water. Yet, just a tiny amount of that liquid is actually fresh water. From rivers and lakes, to vast ice sheets and glaciers, this book examines fresh water--one of Earth's most important resources. Inside this book, readers will learn about the differences between fresh water and salt water. They'll also learn the answers to these questions: Where can liquid fresh water be found on Earth's surface? Is it true that most of Earth's fresh water is either solid ice or underground, deep beneath our feet? Why is water so essential for life on Earth? And what can we do to protect our precious supply of fresh water? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts, this book makes learning about water an engaging experience.

One hundred or so green sea turtle babies scramble as fast as they can toward the sea. They have just hatched from eggs their mother buried on the sandy beach eight weeks earlier. If they make it to the ocean, they have a good chance of growing to be as heavy as 660 pounds (299 kg). There are many predators on the beach, however--and they are hungry for baby turtles! Young readers will explore the underwater world of this marine reptile through clear text, full-color photos, and diagrams. Age-appropriate activities, such as using tape on the floor to show how big green sea turtles can grow, give readers a chance to make observations and to develop animal-science skills.

It's early dawn in a swamp. A large snake has spent the night hunting for fish and frogs in the ponds and streams. The snake is a cottonmouth--the only venomous water snake in the United States! It swims to the shore and slithers onto the land. When daylight breaks, the snake basks on a log, soaking up the sun's warmth to heat its body. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about cottonmouth snakes and their swamp habitat, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as guessing how the snake got its name and comparing the physical characteristics of adult and young snakes, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

It's early morning in the Amazon rain forest. A large monkey is climbing through the branches of a tall tree. Suddenly, there's a flash of white and black feathers. An enormous harpy eagle swoops between the leafy branches and snatches the monkey from the tree. Then the giant predator carries its prey high into the treetops and begins to eat. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about harpy eagles and their Amazon rain forest home, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as figuring out how the bird's body is adapted for hunting, and investigating how much weight the eagle can carry in its talons, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

Trees and other plants make our world look beautiful, but did you know that plants use their leaves to help keep the air clean and safe for us to breathe? This book takes readers step-by-step through a clear, grade-appropriate explanation of how plants remove carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. Readers will also learn how plants can even remove harmful chemicals from the air in our homes. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled title gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From beautiful photographs to high-interest facts, this book makes learning about the amazing air-cleaning properties of plants, a lively and engaging experience.

What water plant can clean up a polluted river by removing bacteria, chemicals, and even oil from the water? What water plant has such big leaves that a person can sit on it? What carnivorous pond plant feeds on small fish, tadpoles, and insects? And what plant grows in the ocean and is the favorite food of manatees? Young readers will find out as they are introduced to an exciting range of plants that grow and live in water. While children enjoy reading about these amazing plants, they will be learning plenty of core science information about the parts of plants and their incredible life cycles. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled title gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts, the book makes learning about plants that grow in ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans a lively and engaging experience.

From playing a musical instrument to chatting with a friend, we experience sound every day, but what exactly is sound? In this title, students will have the opportunity to conduct experiments to help them understand that sounds are caused by vibrations. Kids will also investigate concepts such as how sounds travel, and why we are able to hear sounds. Using everyday items that kids can easily find around the house, students will transform into scientists as they carry out step-by-step experiments to answer interesting questions. Along the way, children will pick up important scientific skills as they investigate sound, record their observations, and draw conclusions. Sound includes seven experiments with detailed, age-appropriate instructions, surprising facts and background information, a "Conclusions" section to pull all the concepts in the book together, and a glossary of science words. Colorful, dynamic designs and images truly put the FUN into FUN-damental Experiments.