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Annotated Bibliography: Elementary Science

Higgins, R.T. (2015). Mother Bruce. New York, NY: Disney Hyperion.

Bruce is a very grumpy solitary bear. There is nothing that Bruce likes,

with the exception of eggs. Bruce is not like other bears though, he

likes using fancy recipes to cook his eggs. One day Bruce finds a recipe

he wants to make and goes out shopping, he catches salmon, collects

honey and takes eggs from a Canada goose. Bruce begins to prepare

his food only to find that his fire has gone out. When Bruce returns

from collecting firewood he finds an unwelcome surprise on his stove,

the eggs he collected have hatched. The four little goslings imprint on

Bruce and consider him their mother. Bruce tries everything he can

think of to get rid of the goslings, but despite his efforts the goslings

continue to follow him everywhere. Much to Bruces chagrin he accepts

his new role as mother. The book depicts the goslings growth from

baby geese to adults over the course of the summer. When fall comes

Bruce thinks he will finally be rid of the geese, as it is time for them to

migrate, but the young geese will not leave without their mother.

Finally Bruce resigns himself to the reality that he must migrate with

the geese, just as a mother goose would.

Mother Bruce is ideal for a K-3 grade range. The book is an entertaining

and funny way to introduce children to various concepts including,

migration and imprinting. Although the book is meant to be humorous

it still can be used as a starting point for beginning a discussion about

environmental changes, migration, and the life cycle of Canada geese.

The book can be used in grade 1 to explore ways that animals respond

to changes in temperature. The book could prompt discussion about

the difference between migration and hibernation, including how

Bruce, a bear, would not normally migrate but would hibernate instead.

Being a funny book, Mother Bruce is an excellent way of engaging

students in learning about seasonal changes and the needs of plants

and animals in a given environment.

Hodge, D. & Reczuch, K. (2015). West coast wild: A nature alphabet. Toronto,

ON: House of

Anansi Press.

This beautifully illustrated book explores the ecosystems of the Pacific

west coast. The book explores the interconnectedness of an ecosystem

through depicting the rainforest, the shoreline, the ocean and the

plants and animals that inhabit these areas. From cougars to gray

whales, from huckleberries to tides the book depicts many of the

creatures and aspects of the habitat that make it such a beautiful and

unique area in the world. The text has been carefully crafted to ensure

scientific accuracy, while at the same time remain accessible and

relatable for children. Many of the creatures depicted in the book are

ones that children may be able to see when exploring the tidal zone, or
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walking a rainforest trail. Being an alphabet book each page begins

with a letter that corresponds to an animal, plant or aspect of the

habitat. The detailed illustrations bring the beauty of the Pacific west

coast to life. Each entry is simple, factual and informative. The author

introduces many of the animals we would expect to see in a book

about the Pacific west coast but also depicts some lesser known

creatures as well, allowing most readers to learn something new.

This book would be an excellent resource when teaching the grade four

science unit on habitats. Students can compare and contrast the Pacific

west coast habitats with the habitats found on the Atlantic coast. The

book could be used to begin to introduce students to the concept of

ecosystems and the interrelationships and interdependence of species

and habitat. West Coast Wild can be used to both engage and explore

the subject of habitats and ecosystems. The book will be useful for

helping students meet the NGSS interdependent relationships in

ecosystems/ environmental impacts on organisms outcomes.

McLeod, E., & Wood, C. (2002). Lessons from mother earth. Toronto, ON:

House of Anansi

Press.

Tess is a five year old girl who is visiting her grandmother. Wondering if

Tess is hungry, Grandmother decides she will show Tess her garden.

When they first leave Grandmother`s cabin Tess thinks that her
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grandmother is lost, or perhaps never had a garden, for Grandmother

appears to be searching. As they walk Grandmother begins to teach

Tess the rules of the garden. Grandmother explains that she was

taught these rules by her mother, and that she taught her daughter,

Tess`s mother, and now will teach Tess. The number one rule is that

you must always take good care of our garden. You must never take

more than you need, you must never trample the plants, or pollute the

garden, for there is plenty for everyone so long as we do not destroy

the soil. Tess learns from her grandmother that the garden will take

care of her so long as she takes care of it, just as it has done for

generations. The watercolour illustrations depict rich images of the

Yukon wilderness, truly showing the reader the extent of Grandmothers

garden. Grandmother shows Tess how to forage and harvest when the

food is ready. Tess learns that the garden, Mother Earth, will nourish us

so long as we take care of her in return.

The book draws on oral tradition in its telling; McLeod has preserved

traditions passed on to her from her Na-Cho Nyak Dun elders in this

book. The book is a celebration of nature and life, and also endeavours

to show the importance of caring for the earth. The book is most

appropriate for K-3. Lessons from Mother Earth could be used during

the grade 1 You and Your World unit Our Environment. McLeod`s book

is an excellent way to depict to children the interactions between

humans and the natural environment, which is one of the main

components of the Our Environment unit. Children must learn the

importance of environmental stewardship and this book does an

excellent job of introducing the topic in an accessible way for children.

Through the use of the book children learn how to reduce human

impact on the environment, and learn the relation between animals

(humans) and plants and their environment, which ties directly into the

kindergarten Next Generation Science Standard K-ESS3 Earth and

Human Activity.

Ruus, M., & Broda, R. (2007). In my backyard. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

In my Backyard takes a close look at the intricate ecosystems that can

be found in our very own backyards. From the wren and toad calls

marking the first signs of spring, to hummingbirds and paper wasps

hurrying busily around in the summer, to the transformation of

caterpillars to butterflies in early fall to baby mice sleeping in their nest

over winter, In my Backyard depicts how animal behaviours signal

seasonal changes through an intimate look at the diverse animals

found all around us. The book also contains a detailed legend that

provides the reader with further insight into the various animals

portrayed as well as information on how to make our own backyards

more inviting places for animals to live. Describing items such as

compost bins subtly indicate to readers the importance of

environmental stewardship. The illustrations are beautifully crafted

paper sculptures that are sure to captivate any reader. Each illustration

contains a hidden ladybug and a hint as to what the animal on the

following page will be, encouraging children to become further

engaged with the text. The book would be best used with grades K-4.

Educators can utilize this text to introduce the concept of

environmental stewardship, and the importance of sharing our habitat

with the other creatures found there. Using this book, children can be

encouraged to respect the various species they share a habitat with.

The book engages students with the concept of habitats and solidifies

the idea that any environment that is home to animals, plants and

other organisms is a habitat, including their very own backyards. The

book can be used to address NGSS outcomes for Life Science in various

elementary grades, and is especially useful for engaging grade 4

students in the habitat unit.

Suzuki, D., & Fernandes, E. (2008). Theres a barnyard in my bedroom.

Vancouver, BC:

Greystone Books.

Jamie and Megan are supposed to go on a nature hike with their father,

but when it is too rainy to go for a hike outdoors their father suggests

they do their nature hike inside instead. Jamie and Megan discover that

almost everything in their house comes from nature. From their pillows
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to their food, the furniture to their books, the siblings discover that all

of their household items come from the natural world. Woven

throughout this narrative is are environmental and conservation

themes. Megan and Jamie realize that everything they rely on comes

from nature, and as people we must work to ensure that we do not

take too much from nature or too quickly. In the following two

narratives Megan and Jamie learn all about the air they breathe and

the natural history of their backyard. The book is an excellent tool for

introducing children to environmental science, natural history and

environmental issues in a way that is engaging and comprehensible.

Children learn how everything, including the air we breathe, relies on

the interrelationships between species and nature. Suzukis narrative

continually emphasizes the importance of conservation and

environmental stewardship in a way that children will understand. The

book also contains a glossary and activities to engage children in

scientific thinking and environmental concepts. This book could be

used in K-5 classrooms. A great deal of scientific subjects and

outcomes can be addressed using this one narrative. From life sciences

to earth and space science and physical science many core ideas found

in the NGSS and the NB curriculum can be addressed using Suzukis

book.
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Thornhill, J., & Kim, S. (2013). Is this Panama? Toronto, ON: Owlkids Books

Inc.

Sammy is a young Wilsons warbler who wakes up one frosty fall

morning to find his flock has left. Sammy instinctively knows that it is

time to leave his home in the Arctic Circle to make his first migration to

his southern home in Panama. The only problem is that Sammy doesnt

know where Panama is. As he begins his journey Sammy meets many

other animals who are migrating south as well. Sammy learns from the

animals he meets on his journey the various reasons they migrate,

where they migrate to, and how they migrate. When reading this book,

children will learn the diverse navigational tools animals use to travel

the vast distances they cover every year. Children will learn that some

animals such as caribou and cranes are shown where to migrate by

their parents, but other animals such as warblers like Sammy are not

shown the way because they are born with the information hardwired

into their brains. The various animals Sammy meets are guided in

many different ways including the Earths magnetic field, the sun, the

stars, smells, and the land. The book also shows how animals

migration routes can be interrupted by human development. In the

book Sammy learns he can follow the stars at night, but when he

comes to a city the lights at night confuse him and throw off his flight

path, he runs into a window and falls to the ground. Unlike many birds,
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Sammy is lucky to just be stunned, and is able to continue on his

journey, eventually making it all the way to Panama.

The book is best for the K-3 grade range. Is this Panama? can be used

to in grade 1 as part of the Our Environment unit. Learning about

migration helps students meet the outcome 1.2.1 Students will be

expected to describe how plants and animals meet their needs in a

given environment. The book would also be useful when teaching the

grade 3 NGSS interdependent relationships in ecosystems and

environmental impacts on organisms outcomes. The book allows

children to see that when the environment changes the animals and

plants that live there must change as well.