Fiction and non-fiction titles compiled by our developers
Annotated lists of child-friendly and teacher-friendly websites to deepen content knowledge or conduct further research.
Documents for Science Companion users to print for their classrooms.
Suggestions for organizing and managing materials.
ExploraGear kits contain equipment and consumables for student explorations. Scroll down to view the entire ExploraGear list.
Each module also lists easy-to-find Classroom Supplies used in the lessons. Scroll down or click the link on the right to see the Classroom Supplies list for this module.
| QUANTITY | ITEM | LESSONS |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tape measures, English/metric | 6, 7, 19, 24, SBA 1 |
| 4 | Rulers | 7, 24, SBA 1 |
| 14 | Magnifying lenses | 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, SBA 2, SBA 3 |
| 1 | Tree cross section, basswood | 10 |
| 1 | Tree cross section, walnut | 10 |
| 1 | Greenhouse | 12 |
| 1 | Seeds, snap peas | 12 |
| 25 | Cups, 8 oz Styrofoam | 13 |
| 1 | Potting soil, 8 lbs | 13 |
| 1 | Butterfly enclosure | 14, 17 |
| 1 | Coupon for Painted Lady caterpillars (larvae) and food | 14 |
| 1 | Paintbrush, soft | 14, 15 |
| 15 | Plastic cups with lids, 1.25 oz | 14 |
| 1 | Skewers, wood, pk/14 | 18 |
| 1 | Mesh fabric, 48” x 54” | 21, 22 |
| 1 | Storage chest with lid, 11×18×15” | storage |
| QUANTITY | ITEM | LESSONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 per child | Glue sticks | 1, 2, 3, 7, 24 |
| 1 pair per child | Scissors | 2, 3, 7, 20, 23, 24 |
| 1 | Meter stick or yardstick | 2, 7 |
| 1 | Camera (optional) | 5, 11, 16 |
| 1 per group | Clipboards (optional) | 6, 11, 19 |
| 1 | Book | 7, 24 |
| 1 | Bowl | 7, 24 |
| 1 roll | Clear tape | 7, 24 |
| 150 mL tube (ink) or 1 pint (paint) | Ink, bright colors, washable or Tempera paint, bright colors, washable | 7, 24 |
| 1 | Ink roller or paint brush | 7, 24 |
| 1 or 2 newspapers or 1 roll | Newspaper or plastic wrap | 7, 24 |
| 1 roll or stack | Paper towels | 7, 12, 13, 24 |
| 1 bar and bowl | Soap and water | 7, 24 |
| 1 per child | Marker, black | 8 |
| 1 per pair | Foods, assortment | 8 |
| 1 box | Plastic bags, resealable | 8 |
| 1 per child | Rulers | 9, 10 |
| Several sheets | Chart paper | 9, 21, SBA 2 |
| Varies | Tree cross sections from home (optional) | 10 |
| 1 per group | Tape measures | 10 |
| 1 | Container, clear plastic or glass | 12 |
| 1 | Growing light, grow lamp or fluorescent bulb (optional) | 12 |
| 1 | Plant | 12 |
| Several cups | Water | 12 |
| 2 per group | Containers | 13 |
| 1 bag | Potting soil | 13 |
| 1 roll | Masking tape | 13, 20 |
| Several | Leaves of hollyhock, thistle and mallow (optional) | 14, 15, 21 |
| Several | Leaves from other kinds of plants caterpillars may eat | 15 |
| 1 | Book: From Caterpillar to Butterfly, by Deborah Heiligman (or other picture book that shows all of the life cycle stages of a butterfly) | 17 |
| 1 | Book: The Reason for a Flower, by Ruth Heller (or another picture book that describes plant reproduction) | 18 |
| 1 per pair | Flowers, several varieties | 18 |
| 1 per pair | Apple slices | 21, 22 |
| 1 per pair | Containers, clear glass or plastic 1 to 2 L (1 to 1 qt) | 21, 22 |
| 1 per group | Paper plates | 21, 22, 23 |
| 1 | Sugar water, (10 mL (2 tsp) sugar dissolved in 500 mL (1 pt) water | 21, 22 |
| 1 per pair | Tissue paper, 2.5 cm (1 in) diameter balls | 21, 22 |
| 1 per pair | Rubber bands | 21, 22 |
| Several types | Collection of fruits | 23 |
| 2 or 3 | Flowers (optional) | 23 |
| 1 | Knife, sharp | 23 |
| 2 per group | Knives, plastic | 23 |
| 1 per child | Pea pods, from class plant (if available) or grocery store | 23 |
| Several | Rose hips (optional) | 23 |
| 1 | Stapler | 26 |
| 5-10 per child | Centimeter cubes | SBA 1 |
| 1 per pair | Rulers, centimeter (optional) | SBA 1 |
| 1 | Ruler or tape measure with inches on one side and centimeters on the other | SBA 1 |
| More than one per child | Collection of small items (may include dry beans, leaves, shells, coins, cans, balls, bottles, etc.) | SBA 1 |
| 1 per child | Paper clips, large, 1 cm X 5 cm (1/2 in x 2 in) | SBA 1 |
| 1 per group | Trays | SBA 2 |
| 1 per group | Apples, (same kind, similar in appearance) | SBA 2 |
| 1 | Filmstrip, slide, or overhead projector and filmstrip, slides, or overhead transparencies (any subject) | SBA 3 |
| 2 or more | Flashlights or other light sources (optional) | SBA 3 |
| 1 or more | Jeweler’s loupe (optional) | SBA 3 |
| 1 per pair | Lincoln pennies, new and clean | SBA 3 |
| 1 sheet per group of 4 | Paper, graph | SBA 3 |
| Several sheets per child | Paper, blank, 8.5” X 11” | Multiple |
| Several sheets per child | Paper, construction | Multiple |
| 1 | Overhead projector | Multiple |
| 1 | Overhead transparency | Multiple |
| 1 set per child | Colored pencils or pens | Multiple |
| 1 per child | Pencils | Multiple |
| 2 packs | Index cards, 3” X 5” | Multiple |
Below are some general tips and suggestions to assist with the management of materials for the Life Cycles Unit:
Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for Life Cycles lessons.
Arbor Day
http://www.arborday.org/
The National Arbor Day Foundation has a web site with an "Online Tree Identification Guide," a section on "Teaching Youth About Trees," ideas for Arbor Day celebrations, and more. Check the "Arbor Day Dates by State" page for the date on which your state will observe Arbor Day.
Big Tree Facts
http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees
American Forests has been keeping the National Register of Big Trees since 1940. One link on this page will take you to the current register. Other links lead to pages about how to measure a big tree, big tree trivia, and where to find the big trees in your own state.
Trees that Rewrote History
http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone
Using a tree borer and counting the rings, scientists have shown that a bristlecone pine tree named "Methuselah" is more than 4,700 years old—the oldest living organism known on earth. This site explains how scientists study the tree ring patterns in old bristlecone pines to learn about past climates and to date archeological sites.
Build A Salad!
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/vegquiz/plantparts.html
This link has an interactive game for children where they build a salad by choosing from a variety of plant parts.
Corpse Flower
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=here15m&date=20060815
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=stinky21&date=20051121
These two articles are about U.S. specimens of the "corpse flower" (Titan Arum). In its native Sumatra, the flower can reach 12 feet and blooms every five years. The flower attracts pollinators with its fragrance of rotting flesh. In the United States, the rare-blooming flowers draw crowds.
Developmental Biology
http://www.devbio.com
Provides background teacher information and links on inception of human life, human life cycle, and other developmental biology topics.
Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/butterfly.shtml
This link contains directions for completing a number of arts and crafts activities related to butterflies and caterpillars. It includes quizzes about butterflies and printouts for children to color. It also contains illustrations of a wide variety of butterflies. Finally, it includes general information about butterflies and details about their life cycles and anatomy.
EPA Superfund Classroom Activities
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/winter/dressup.htm
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a website with activities for classes. A winter activity entitled "Dress Up a Twig" teaches students the structure and function of the parts of a winter twig, and how twigs can be used to identify trees.
Flower Photos
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/fpfamilies.htm
If you are looking for photos of flowers, visit this web site from the University of Hawaii Botany Department. After you select the name of a plant family, you receive information and thumbnail photo images for all of its members. Click on the thumbnail image, and you will get a beautiful, full-sized photo.
Kid's Valley Garden
http://www.copper-tree.ca/garden
This link provides information on planning a garden, when to plant seeds, how to keep plants healthy, how to enter flowers into competitions, and much more. It is a visually appealing site with lots of useful information.
Life Cycles of Plants
http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants
The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a kid-friendly web site that focuses on the life cycles of plants. It includes full color photos and drawings that illustrate the parts of a flower, descriptions of how bees pollinate flowers, and lyrics to a song, "How Do Plants Pollinate," sung to the tune of "This Land is Your Land." (Print the words, and sing it with your class!)
Science Made Simple: Autumn Leaves
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html
Follow this link to a discussion of leaves at the Science Made Simple web site. Clear explanations are given of why leaves change color in the fall and how plants prepare for winter.
The Emergence of a Monarch
http://adver-net.com/Monemerg.html
This link reveals the step-by-step emergence of a Monarch butterfly from its chrysalis through beautiful, close-up, color pictures.
United States Geological Survey Learning Web
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/globalchange.htm
A lesson plan designed for grades 4 to 6 by the United State Geological Survey (USGS) on using tree rings to study the past.
What Shapes Trees?
http://miavx1.muohio.edu/~dragonfly/itd/learn.htmlx
This link takes you to a page on the educational "Dragonfly" site that discusses "What Shapes Trees?" It addresses how sunshine and water both influence tree height, crown shape, and the form of leaves.
What Tree Is It?
http://www.oplin.org/tree
An easy to use site that lets you ID trees by several different criteria.
The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school or local librarian.
By Dia L. Michels; illustrated by Andrew Barthelmes. (2001, Platypus Media)
With one chapter devoted to each of 14 different mammals, this book tells about how each featured species is born, eats, grows, learns, and matures. Each chapter is told from the point of view of the baby mammal and is filled with fascinating facts.
By Sally Hewitt; illustrated by Stuart Squires and Tony Kenyon. (2000, Millbrook Press)
Focuses on the various aspects of life cycles of plants, animals, and people and suggests hands-on experiments to support an understanding of each aspect.
By Paul Fleisher. (1996, Millbrook Press)
Compares and contrasts the life cycles of twelve animals, including the opossum, bullfrog, and jellyfish. This book might be too advanced for some second graders to read by themselves, but works well when read aloud to the class.
By David L. Rice; illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. (1997, Dawn Publications)
Introduces some of nature’s longest, shortest, and most unusual life cycles. This book is included in the kit.
By Bobby Kalman and Jacqueline Langille. (1998, Crabtree Publishing)
Introduces the life cycles of plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, and humans , and discusses their birth, growth, parental care, and reproduction.
Scholastic First Encyclopedia (1995, Scholastic Inc.)
Covers basic questions a young child may have about his or her physical, emotional, and social environment, with an emphasis on the stages of growing up.
By Seymour Simon (1997, William Morrow Books)
This book offers a closer look at the brain and masterfully conveys its complexity and capacity. Contains many pictures, models, and diagrams. Ages 6 and up.
By Sally Hewitt. (1998, Children’s Press)
This book covers the changes that occur in humans from birth to adulthood. Includes many photographs that document the stages of human life.
By Joan Sweeney; illustrated by Annette Cable. (1999, Crown Publishers)
A simple introduction to the workings of the human body with relevant references to the brain, bones, and human needs.
By Joan Sweeney; illustrated by Annette Cable. (1999, Crown Publishers)
A child uses a family tree to explain how the members of her extended family are related.
By Patricia Lauber; illustrated by Holly Keller. (1994, HarperCollins Juvenile Books; 1999, Econo-Clad Books)
Through simple language and illustrations, this book discusses the importance of trees as sources of food, shelter, products, and conservers of soil. Explains the process of photosynthesis—how trees make food in their leaves and release the oxygen we breathe—step by step.
By Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Robin Brickman. (1997, Simon & Schuster)
Winner of the 2000 Giverny Award for best children’s science picture book, this book tells the story of a decaying log, from the time lightning strikes the tree to the time the log turns into a mound of rich black earth. Children have the opportunity to watch the life cycle of a tree unfold. Lyrical text is complemented by full-color, paper-sculpture, and photo illustrations.
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Kazue Mizumura. (1973, Thomas Crowell Company)
Written by the author of the Magic School Bus books, this book gives a clear and concise explanation of how different types of plants cope with winter.
By Gail Gibbons. (1988, Voyager Books)
A playful story reinforcing the changes that occur in an apple tree throughout the seasons. Arnold enjoys his apple tree in the spring (buds and blossoms); the summer (sheltering leaves); the fall (tasty apples), and the winter (its bare branches hold strings of popcorn and berries for the birds). Full-color illustrations.
By Aliki. (1971, Aladdin Library)
Classic American tale of how apple trees were spread across the frontier by one simple and peaceful man who became a model of patriotism and good will. The oil pastel illustrations are well matched to the text and, like many books of its day, alternate between color and black-and-white illustrations. A great introduction to the genre of tall tales.
By Marsha Wilson Chall, illustrated by Jim Daly. (2000, Lothrop Lee & Shepard)
Recounts memories of a family’s tradition of tapping maple syrup. Lively writing and crisp, colorful illustrations add to this story of how trees make and store sap in the winter.
By Gail Gibbons. (2002, Little Brown and Co.)
Tell Me, Tree is a guide to the wide variety of trees that surround us. It describes different kinds of trees and how to identify them, and presents the many parts of a tree, inside and outside, with cutaway illustrations and labels. Also includes an explanation of photosynthesis and a special section on how to make a tree identification book of your own.
By Andres Llamas Ruiz; illustrated by Francisco Arredondo. (1997, Sterling Publications)
Part of a series designed to teach children about natural life cycles. Focuses on trees as living organisms that are born, eat, breathe, grow, and reproduce. Includes some descriptions of tree structure.
By Gail Saunders-Smith. (1997, Pebble Books)
In simple text and photographs, this book describes planting, growing, picking, and eating green beans.
By David Burnie. (1997, Dorling Kindersley)
Describes the physical characteristics and life cycles of flowers, including garden flowers, woodland flowers, and desert flowers. Offers clear photographs of flowers and their environments.
By Gail Gibbons. (1991, Holiday House)
Starts by explaining that seeds are different shapes, sizes and colors, and all grow into the same kind of plant that made them. Describes the parts of flowers, and the various ways seeds disperse.
By Bobby Kalman. (1996, Crabtree Publishing)
A clear introduction to the life cycle of plants, illustrated with color photographs. Cross-sectional views show a bean plant’s roots developing as its leaves and stems grow above the surface.
By Helene J. Jordan. (1992, Harper Collins)
An appropriate guide for young children on how to grow and care for newly planted seeds.
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1996, Scholastic)
It’s a perfect spring day and Ms. Frizzle decides it’s time to observe honeybees. The children become bees and learn what they need to do to survive and get along with real bees.
By Joanna Cole. (1995, Scholastic)
The class decides to plant a garden, and Ms. Frizzle takes them on a zany trip back to Phoebe’s old school where they learn about the life cycles of plants and how living things grow.
By Anne Rockwell; illustrated by Megan Halsey. (1999, Walker & Co.)
Starting with a hand showing a single bean, this book journeys full circle from soaking, planting, and watering beans, to flowering, harvesting, and eating them.
By Sally Hewitt. (1999, Children’s Press)
Discusses the elements that make plants grow, the structure of flowering plants, and the way they reproduce. Includes experiments and activities.
By Ruth Heller. (1999, Dawn Publications)
Brief rhyming text and lavish illustrations clearly explain pollination, plant reproduction, and the purpose of a flower. This book is included in the kit.
By Judy Delton; illustrated by Alan Tiegreen. (1989, Young Yearling)
One of a series of stories about the Pee Wee Scouts, this chapter book is appropriate for confident second grade readers. The Pee Wee Scouts are learning about gardens and the vitamins and nutrition in vegetables. They plant seeds and watch very carefully to see which sprouts first.
By Leo Lionni. (1987, Knopf Paperback)
A fish and a tadpole are friends. The tadpole changes into a frog while the fish is left behind in the pond. The story gives an elegant contrast between metamorphic (frog) and non-metamorphic (fish) life cycles.
By John Himmelman. (1999, Children’s Press)
This picture book provides a description of the stages in the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. It also tells the story of the monarch’s long migratory journey.
By Hans Christian Anderson (many versions in and out of print)
This famous folktale of the ugly child who grows into a beautiful adult, while not actually a biological metamorphosis, conveys a related meaning of the term metamorphosis—the idea of transformation through personal growth.
By Eric Carle. (1983, Putnam Publishing Group Juvenile)
This beautifully illustrated book follows a ravenous caterpillar’s feeding frenzy through the days of the week. This is a nice butterfly metamorphosis story to share with young readers.
By Lois Ehlert. (2001, Harcourt, Inc.)
This beautifully illustrated and creatively designed book shows the life cycle and survival needs of a butterfly from its inception as an egg to its final stage as an adult laying its own eggs. At the end of the book, there are colorful illustrations of a wide variety of butterflies as well the flowers they like to feast on.