In my last post, I reported that every year the National Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) publishes a list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12. I also provided links to several books and related AIMS activities for primary and intermediate grades. (Link to last two blogs.)
This post will feature books from the list for Middle School grades 6-8 along with some related AIMS activities. This list, as expected, is much shorter than those for the primary and intermediate grades.
When Rivers Burned by Linda Crotta Brennan
Relates the history of Earth Day with chapters on pollution and the fragile Earth
Related AIMS activities: Water conservation: Down the Drain!, Water Waste is a Weighty Issue, Water Island; Water treatment: That Settles It, Help Save the Birds!, Mini Water Treatment Simulation (all are from the AIMS book Water, Precious Water); Air pollution: Pollution Solution, Air Quality Index; Resources: Researching Resources (all from the book Earth Rocks!)
Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World by Elizabeth Rusch
Conveys the contributions of Nikola Tesla to our use of alternating current.
Related AIMS activities: see the entire book Electrical Connections.
Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch
Looks at recent volcanoes and how volcanologists are helping to save lives.
Related AIMS activities: Topping Off Mount Saint Helens (from the AIMS book Through the Eyes of the Explorers)
Seymour Simon’s Extreme Oceans by Seymour Simon
Addresses some of the extreme aspects of our oceans.
Related AIMS activities: Accounting for Water, Sea Salt, Ocean Organization, Temperature Layers of the Ocean, Down to the Sea, Ocean Motion, Vertical Ocean Currents, Horizontal Ocean Currents, Colorful Currents, Down on the Ocean Floor, Coastal Profiles, The Great Moderator, and Sunsational Changes (all from the AIMS publication Earth Book)