Carla Mooney has written more than 70 books for children and young adults. Her work has appeared in many magazines including Highlights, Faces, and Learning Through History. Carla lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Website: carlamooney.com
Facebook: facebook.com/carlamooneyauthor
A deep dive into the science and methodology of anthropology! What makes us human? Is it language? Technology? Arts? Medicine? Yes―all of those! In Anthropology: The Science of Being Human, young anthropologists explore several kinds of anthropology, including biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Each of these fields includes significant items and events that show moments in time when the human race adapted to a changing world in a way that exemplifies the human...
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What element is found in all known forms of life? Carbon! Scientists call carbon the chemical backbone of life on Earth. That’s because without carbon, there’d be no humans, animals, plants, microbes, or any other kind of life. In The Carbon Cycle: Track the Path of Life’s Essential Element, young scientists explore how the first life forms that evolved on our planet consumed carbon and now, 4 billion years later, carbon is still the building...
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How do we build skyscrapers? How did ancient people build pyramids? Why are gears an essential part of motors? In Engineering: How the Six Simple Machines Support the World, young engineers learn how mechanical, structural, civil, and other types of engineering are based on the six simple machines that humans have been using for thousands of years. The screw, pulley, wedge, wheel and axle, inclined plane, and lever are used to build roads, skyscrapers, bridges,...
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What's on your dinner table? You probably have some form of maize, wheat, rice, and potatoes on your plate! From London to Lagos to Los Angeles, these staple foods dominate our breakfast bowls, lunch boxes, and dinner tables. In today’s world, more than half of the calories that we consume come from maize, wheat, and rice alone. How did this happen? In The Science of Seeds: Why We Eat Maize, Wheat, Rice, and Potatoes with...
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Read true stories of how climate change has affected people’s lives and learn the science behind the new reality we witness every day. In Climate in Crisis: Changing Coastlines, Severe Storms, and Damaging Drought, readers 12 to 15 discover how climate change is affecting the human population—from extreme weather and rising coastlines to new migration patterns and disease—through real-life stories and a deep examination of the science driving the phenomenon. As kids gain a deeper understanding...
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Why are you able to jump higher from a trampoline than from the ground? What forces are at work when you do an ollie on a skateboard? The answer is: physics! In The Physics of Fun, kids ages 12 to 15 explore the science behind awesome activities that kids love. From Newton’s laws of motion to the behavior of electrons, the science of physics is an integral part of any amusement park, play center, video...
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Why does tomato sauce taste different from fresh tomatoes? Why does pasta go limp when you cook it in boiling water? What makes ice cream melt? What better place to learn the fundamentals of chemistry than in the kitchen? In The Chemistry of Food, kids learn the science behind the food they love to eat as they explore the chemistry within the meal, how nutrition works, what creates flavor, and why texture is important. This...
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Have you ever wondered why you look the way you do? The answer lies in your human genome, the code of life. The Human Genome: Mapping the Blueprint of Human Life investigates the fascinating world of genetics and the human genome. Kids ages 12 to 15 learn the basics of how genes work, how DNA is structured, and how genetic inheritance happens. Explore the discoveries scientists have made about the human genome and how these...
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What is the most complex machine on earth? The human body! With Inside the Human Body, readers ages 12 to 15 peel back the layers to take a look inside this amazing machine and learn basic anatomy—bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs. We also explore the body’s physiology and how its organs work together to allow us to function and survive. Take a ride through the different organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular...
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Titles in this set include: Big Data: Information in the Digital World with Science Activities for Kids, Artificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids, Projectile Science: The Physics Behind Kicking a Field Goal and Launching a Rocket with Science Activities for Kids, Industrial Design:Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids. Guided reading levels for this set are all Z to Z+
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Have you watched videos online today? Did you post photographs on social media? Did you upload your English essay to Google docs? All of these are questions about data! In Big Data: Information in the Digital World with Science Activities for Kids, readers ages 10 to 15 explore the definition of data and learn how essential it is to our everyday lives. They learn about the history of data, the transition from paper to computers,...
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What is industrial design? Why do microwaves open with a swinging front door? Why aren't smartphones round? In Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids, readers ages 10–15 engage in and learn about the engineering design process from its earliest beginnings, when individuals designed and crafted their own tools, to today, when engineers work to find the best design for products that are then manufactured in bulk by automated...
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Have you noticed that our planet is becoming increasingly connected? In Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events, kids ages 12 to 15 focus on the definition of globalization and discover how technology drives globalization, which affects economies, political systems, human rights, and cultures around the world. The book also explores the future of globalization and discusses issues the global community might face in coming years. Readers hear news stories about globalization on a daily...
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Why do humans walk on two legs? Why do fish have gills? Life on Earth is incredibly diverse and part of the reason for this is evolution, or the theory that living things change with time. Evolution: How Life Adapts to a Changing Environment explores the theory of evolution, its history, how we think it works, examples of creatures who have evolved in response to specific circumstances, and what this might mean for the future...
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Why did terrorists attack the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001? The answer to that question is ancient, complicated, and crucial to a perceptive understanding of the global community we live in today. In Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace, readers ages 12 to 15 explore the history, causes, psychology, and potential solutions to the problem of terrorism in an objective way that promotes comprehension and empowerment. Investigating previous events in the world's...
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About 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust, when the Nazi regime carried out systemic mass murder of Jewish people, Soviet civilians, criminals, the disabled, mentally ill, and other groups of people. In The Holocaust: Racism and Genocide in World War II, readers ages 12 to 15 learn about the long history of anti-Semitism and the events of one of the deadliest genocides in history. Uses primary sources to engage readers in scholarly deconstruction...
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Why do we walk on two legs? How do our muscles know how to work together when we dance? In Human Movement: How the Body Walks, Runs, Jumps, and Kicks, readers ages 12 to 15 learn the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body and discover how bones, muscles, organs, and nerves work together to make walking, running, and all other movement possible. Encourages scientific exploration of an everyday reality and makes use of...
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In The U.S. Constitution: Discover How Democracy Works, children ages 9–12 learn about the foundation of democracy in the United States and how the documents crafted hundreds of years ago still have an impact on our country today. Integrates democracy with civics, social studies, language arts, and history. Readers use critical thinking skills to deconstruct the meaning of language used at different periods in American history. Examines the founding and structure of the U.S. government...
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What do your body and your chair have in common? They're both made of matter! In Chemistry: Investigate the Matter that Makes Up Your World, readers 12 through 15 delve into the fascinating world of protons, neutrons, and electrons and discover how they combine to create everything we know. Readers learn about the different states of matter, chemical reactions, atoms and molecules, acids and bases, elements and the periodic table, compounds and biochemistry, proteins and...
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Over 7 billion people live on the earth, and 84 percent of them describe themselves as being religious. What does that mean? Few topics incite such passion as religion. Why are humans invested in ideas that may never be proved? Why has religion played such an important role in history? In Comparative Religion: Investigate the World through Religious Tradition, readers seek answers to these questions by comparing and contrasting the cultural, spiritual, and geographical underpinnings...
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Why do we do and say the things we do and say? The Brain: Journey Through the Universe Inside Your Head introduces students to the fascinating world of the human brain and its effect on behavior. Readers learn about the main anatomy and functions of the brain while discovering the brain's role in learning, memory, communication, and emotions. Kids are also introduced to the effects of sleep, alcohol, and exercise on our most complex organ....
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From puddles to lakes, streams to rivers, and bogs to swamps, each body of water contains an amazing treasure chest of life! Explore Rivers and Ponds! with 25 Great Projects, introduces a child to the fascinating world of freshwater habitats and the creatures they contain. Combining hands-on activities with ecology and science, kids will have fun learning about the freshwater biome-including lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, and wetlands-and the latest in conservation and protection.
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Imagine a world without brand-name products! Before the Industrial Revolution it was not possible to produce enough of the same item to have a brand, but in 100 years the world changed from make-your-own everything to a society of manufactured goods. The Industrial Revolution: Investigate How Science and Technology Changed the World introduces the dynamic individuals who led this revolution and how their innovations impacted the lives of everyone, rich and poor, city-dwellers and farmers...
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Do you ever wonder how rockets soar into space? Rocketry: Investigate the Science and Technology of Rockets and Ballistics introduces students to the fascinating world of rocketry and ballistics. Readers discover the history of rocket development, from the earliest fire arrows in China to modern-day space shuttles, as well as the main concepts of rocketry, including how rockets are launched, move through the atmosphere, and return to earth safely. Exploring the science behind rocket flight,...
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George Washington: 25 Great Projects You Can Build Yourself offers a fascinating look into the life and times of our nation's first president. Readers ages 9 and up can explore Washington's years as a young Virginia gentleman, his military battles, and his political contributions to a fledgling nation. 25 hands-on activities help kids learn about this legendary figure in American history. George Washington: 25 Great Projects You Can Build Yourself includes biographical sidebars, illustrations, historical...
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Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration offers a fascinating look at the explorers and their voyages during the Age of Exploration and Discovery. Readers ages 9–12 can delve into the expeditions of Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, John Cabot, Hernán Cortés, and more. Using common household items and minimal supervision, kids enjoy 22 hands-on activities to help them learn about these legendary explorers and their voyages. Discover how...
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While Africa is one continent it contains many diverse countries. Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself introduces readers ages 9 and up to the stunning landscapes, ancient civilizations and ethnic groups, unique traditions, and amazing wildlife of the vast African continent. With 25 fun projects that kids can complete using common household supplies and many recycled materials, kids learn about life in Africa. Step-by-step instructions show young readers how to make their own shields...
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Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation introduces students to the fascinating world of forensic science and shows them how to find clues, analyze evidence, and crack the case. Combining hands-on activities with forensic science, kids will have fun learning about the world of forensics, evidence collection, and crime lab analysis. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars illuminate the topic and bring it to life, reinforcing new vocabulary. Projects include documenting a crime...
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Why do children resemble their parents and siblings? Introducing young readers to the fascinating world of genetics, this educational resource presents the main concepts of the science, including what a chromosome does, how DNA is structured, and how genetic inheritance works. Students learn about new discoveries in the field of genetics and how those discoveries have helped to cure or even prevent certain diseases, as well as examine controversial issues in genetics such as genetically...
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