Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists
Teacher Resources

Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists: With Stem Projects for Kids

Illustrated by Hui Li
Discover the stories of Mary Anning, Mignon Talbot, Tilly Edinger, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, and Mary Leakey, five female paleontologists who thrived while making breakthrough discoveries of ancient life from millions of years ago! In Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists with STEM Projects for Kids, readers ages 8 to 11 do fun hands-on projects while learning about these women and the fascinating lives they led in the field and in the lab.
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Reviews

Archimedes Notebook
"Life on earth began about 3.7 billion years ago – not that anyone was there to document it. So how do we know about prehistoric life?

Paleontologists. They’re the scientists who study fossils, from ferns to trilobites, dinosaurs to ancient humans. In this books we meet twelve-year-old Mary Anning who, in 1811, found a dinosaur in the cliffs near her home. We meet Mignon Talbot who studied crinoids – and I’m glad she did because our garden is filled with fossilized crinoid stems. She is also the first American woman to discover – and name – a dinosaur. Other paleontologists featured are Tilly Edinger, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, and Mary Leakey.

What I like: Before we head off to join the paleontologists, there’s a “field kit checklist” to remind us to take out safety glasses along with the rock hammer. There are plenty of text-boxes, along with short bios of other paleontologists not featured and hands-on “field assignments” at the end of each chapter." Read more online.

The Children’s Book Review
A Book Series Teaching and Inspiring Girls About Science
"Gutsy Girls Go for Science is a new 4 book Science series that highlights the careers of five famous female scientists and trailblazers in the fields of engineering, space, programming, and paleontology.  Each book begins with a basic introduction for each field explaining its history, introducing key vocabulary, and what to expect when reading further in the book.. . . . The books in this series are excellent primary resources and would be worthwhile additions to not only the personal library for future scientists but for classroom libraries as well." Read more online.

Booklist
“The Gusty Girls Go for Science series (4 titles) combines STEM projects with illuminating biographies of influential female scientists, who helped transform their fields—not just as the first women to study or accomplish something but frequently as the first scientist who did. Here readers get a quick introduction to paleontology before digging into the contributions made to the discipline by Mary Anning, Mignon Talbot, Tilly Edinger, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, and Mary Leakey. While all five women are white, some diversity is pulled in through the book’s QR codes that link to articles and videos of modern scientists at work. Time lines, photographs, and inviting illustrations add kid appeal to the interesting text, which is further broken up by informative sidebars and hands-on projects that simulate paleontological digs and activities.”

School Library Journal Series Made Simple
“These sprightly biography anthologies spotlight five women whose curiosity and determination led them to break barriers and change perceptions. QR codes support information relayed in time lines, archive photos, reflective questions, sidebars, and pull quotes. The codes are used to their very best effect, sending readers to news reports, archival video, websites, TEDx talks, and even a webcomic. Each link is listed in the backmatter. The five or six activities per book range from simple observation to rather involved projects and forgo detailed instructions, instead encouraging readers to make choices and assemble materials and create their own challenges. Engineers is a standout for showcasing little-known stories like water safety pioneer Ellen Swallow Richards, while Programmers has the best activities and uses real programming tools. VERDICT: A holistic approach incorporating personal stories, history, and STEM content.

A Mighty Girl Weekly Round Up
“This girl-empowering STEM series introduces aspiring young scientists to a variety of career fields through the stories of groundbreaking women who made their mark in four disciplines: PaleontologySpace ExplorationComputer Programming, and Engineering. Each Gutsy Girls book introduces five remarkable role models, telling each woman's story in an engaging chapter-length biography filled with full-color photos, artwork, timelines, and sidebars full of fun facts. Hands-on 'field assignments' encouraging experimentation and critical thinking are interspersed throughout the books, including ones focused on building a space rover, preparing specimens, and designing a web page. These fascinating books' combination of women's history and STEM activities will encourage young readers to imagine themselves as the gutsy scientists of the future. Ages: 8 to 11"

Praise for Technology: Cool Women Who Code from the Girls in Science series

Science Books & Films
+: Recommended
Technology: Cool Women Who Code highlights three women that have contributed to technology in STEM and is an excellent book for young girls. The inspirational stories of these successful women in STEM are the perfect introduction to the careers and contributions in technology for young readers . . . This is a much needed book for our time for young readers to be inspired by strong females in the world of STEM, and recommended for both boys and girls.”

National Science Teachers Association Recommends
“Coding is extremely popular with students now as they work to develop games and apps to meet the common social and gaming interests. Written like a magazine with short reading areas followed by “Ask & Answer” essential questions, the book focuses on reading comprehension and reasoning skills while also teaching about technology then and now. . . This book is anything but dull and definitely not ‘textbooky’”.

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Detailed Book Description

Who were the first people to walk upright? What kind of life existed millions of years ago? How have organisms changed through the eons? These are the kinds of questions that keep paleontologists awake at night!

In Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists with STEM Projects for Kids, readers 8 to 11 meet five female paleontologists who made breakthrough discoveries of ancient life from millions of years ago, including Mary Anning, Mignon Talbot, Tilly Edinger, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, and Mary Leakey. These women all led fascinating lives while working in the field and in the lab, often facing challenges because of their gender and race.

Using a fun narrative style, engaging illustrations combined with photography, fascinating facts, essential questions, and hands-on projects, this book invites kids to make real-world connections and deepen their critical and creative thinking skills.

Paleontologists is part of a set of four Gutsy Girls Go for Science books that explore career connections for young scientists. The other titles in this series include Programmers, Engineers, and Astronauts.

Try these hands-on STEM projects!

  • Model an excavation
  • Prepare specimens
  • Interview a scientist
  • Create a paleontology diorama
Available In:
Paperback, $14.95
9781619307933
Hardcover, $19.95
9781619307902
Includes: Table of Contents | Timeline | Glossary | Resources | Index
Specs: 7.5x9 size | 4-color interior | 112 pages
Subject: Language Arts | Science

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Timeline

Introduction
All About Paleontology
Prepare for the Field

Chapter 1
Mary Anning: Specimen Collector
Smile Wide!

Chapter 2
Mignon Talbot: Fossile Discoverer
Naming Dinosaurs

Chapter 3
Tilly Edinger: A "Brainy" Paleontologist
Preparing Specimens

Chapter 4
Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska: Pioneer Paleomammalogist
Evolution Matching

Chapter 5
Mary Leakey: Fossil Huntress

Create a Paleontological Diorama

Glossary
Resources
Index