Create a Paleontological Diorama

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: Paleontology, Space Exploration, Computer 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’”.