Marine Science for Kids: Exploring and Protecting Our Watery World, Includes Cool Careers and 21 Activities

by Bethanie Hestermann, Josh Hestermann, Stephanie Arne (Foreword by)

Overview

Do you ever dream of being a marine explorer or adventurer? Are you a fan of cool, cute, or creepy creatures? Then here’s some good news: some of the coolest, cutest, and creepiest creatures live in Earth’s oceans and other watery places.

Marine Science for Kids is a colorful, fun, photo-filled guide to exploring our underwater world. In these pages, you’ll delve deep into the science of aquatic study, including geology, chemistry, and biology in both salt- and freshwater environments, and gain insight into the real-world practice of aquatic science. You’ll discover how and why oceans move, and learn the answers to questions such as “Why is the ocean blue?” You’ll meet cool creatures, including sharks and rays, penguins and other seabirds, whales and dolphins, squids and octopuses, and many more. You’ll uncover some of the most pressing challenges facing marine environments and find out how you can use your talents to make a difference. Real-life marine scientists share what inspires them every day and provide insights into their exciting careers. Hands-on activities in each chapter make learning fun.

Kids can: make an edible coral reef; explore marine camouflage; construct a water-propelled squid; test methods of cleaning up an oil spill; experiment with ocean acidification; and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613735367
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/01/2017
Series:	Chicago Review Press For Kids Series , #66
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	343,058
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Josh and Bethanie Hestermann are the coauthors of Zoology for Kids. Josh Hestermann is the terrestrial husbandry manager at the California Science Center. He has worked as a senior mammalogist at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. He has also worked as a keeper at Brookfield Zoo and Phoenix Zoo, a wildlife researcher studying marine mammals, and a presenter and educator. Bethanie is a wildlife and conservation blogger and the founder of WordZoo Creative LLC. They live in Southern California. 

Stephanie Arne is the host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and the founder of the Creative Animal Foundation.

Editorial Reviews

"The clear exposition is straightforward and logically organized, densely filled with information but pleasingly broken up by text boxes and photographs on almost every page." —Kirkus Reviews


“Whether explaining ocean acidification, coral-reef characteristics, or ‘What’s Special about a Cephalopod?’ there’s much to inform and pique interests here.” —Booklist



“This is an excellent example of how blending STEM fields can be done right…” —School Library Journal


“I think that other kids should read this book because it is very informative about keeping our ecosystems healthy and clean. I would rate this book at 9/10 because of its awesome information.” —OWL



“We highly recommend this one.”—Geek Reads Kids


“This would be a solid resource for schools as well as public libraries serving home- school populations.” —School Library Connection


“While the book is informative, it is the hands-on activities in each chapter that set this book apart from other similar texts.”—Green Teacher

From the Publisher

05/01/2017
Gr 5–7—The Hestermanns' newest title is a hands-on, in-depth look at marine science. Activities and photographs accompany each section of the text as the authors take readers deep underwater. Students witness the different types of aquatic environments through vivid pictures and discussions about the daily lives of animals in each region. The activities are accessible, and information on the levels of adult supervision required is provided. There are also sidebars on related careers tucked into each chapter showing the varied types of marine scientists. This is an excellent example of how blending STEM fields can be done right; crafts and material related to physics, mathematics, and chemistry are incorporated throughout. The organization of the text is effective, and the Hestermanns excel at describing the ecology of each location, from open seas to coastal regions. Most important, the authors explore the relationship between water and the wildlife that surrounds and relies on it. VERDICT A wonderful addition to marine biology sections for school or public libraries.—Lisa Bosarge, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore

School Library Journal

2017-03-20
Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth and provides plenty of opportunity for scientific exploration and investigation.The subtitle phrase "our watery world" is more apt than the title, as this comprehensive survey encompasses both fresh- and saltwater environments. With their complementary skills and experiences—animal care and science writing—this husband-and-wife team have produced a fact-filled introduction to the world of science knowledge about oceans, rivers, and lakes, accompanied by engaging hands-on activities that work well in both classroom and home environments to parallel formal lessons. An introductory chapter, "Getting to Know the Marine Environment," is followed by chapters on coastal communities, the open sea, deep-sea diving, and freshwater bodies. Concluding chapters discuss the connections among and threats to these ecosystems as well as ways readers can make a difference, today and as they choose careers. Each chapter includes cross-curricular activities ranging from arts and crafts and poetry to experiments and group games. The clear exposition is straightforward and logically organized, densely filled with information but pleasingly broken up by text boxes and photographs on almost every page. The material is accurate and up-to-date; the marine scientists profiled vary in sex and ethnicity. Sadly, the trade paper binding is not likely to stand up to repeated library use. Ideal for middle school classrooms and any marine science enthusiast. (glossary, resources, selected bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-16)

Kirkus Reviews