Best Selling Books by Cindy Blobaum

From cobras and copperheads to pythons and boas, all types of snakes are covered in this book of 40 science experiments, art projects, and games that help budding herpetologists gain a greater appreciation for these slithering reptiles. Activities include making foldable fangs to learn how snakes'' teeth and jaws work together; simulating cytotoxic snake venom while making a tasty snack using an everyday enzyme found in pineapp≤ and mimicking the sound a rattlesnake makes using a rubber band, a paper clip, and an envelope. Engaging, simple, and safe experiments teach kids about the biology of snakes, such as how they use their tongues and nostrils to detect smells, how they are cold-blooded and sensitive to subtle changes in temperature, and how they can detect the slightest vibrations or tremors. Kids do not need a snake for any of the activities and will delight in all the strange snake facts and gross-out projects such as Snake Stink--where they create their own signature stink and test how well it repels potential predators. Did you know... Snakes do not need to be coiled to strike. They can strike from any position, even underwater! Cobras and coachwhips are two of the few snakes that can move in a straight line forward while keeping their upper body raised off the ground Snake venom can actually help humans too: a blood pressure medicine was developed from the venom of a Brazilian pit viper, and over 60 other treatments have been created from snake venoms

Explore Night Science! encourages 6–9 year olds to safely explore and understand what happens around the world when it is dark outside. Readers are led step by step into integrated, active explorations that uncover the science and technology of the natural and physical world that surrounds them. Kids learn about the rod and cone cells found in their eyes as they test their color vision at night, create a chorus mimicking the sounds of nocturnal animals, and make a personal stardome. Sidebars highlight a real kid who discovered a supernova, how Stonehenge is an ancient almanac, and what elephants and moths have in common. Kids will be amazed at the adaptations used by plants and animals to survive and thrive in the dark of night. Whether they live in the country or in the city, kids will learn to use all of their senses to investigate the night.

From butterflies and beetles to crickets and katydids, these experiments, art projects, and games will bring out the entomologist in every kid. Activities include collecting and sketching insects, making a terrarium for observation, raising mealworms, using math to measure bug strength, gardening to attract butterflies and other insects, and making an insect amplifier. A unique insect board game helps kids learn fascinating bug facts while they play. Sidebars offer a look into the world of professional entomology, as well as gross facts about insects that will provide great playground trivia, including the USDA''s guidelines for allowable insect parts per cup of food. Kids will learn that science is not just something to read about, but something they can observe and study in the world around them.

How can something that grounds us and keeps us here on this earth be so invisible and mysterious? We’re not talking about anything abstract and undetectable. We’re talking about GRAVITY! Gravity is a force that affects everyone and everything. Gravity is something we can easily understand, even kids, especially if they have the right tools to teach them. Explore Gravity! With 25 Great Projects will introduce kids ages 6-9 to the basics of gravity, including concepts of matter, attraction, and gravitational pull. Projects include creating a working model of a scale to learn what “weight” really means and how it’s affected by gravity. By playing with various weights to make a marvelous mobile, readers learn about the center of balance and how martial artists use this knowledge to throw their weight around. All the projects in this book are easy to follow, require little adult supervision, and use commonly found household products, many from the recycling box! The fun facts, trivia, jokes, comics, and hands-on activities will help kids discover the captivating science of gravity. Furthermore, the informational text and hands-on activities will excite kids about STEM, the interrelated fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Hunting, hiding, trapping, and tricking are just a few of the strategies used by animals in the wild to ensure they eat enough without being eaten themselves! In Explore Predators and Prey! With 25 Great Projects, readers ages 7 through 10 explore the physical and behavioral adaptations of predators and prey and their impact on the environment. Predators, such as hawks and foxes, have keen eyesight and sharp beaks and teeth to help them catch their prey. Prey, such as mice and rabbits, have large ears to hear danger and can move quickly to escape their enemies. Animal populations are closely integrated with each other and the surrounding environment. A change to one population causes changes to all others. Readers discover how repercussions can affect nature, including humans, and are encouraged to consider their own actions with an eye toward the effect on the environment. In Explore Predators and Prey, kids actively learn about body tools and behavior strategies as they test their own abilities to hunt and hide in a series of science-minded activities. Fun facts and colorful cartoons make learning entertaining and links to online primary sources and videos make the content accessible to all learners.

Brrr…does it feel cold? Get out your gloves and get ready to experience the Ice Age! In Explore the Ice Age! with 25 Projects, readers ages 7-10 discover what an ice age consists of, why we have them, and what effect an ice age has on living organisms and ecosystems, paying particular attention to the most recent Ice Age, which is the only one humans were around to witness. About 12,000 years ago, glaciers up to 2 miles tall covered up to one-third of Earth’s land! Explore how these moving mountains of ice changed almost everything on Earth, including shorelines, weather, plants, animals and human activities, migration, and more. Learn the science and techniques of archeological and paleontological digs to understand how we know so much about a time that happened before recorded history. Science-minded activities lead readers to discover what a world covered in ice means for the earth’s crust, its atmosphere, and what happens when the planet begins to warm and the ice melts. Projects include creating mini glaciers to move mountains and create beaches and recreating the lifestyles of Paleolithic people to discover what they ate, how they hunted, how they made tools and clothes and their history in art. Don’t wait for the next ice age to get started! Cartoon illustrations, fun facts, and a compelling narrative make Explore the Ice Age! an essential part of any STEM library.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Toast, cereal, juice, and fruit? Thank the honey bees! About one out of every three mouthfuls we eat is affected by honey bee pollination. In Explore Honey Bees! With 25 Great Projects, young readers learn about honey bee colonies, why honey bees live in hives, how honey bees communicate with each other, and why they are so important to human lives. Colony collapse disorder first appeared in 2006 and since then beekeepers have seen disappearances of 30 to 90 percent of their bee colonies each year. Readers learn about possible reasons behind and solutions to this growing global problem. Explore Honey Bees! offers a glimpse into a miniature world familiar to children. Activities include designing a hive and making a model of a flower’s reproductive system, reinforcing the math and science skills readers gain from the text. Fun facts and colorful illustrations make learning fun and exciting. Links to online primary sources integrate a digital learning experience and offer opportunities to delve deeper into the world of honey bees. This title meets Common Core State Standards in language arts, science and technology; Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

Bones are those hard parts of our bodies that make up our skeletons and skulls, and we need them in lots of different ways. In this book, readers learn about the bones in their bodies and why we can''t live without them. And bones aren''t just good for humans--many animals can''t live without them, too!--

Explains the physical properties and cultural aspects of money with twenty-five activites.

Presents fifty hands-on activities to introduce the science of geology and explain the formation and history of the earth.