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Published on Leave a comment on Time to Celebrate National Moth Week

National Moth Week started yesterday, July 18, 2020, and runs through next Sunday.

To celebrate, we will have some posts about moths this week, but if you'd like to get a a head start, try:

1. Amazing videos of moths and caterpillars at The Caterpillar Lab channel.

2. The Kids Page at the National Moth Week website (with free moth coloring book).

3. The butterfly and moth activities on our website.

Plus, be sure to check out our growing list of children's books about moths and butterflies.

Public domain image of Imperial Moth from the  Smithsonian.

Published on Leave a comment on Bug of the Week: Big Blond Bee

Look who I found upside down in a water bowl this week:

(About as big as your thumb to the first knuckle.)

I tipped him out and waited to see what happened.

He quivered for a moment, then flew off.

Any ideas what kind of bee it is?

Here's a hint:

These two bees are actually the same species. The big blond one is the male carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina. The black one is the female. It isn't uncommon to see the females flying about and visiting flowers.

The males are less common. They spend their time marking plants with pheromones (scents) to attract the females.

And, if you were wondering, male carpenter bees don't sting so I could get close to take the photograph.

Do carpenter bees live where you are?

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Published on 1 Comment on #Nonfiction Monday #kidlit: Cool Math for the Hot Summer

Need a math book to help keep skills sharp for the summer? Look no further than Cool Math: 50 Fantastic Facts for Kids of All Ages by Tracie Young and Katie Hewett.

Organized as a series of two-page spreads, this small book packs in a king-sized number of tips, games, cool facts, and tricks that will interest even the most math adverse. Examples range from tips for quick multiplication to how to make a magic square. Tucked in are practical refreshers, like how to calculate area and volume.

Although designed for middle school, the title is correct; it could be fun for adults as well. You could read it cover to cover, but Cool Math is so easy to browse. Glance through the table of contents or thumb through the book. Either way, something will catch your attention and before long you'll grab a pencil to figure out how it works. Plus, the practical tips will make you want to return to it again and again.

Cool Math is a fun, painless way to hone those math skills.  Explore a copy today!

Related:

1. Try Sudoku puzzles.

Sudoku is an extremely popular game and it is easy to find instructions and free puzzles online. The puzzles can teach number and pattern recognition in preschoolers, as well as logic, spatial awareness, and problem solving to older children.

Here's one example of an instructional video:

 

2. Look for other posts and activities in our math category.

3. Check out our growing list of math books for children at Science Books for Kids.

 

Age Range: 12 - 16 years
Publisher: Pavilion Children's (March 3, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1843654482
ISBN-13: 978-1843654483

 

Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

 


Looking for more children’s nonfiction books? Try the Nonfiction Monday blog.