Showing posts with label Blue Wave Classroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Wave Classroom. Show all posts

March 05, 2014

Who invented windshield wipers?

With all of the rain and snow affecting the United States, does anyone think about something as simple as
who invented the windshield wipers that allow drivers to see in those bad conditions?

Before the invention of the windshield, drivers had to wear goggles to keep rain, snow, and bugs out of their eyes while driving. The first windshield, invented in 1904, could be folded down in case it became so dirty that drivers could not see through it. The other option was to pull over and try to clean the glass with your hand. Some drivers even tried rubbing an onion or carrot on the windshield, thinking that the oil from these vegetables would leave a film on the windshield, and repel the rain. That did not work either.

This 48 page book, written for the upper elementary reader, describes how Mary Anderson came up with her idea, what steps she took to try to patent the idea, and what happened after she allowed the patent to expire. Available in library, paperback, and eBook formats, this title is part of the Inventors at Work! series. This series is correlated to the Common Core College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards. Other inventors in this series include Ruth Wakefield, Willis Haviland Carrier, Percy Spencer, and Jacques Cousteau. These titles are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

February 28, 2014

National Poetry Month

Pure Poetry, geared toward the upper middle and high school student, is a series of four titles, with each book focusing on one particular poetry theme. Each chapter looks at one poem accompanied by detailed analysis discussing the style and technique, poetic devices, and the cultural significance. Every chapter ends with questions and prompts for student discussion and assessment.

These titles are correlated to the Common Core College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards, and are available in library, paperback, and eBook formats. They are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, local independent bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

It's National Tooth Fairy Day

Here are some fun facts about teeth. Did you know that when a baby's first teeth come in, they are called milk teeth (also known as "baby teeth") and there are 20 of them? When a child is about five or six, those teeth start falling out (hence the need for the Tooth Fairy) and are replaced by 32 permanent teeth. Cats and dogs also have two sets of teeth, but some reptiles and fish may have many sets of teeth during their lives. Crocodiles and sharks, for example, keep replacing their teeth their entire life.

Handy Health Guide to Your Teeth, one of twelve different titles in Enslow's Handy Health Guides series, is written for the middle school student, describing what role teeth play in our overall health, and how to take care of the teeth you have.

Other titles in the series cover topics such as ADHD, asthma, colds and flu, dyslexia, burns and blisters, and more. All of these titles are available in library and paperback editions, as well as eBooks. They are correlated to the Common Core and are available through your preferred vendor, local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

February 24, 2014

Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., on his Daytona 500 win!

After an extended rain delay, the Daytona 500 was run yesterday. Enslow's latest Dale Earnhardt, Jr., biography for the older elementary reader, published in 2011, also describes his foundation, the Dale Jr. Foundation, which helps kids in need reach their goals.

For the slightly older student, Smokin' Race Cars explores the world of stock car racing, giving fans insight into the races.

Both of these titles are available in either hardcover or library binding, as well as in eBook versions. The Dale Earnhardt, Jr., title is available in paperback, and the Smokin' Race Cars title will be available in paperback in the next several weeks. Either title is available from your preferred vendor, your local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

January 27, 2014

African--American Icons titles

Two subjects from our African-American Icons series performed the opening number on the Grammy awards last night.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are two of the titles in this series. Written for the middle school reader, these 100+ page titles are great for those who want to learn more about these current actors, singers/musicians, authors, and comedians. Other spring 2014 titles in this series include biographies about Chris Rock, Jennifer Hudson, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Tyler Perry. There are also six titles published in spring 2013.

All of these titles are available from your preferred vendor, local bookstore, enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. These titles have been correlated to the Common Core, and are available in library, paperback, and eBook formats.

January 23, 2014

New animal series for the middle school reader

Get to Know Cat, Dog, and Horse Breeds is a series of three titles, with each 128+ page title focusing on a different animal. Each title features detailed descriptions of different internationally recognized breeds. These titles are a great page length for the middle school student.

For those that are cat lovers, have you ever heard of the Neva Masquerade? The FIFe (Fédération International Féline) considers this as part of the same breed as the colorpoint Siberian, and not in its own category. How about the Sokoke? This cat is found in the Arabuko-Sokoke rain forest in Kenya.

Have you ever heard of the Polish Tatra Shepherd? This white shepherd breed is closely related to the Great Pyrenees. How about the Entlebuch Cattle Dog and Appenzell Cattle Dog? These breeds were named after their places of origin in Switzerland. Read about a lot more of these lesser known breeds in the Dogs book.

The Horse title goes into detail about a lot of lesser known breeds of horses usually found in the United States. Does the breed Akhal-Teke sound familiar? Thought to be one of the oldest horse breeds in the world, the origin of this breed is from Central Asia. The Berber originated in North Africa. There are only a few purebred Berbers left. Many Berbers have been crossbred with Arabians.

All of these titles are available from your preferred vendor, enslow.com, local bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. They are available in both library and paperback editions.

August 05, 2013

Which famous musician would have celebrated a birthday yesterday?

Louis Armstrong! If he were alive today, he would have celebrated his 112th birthday. Not only was he
known for his musical talent on the trumpet, he was also a singer. He earned his nickname, "Satchmo," after his friends noticed how big his smile was. He was initially nicknamed Satchel Mouth, which, over the years, became "Satchmo."

Part of the Famous African Americans series, Louis Armstrong is written for the upper elementary reader, and is matched to the Common Core Standards. Available in both library and paperback versions, this title is available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your local independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

For the middle school reader, Louis Armstrong, part of the African-American Biography Library series, is also matched to the Common Core Standards. This 128-page book explains how Louis overcame poverty and adversity to become a well-respected musician and singer. This library-bound title is also available from enslow.com, your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.


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August 02, 2013

New science series for fall 2013

Using a microscope to look at tiny images can be fascinating, or disgusting, depending upon the person. Zoom In On... is a series of four books geared to the middle school reader, and perfect for the STEM curriculum.

Want to see what a flea looks like under a microscope? How about a hair, or a grain of pollen? Find out in the Zoom in on Crime Scenes book. These 32 page titles offer the reader who is fascinated with science an interesting way of seeing what items look like under a microscope.

In Zoom in on Body Invaders, salmonella bacteria is shown under a microscope, as is a bed bug, head lice, and a tick, among other items.

Bizarre Bugs zooms in on earwigs, assassin bugs, dragonflies, dung beetles, and more. Just reading about the dung beetle was enough!

House of Horrors includes information about cockroaches, silverfish, termites, wasps, spiders, and more. The illustration of a housefly's face under a microscope and the description of how they eat their food is more than enough!

All of these titles are available from your preferred vendor, your independent bookstore, Enslow.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Both library and paperback versions are available.


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March 21, 2013

Free Handout for Children's Poetry Day

To celebrate Children's Poetry Day we've added a new Spring Acrostic Poem handout to our "Free Stuff" over at Blue Wave Classroom. Students will have fun creating their own poems using the letters from the word "spring" to start each line of their poem.

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February 12, 2013

It's Mardi Gras!

Library ISBN 978-0-7660-3724-3
Paper ISBN 978-1-59845-334-8
Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is being celebrated in New Orleans today, as well as in other cities around the world. It is also the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Since Lent is a forty-day period of fasting and penitence observed by many Christian churches, Mardi Gras is seen as the day to have parties, parades, and feasts of food.

Want to make some crafts for Mardi Gras? Randel McGee has written a great book for elementary students, with instructions and patterns for making seven different crafts (2 different masks, 2 different necklaces, a rhythm maker, a cap, and a crown,) as well as a Mardi Gras mask card.


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November 08, 2012

Blue Wave Classroom Exhibits at NAEYC




Check out our new Blue Wave Classroom booth # 2152 at the NAEYC Conference in Atlanta. Stop by our booth to receive your free tote and see how you can you use informational text from our classroom books to fill your Common Core State Standards needs. Just look for the big red and white apple balloon!

October 26, 2012

FREE Stuff Friday


We thought we'd post some free stuff this Friday. So, here are three seasonal worksheets available for download from our Blue Wave Classroom website. Kids will enjoy writing their own acrostic poems and they look great displayed on bulletin boards. Just click on any worksheet to take you to page where you can download all three for FREE! If you enjoy these, let us know and we'll provide more in the future.