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This month’s experiments were tested by: Carole Slonin, 2nd- through 5th-Grade Teacher

Earth Day SpecialEarth Day is April 22. And there’s no better way to celebrate

than by using this issue of SuperScience!This month’s cover story, “Alien Invasion,” profiles a group

of invasive species that are popping up in the United States. The article explains how these animals are threatening various ecosystems and what’s being done to stop them

Our other Earth Day article, “Coral Reef Crisis,” takes students to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, where pollution is damaging coral reefs. The problem is also evident in other coral-reef systems of the world.

In the upcoming year, you can look forward to more fun educational science features filled with fantastic facts, in-depth interviews, and hands-on activities. So don’t forget to renew your SuperScience subscription by calling 1-800-SCHOLASTIC.

Best regards, Nancy Honovich, Editor e-mail: [email protected]

APRIL 2006ISSN 1010-144x

A SUPPLEMENT TO SUPERSCIENCE

For quizzes, experiments, and Web links, visit:www.scholastic.com/superscience

Turn each issue of SuperScience into hours of valuable instruction!

This month, you’ll find: 6 Lesson plans 2 Reproducible work sheets 14 Discussion questions & extensions 9 Print & Web resources 1 SuperScience Web site (www.scholastic.com/superscience)

32 ways to support your curriculum

Turn the page to start your lesson plan!

GET WIND OF THIS — Students demonstrate how wind disperses seeds (see p. 11 of the Student Edition).

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Physical Science: Student’s use science and logic to crack the SuperScience mystery.

Earth Science: Kelly Slater has been making waves in the surfing community for years—but he couldn’t do it without understanding how waves form and travel through the ocean. Discover how Slater uses this knowledge to surf.

Life Science: Scientist Darrel Frost is on a quest to create a museum exhibit of lizards and snakes. Go behind the scenes of the American Museum of Natural History in New York to learn more about these fun critters and what it takes to create such an exhibit.

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4 Science Mystery:The Case of the Tongue Zapper

Scientific Inquiry: manipulating variables; observing; gathering data; drawing conclusions; interpreting results.Physical Science: electricity, metals; conduction. Language Arts: reading fictional passages.

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6 Feature:America’s Least Wanted

Life Science: invasive species; ecosystems; habitats;animal populations.Language Arts: reading comprehension.

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10 Hands-0n Lab:Cling On

Scientific Inquiry: manipulating variables; observing; gathering data; drawing conclusions; interpreting results.Life Science: invasive species; seed dispersal; adaptations. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

11 Hands-0n Lab:Wind Power

Scientific Inquiry: manipulating variables; observing; gathering data; drawing conclusions; interpreting results.Life Science: invasive species; seed dispersal; adaptations.

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12 Feature:Coral Reef Crisis

Earth Science: water pollution; global warming; carbon dioxide.Life Science: coral reefs; coral polyps; symbiotic relationship between coral and algae.Language Arts: reading comprehension.

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15 Hands-0n Lab:Pollution Problem

Scientific Inquiry: manipulating variables; observing; gathering data; drawing conclusions; interpreting results.Earth Science: water pollution.Life Science: coral reefs.

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PAGE 4 THE CASE OF THE TONGUE ZAPPER

For Grades K-4Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiryElecricity

For Grades 5-8Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiryTransfer of Energy

INTEGRATE YOUR CURRICULUM!Language Arts—Reading Fiction

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SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS

SuperScience Teacher’s Edition • APRIL 2006 T3

Science Mystery (Student Edition, pp. 4-5)

The acid in the lemon reacts differently with the dime and the penny. That’s because one of the coins contains positive electric charges, while the other contains negative electric charges. These charges create a current, which will flow if the battery circuit is complete. Your tongue acts like a wire and conducts the charges, making the circuit complete. The complete electric circuit causes a small amount of electricity to flow, which causes the sensation on your tongue. So who zapped Pam? It was theperson with a penny and a dime: Will. Quick Quiz

(Student Edition, p. 9) 1. C 2. D 3. B

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Mystery Photo(Student Edition, p. 16)A leaf. Coral Map(Student Edition, p. 16)1. Ras Muhammad Reef 2. Pacific Ocean 3. Rangiroa, Great Barrier Reef, and Rainbow Reef 4. NorthScavenger Hunt

(Reproducible, T7)1a. Kinetic energy is energy of

motion.1b. A frog leaping demonstrates

kinetic energy.2a. The U.S. government wants to

take Yellowstone’s grizzlies off the Endangered Species List because the bear population has increased.

2b. Answers will vary.3a. A positive electric charge and

a negative electric charge are needed to produce electricity.

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3b. Using two of the same metals would most likely not produce electricity. That’s because the metals would have the same electrical charge.

4a. The brown tree snake has wiped out seven of Guam’s bird species and has also caused many power outages.

4b. Answers will vary.5a. The shells of coral are made

from limestone. Calcium carbonate is also an accept-able answer.

5b. Without their shells, the polyps would have no protec-tion from predators, and would most likely be harmed or die.

Bonus: See Page 16.No-Sweat Bubble Test

(Reproducible, T8)1. C 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. D 6. D 7. C

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Discussion QuestionsWhat are some sources of pollution? (Possible answers: Smoke from factories; fuel burned by cars; litter.) How do you think pollution affects the environment? (Possible answers: Air pollution can make it difficult for people to breathe; litter thrown in the ocean can harm the animals that live there.)

AFTER READINGDiscussion Questions

What do you use electricity for? (Possible answers: to light a room; to play a radio; to watch television.) What are some ways in which you can cut down on electricity? (Possible answer: By remembering to turn the lights off when leaving a room; by limiting the time spent watching television.)

RESOURCEShttp://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local Check out this Air Now Web site to learn what the air quality is like in your town.Electricity (Science Alive!) by Darlene Lauw and Lim Cheng Puay (Crabtree Publishing Company, 2001) feature more experiments that will help students understand the way electricity works.

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BEFORE READINGESTIMATED TIME: 45 minutes

Set a Purpose Read a story to learn how electricity is produced.

Background• Earth Day is held each year on April 22. This special

day is used to promote awareness of environmental issues. The first Earth Day was in 1970.The Sierra Club reports that of all the pollutants emitted by the electrical industry, coal-burning power plants have the highest rate of emissions: 96% of sulfur dioxide, 93% of nitrogen oxide, 88% of carbon dioxide, and 99% of mercury.

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ANSWERS

For Grades K-4Organisms and environmentsCharacteristics of organisms

For Grades 5-8Populations and ecosystemsRegulation and behavior

INTEGRATE YOUR CURRICULUM! Language Arts—Reading Comprehension

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PAGE 6 America’s Least Wanted

BEFORE READINGSet a PurposeTo learn about invasive species and the problems they are causing for ecosystems in the United States.

BackgroundA female cane toad can lay 8,000 to 35,000 eggs at a time. The eggs hatch about 24 to 72 hours after they are laid.The brown tree snake averages 3 to 6 feet in length. But on Guam, where food is plentiful, it has reached lengths of 10 feet. The brown tree does not have fangs. However, it does have a weak venom which it releases through its rear teeth.

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Discussion QuestionSuppose African lions were let loose in an area of the U.S. that was filled with prairie dogs. How might this affect the prairie-dog population in that area? (Possible answers: It would decrease the number of prairie dogs; the tigers would kill all the prairie dogs.)


How do invasive species affect the ecosystem that they are introduced into? (Possible answer: They outcompete other animals for food; they hunt and kill animals that are native to an area.) Do you have any invasive species in your area? If so, what are they?

RESOURCEShttp://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/invaders/ Check out this Web site for more information about invasive species.The Future of the Earth: An Introduction to Sustainable Development for Young Readers by Yann Arthus Betrand, adapted by Robert Burleigli, (Harry N. Abrams, 2004) explains how issues such as invasive species, pollution, global warming, and economic disparity have changed the world.

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Discussion QuestionsWhat is a weed? (Possible answer: A plant that grows where it’s not supposed to.) What effect does a weed have on the plants around it? (Possible answers: It crowds other plants; it makes

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it difficult for other plants to grow.)

AFTER EXPERIMENTINGConclusions:

Answers will vary. Answers will vary.Sometimes, we can transport seeds to different areas when they cling to our clothing or the soles of our sho es.

RESOURCEExotic Invaders: Killer Bees, Fire Ants, and Other Alien Species Are Infesting America! by Jeanne M. Lesinski (Walker & Company, 1996) describes five nonnative animals—the sea lamprey, fire ants, zebra mussels, European starlings, and African honeybees—that have been wreaking havoc on North America. Efforts to handle the problems these animals have caused are also discussed.

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PAGE 10 CLING ON

For Grades K-4Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Characteristics of organisms

For Grades 5-8Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Diversity and adaptations of organism

INTEGRATE YOUR CURRICULUM!Life Skills—Following directions

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PAGE 11 WIND POWER

PAGE 12 CORAL REEF CRISIS

For Grades K-4Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Characteristics of organisms

For Grades 5-8Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Diversity and adaptations of organisms


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For Grades K-4Changes in earth and skyChanges in environments

For Grades 5-8Structure of the earth systemPopulations, resources, and environments

INTEGRATE YOUR CURRICULUM!Language Arts—Reading Comprehension

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Discussion QuestionDo you think that nature can transport seeds to different regions? If so, how? (Possible answer: The wind can blow seeds to different places; water can carry seeds; animals can carry seeds that stick to their fur or feathers.)

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BEFORE READINGSet a PurposeTo learn how pollution and other human activities are damaging coral reefs.

BackgroundScientists have found as many as 3,000 different species living on one reef.Coral reefs are a tremendous medical resource, providing chemical compounds used in antihistamines, antibiotics, and other treatments for illnesses ranging from asthma to leukemia and heart disease.

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Discussion QuestionsWhat are some things that you know about corals? (Possible answers: They live in the water; they are colorful; many fish live among them.)Corals are found in warm, tropical oceans. What do you think might happen to the corals if the temperature of the water became too hot? (Possible answer: The corals would die.)


What factors are harming coral reefs? (Possible answers: the burning of fossil fuels, which affects the water temperature; water pollution, which changes the chemical makeup of the ocean.) How do rising or cooling temperatures affect coral polyps? (Possible answer: It causes them to spit out algae. This results in coral bleaching.)

RESOURCEhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/reef/reef1_flash.html This National Geographic Web site allows you to go on a virtual dive to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

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Answers will vary. Answers will vary. If wind carried a seed to a different region, it’s likely that the seed would fall into soil and grow into a plant. If that plant reproduced, the plants that were created might take away nutrients from native plants, or even block sunlight from reaching those plants.

RESOURCEShttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/algae/ This NOVA feature chronicles the spread of an aquarium plant that was accidentally released into the Mediterranean in the 1980s, and how it has been harming marine life ever since. Plant Invaders by Dorothy M. Souza (Scholastic, 2004) discusses the strange things that happen when plants leave home and travel by wind or water to another region.

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Discussion Question Do you think that water pollution has an effect on the organisms that live in the water? If so, how? (Possible answers: It changes the chemical makeup of the water, causing organisms to die or behave

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differently; organisms that eat materials dumped into water could die.)


The “polluted” water appeared cloudier than the “clean” water. The vinegar caused the antacid to break down. The residue from this reaction made the water appear cloudy. A chemical pollutant could cause coral shells to break down.

RESOURCEhttp://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/main.htm The kids page of this Australian water-monitoring program features more information about water pollution and how it’s being monitored.

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PAGE 15 SHELL SHOCK

For Grades K-4Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Properties of objects and materials

For Grades 5-8bilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Properties and changes of properties of matter


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ASSESSMENTANSWERS ON PAGE T3

COPY MEONE PER STUDENT

Search the magazine to find the answer to part A of each question.Then, search your brain to find the answer to part B!

Scavenger HuntName: _________________________________________ Date: ____________

1 a: What is kinetic energy?b: Which of the following

demonstrates kinetic energy: a rock in the grass or a frog leaping?

2 a: Why is the U.S. government planning to take Yellowstone’s grizzly bears off the Endangered Species List?

b: Do you agree with the idea? Why or why not?

3 a: What types of electric charges do you need to create electricity?

b: Do you think using two of the same metals would help produce electricity? Why or why not?

4 a: List two problems that the brown tree snake has caused in Guam.

b: Do you think it’s a good idea to bring exotic animals to other countries? Why or why not?

5 a: What are the shells of coral polyps made from?

b: What do you think would happen to the polyps if they didn’t have these shells?

BONUS: Search the issue to find a traffic light.I found it on page _________________________

(Continue on the back if you run out of space.)

PERMISSION GRANTED TO REPRODUCE FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY. COPYRIGHT © 2006 BY SCHOLASTIC INC.


No-Sweat Bubble Test(reading comprehension)

DIRECTIONS: Read each question below, and then use the article “Coral Reef Crisis” (pp. 12-14) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely.

ASSESSMENTANSWERS ON PAGE T3

COPY MEONE PER STUDENT

Name: _____________________________________ Date: _________________

6. Which of the following statements is FALSE?

The Great Barrier Reef is so large it can be seen from the moon.Coral polyps have tentacles.The Great Barrier Reef is made of many separate coral reefs.Coral polyps can only survive in cool, tropical waters.

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1. The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of _______.

the United StatesGreenlandAustraliaArgentina

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5. A _______ is an animal that lives among coral reefs

clown fishsea anemonegreen turtleAll of the above

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7. What is the main idea of this article?

Coral polyps are one of the ocean’s most fragile creatures.Like all coral reef chains, the Great Barrier Reef is a bustling ecosystem.The Great Barrier Reef is being harmed by factors such as pollution.Coral bleaching is a problem for coral reefs.

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3. Cars and factories burn _______ to produce heat and electricity.

fossil fuelscarbon dioxidecoral reefshydrogen

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4. When _______ gets trapped in Earth’s atmosphere, it forms a thick blanket around the planet. This keeps the sun’s heat from escaping.

� carbon dioxide � hydrogen � oxygen � nitrogen

SuperScience Vol. 17, No. 7 • April 2006 Editorial: Editor: Nancy Honovich • Intern: Cody Crane • Art: Art Director: Doreen Walsh • Production: Production Editor: Paul Scherr • Copy Chief: Renee Glaser • Senior Photo Editor: David Franck • Magazine Group: Senior VP: Greg Worrell • VP, Editor in Chief: Rebecca Bondor • Executive Editor: Patricia Janes • Director, Editorial Administration: Lana Baker • Design Director: Judith Christ-Lafond • Executive Production Director: Barbara Schwartz • Publishing System Director: David Hendrickson • Director of Product Development: Kelly Schmitt • Executive Director of Photography: Steven Diamond • Library Manager: Kerry Prendergast • Reference Librarian: Karen Van Rossem • CIRCULATION & MARKETING: VP, Marketing: Jocelyn Forman • Marketing Manager: Leslie Derison • EDUCATION GROUP: President: Margery Mayer • VP, Finance & Operations: Beth Polcari • Business Manager: Nancy Carmona • Director, Manufacturing & Distribution: Mimi Esguerra • Manufacturing Manager: Elyse Hart • CORPORATE: President, Chief Exec. Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Scholastic Inc.: Richard Robinson. • For Advertising/Custom Marketing inquiries call (212) 343-6443.

2. Coral reefs are built by _______.

� limestone fish � polyps � algae � tardigrades

T9 SuperScience Teacher’s Edition • OCTOBER 2005

economic disparity have changed the world in which we live.

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PAGE 6 America’s Least Wanted

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SEPT OCT NOV/DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY Earth Day …teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/magazines/superscience/april... · SEPT OCT NOV/DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY ... Turn the page to