November 10, 2009
(PhysOrg.com)—There are approximately 40,000 species of spiders in the world, all of which have been thought to be strict predators that feed on insects or other animals. Now, scientists have found that a small Central American jumping spider has a uniquely different diet: the species Bagheera kiplingi feeds predominantly on plant food.
Posted by: Seymour Simon
October 28, 2009
11/2/09 Southlake, TX - Carroll Elementary
11/3-4/09 Dallas, TX TWU Reading Recovery Institute
11/5/09 Dallas, TX - Episcopal School of Dallas
11/6/09 Arlington, TX - Kenneth Davis Elementary
11/16/09 Washington, DC - Episcopal Day School
2/4/10 and 2/5/10 San Angelo, TX - School visits at Education Service Center
2/6/10 San Angelo, TX - Angelo State University literacy conference
2/18/10 and 2/19/10 Myrtle Beach, SC - SCIRA Conference
4/24-26/10 Chicago, IL IRA Conference
5/11/10 Mayfield Heights, OH - Mayfield Middle School
5/12/10 Solon, OH - Orchard Middle School
Posted by: Seymour Simon
October 21, 2009
Spiders are one of the most familiar animals in the natural world, but many people don’t know much about them. Lisa McPherson’s Class at Cold Water Elementary in Missouri is learning all about spiders from Seymour’s book. Did you know that spiders can be found less than twelve feet from where you are, right now! They live all over, in gardens, in the ground, in leaf litter, under tree bark, in freshwater streams, and… right in your house.
Welcome to the world of spiders!
Posted by: Seymour Simon
October 21, 2009
Posted by: Seymour Simon
October 21, 2009
Posted by: Seymour Simon
October 21, 2009
Posted by: Seymour Simon
September 11, 2009
This wonderful photograph was published on MSNBC.com this morning. It is a photograph of four-year old Ella Bromsted’s hair, charged with static electricity as she gets off a slide at Robert Morris Elementary School in Batavia, N.Y.
What is static electricity?
Static electricity occurs when an electrical charge builds up on the surface of an object. And, those electrical charges stay on the surface of the object until it comes into contact with another object. Then, the electricity is discharged in a burst of energy - what is sometimes called a "shock." Have you ever walked across a carpet on a cold, dry winter day? Then when you touch your friend’s hand you both jump because you’ve given her a shock! What actually happened was that the friction between your shoes and the carpet caused static electricity to build up on the surface of your body, and the electricity was discharged in a burst of energy when you touched her.
Have you ever heard the phrase "opposites attract"? Some people use that phrase when they are talking about love, but it is also true for electricity. Opposite charges attract each other (a positive charge moves toward a negative charge), and charges that are the same repel each other (two positives push away from each other).
Knowing that, can you guess why Ella’s hair looks like this?
This electric mohawk happened because when Ella’s hair came into contact with the plastic slide, each hair picked up a positive charge. The hair is literally standing up on her head because the individual hairs all have the same charge, and they are repelling each other.
I guess you could say that Ella had a shocking first day of school!
We’d love to hear about your first day back at school. You can write to me at simon@seymoursimon.com
Posted by: Seymour Simon
September 1, 2009
I’ll be speaking and signing books in the Hazelwood School District in St. Louis on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20, 21. I’ll also be speaking and signing books in schools in Dallas for a full week from November 2-6. I’ll post my complete Fall schedule soon. If your school is interested in a visit, send an email.
Posted by: Seymour Simon
September 1, 2009
Posted by: Seymour Simon
August 13, 2009
If you know any children who love dinosaurs and/or trains—please share this exciting news.
On September 7, 2009, a new preschool TV series from The Jim Henson Company will premiere on PBS. It’s called DINOSAUR TRAIN. Set in a whimsically realistic, prehistoric world of jungles, swamps, active volcanoes and oceans, DINOSAUR TRAIN will help kids ages 3 to 6 to apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, compare and contrast dinosaurs to today’s creatures, and learn about paleontology and natural history. Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), the series aims to use kids’ fascination with dinosaurs to teach broader concepts about the natural world, and to inspire them to explore nature firsthand.
Take a peek…
Full-confession: As the Curriculum Consultant for the series, I wrote its educational goals, collaborated with writers and producers throughout the script development process, and created hands-on activities for the DINOSAUR TRAIN Web site. I even wrote one of the episodes (in which Buddy and Tiny meet a gigantic pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus, which had the wingspan of a small airplane!)
You can check out a sample full-length sample on PBS Web site for the series, and please share any reactions. Also, if you know of any wonderful books or other resources for dino-obsessed kids, please pass along the details.
Rooooaaaarrr!!!
Posted by: Liz Nealon
