GRADE 1 STEM BOOKS

1-PS4-2 Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects in darkness can be seen only when illuminated. 

• Boyd, L. (2014). Flashlight.

  •  Inside a tent it's cozy. But what is going on outside? Is it dark? Is it scary? Not if you have your trusty flashlight! Told solely through images and using a spare yet dramatic palette, artist Lizi Boyd has crafted a masterful exploration of night, nature, and art. 

• Waring, G. (2008). Oscar and the moth:

  • A book about light and dark. As Oscar the kitten watches the sun set one evening, he has lots of questions about light and dark. Who better than Moth to help out? Moth shows how sources of light are as different as the sun, stars, fireflies, streetlights, and airplanes, and also explains how shadows are made and why darkness comes at night. Includes lesson summaries! 

• Rocco, J. (2011). Blackout. 

  • One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? 

• Yankey, L. (2015). Sun and moon. 

  • Sun and Moon have always held their own places in the sky, but after a lifetime of darkness Moon wants to trade. Sun agrees, but only if first Moon takes a careful look at his night, before making his final decision.

1-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.* 

• Jenkins, S. (2014). Eye to eye: How animals see the world. 

  • Explains how for most animals, eyes are the most important source of information about the world in a biological sense. The simplest eyes—clusters of light-sensitive cells—appeared more than one billion years ago, and provided a big survival advantage to the first creatures that had them. Since then, animals have evolved an amazing variety of eyes, along with often surprising ways to use them. 

• Lee, D. (2011). Biomimicry: 

  • Inventions inspired by nature. Examines the extraordinary innovations of the natural world and the human inventions they have inspired. 

• Kamkwamba, W. (2012). The boy who harnessed the wind: 

  • Picture book edition. A drought hit the country of Malawi in sub-Saharan African. Fascinated by machines, William is inspired by a diagram of a windmill in a library book to scavenge parts from the junkyard and makes them into a windmill, mounts it on a tower, and turns on a light with the wind. 

• Fleming, C. (2013). Papa’s mechanical fish. 

  • A fictional account based on events in the life of eccentric inventor Lodner Phillips as told from the perspective of his daughter, Virena. With a lot of persistence and a little bit of help, Papa creates a submarine that can take his family for a trip to the bottom of Lake Michigan

1-LS1-2 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive. 

• Cannon, J. (1993). Stellaluna.

  • A fruit bat is separated from her mother and has to survive with a family of birds, mimicking the behavior of this different species. 

• Carrick, C. (2007). Mothers are like that. 

  • Describes mothers of all species, from a chicken guarding an egg-filled nest to a woman tucking her baby into bed at night. The text is tender without being sappy, its comforting descriptions anchored by the title refrain: "Mother keeps her babies clean,/ and close,/ and safe from harm./ She can find them in a crowd./ Mothers are like that." 

• Woelfle, G. (2005). Animal families, animal friends. 

  • Teaches readers about the many funny and fascinating relationships found in nature, using the familiar concepts of family, friends, and neighbors. Luminescent, realistic paintings and simple text make this an inviting introduction to animal communities and cooperation. 

• Kasza, K. (1997). Don’t laugh, Joe! 

  • Mother Possum is concerned that Joe laughs so much, he cannot play dead to escape predators. Until he meets Mr Bear.

1-LS3-1 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

• Knowles, S. (1988). Edward the emu.

  • Tired of his life as an emu, Edward decides to try being something else for a change. He tries swimming with the seals. He spends a day lounging with the lions. He even does a stint slithering with the snakes. But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may be the best thing after all. And so he returns to his pen, only to find a big surprise awaiting him. 

• Petty, D. (2015). I don’t want to be a frog. 

  • Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that being himself isn’t so bad after all.

• Waddell, M. (2002). Owl babies. 

  • Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can’t help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? 

• Fleming, D. (1998). Mama cat has three kittens.

  • Using her own cats as models, Denise Fleming has captured the moods, expressions, and antics of a mother cat and her kittens. But there is a rebel in every crowd, and Boris is sure to charm readers who will recognize themselves in his contrary ways

1-ESS1-1 Earth's Place in the Universe Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted. 

• Curtis, C. (2004). I took the moon for a walk. 

  • When the day has ended and everyone else has fallen asleep, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure with his friend the Moon. Their unusual journey is described in lyrical verse, creating a enchanting story that celebrates the serene beauty of the world at night. 

• Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten’s first full moon. 

  • Tells the story of a kitten who thinks the moon is a bowl of milk. 

• Asch, F. (2008). The sun is my favorite star. 

  • A simple story explaining that there are many stars in the galaxy. But only the sun wakes us in the morning, helps us grow, plays hide-and-seek behind the clouds, and paints pretty pictures in the evening sky. 

• Rockwell, A. (2002). Our stars. 

  • Begins and ends with stars, while informing readers about planets, meteors, comets, and moons in between.

1-ESS1-2 Earth's Place in the Universe Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year. 

• Kleven, E. (2004). Sun bread. 

  • Winter's gray chill has set in and everyone misses the sun-especially the baker. So she decides to bring some warmth to the town by making sun bread. And as the bread bakes, rising hot and delicious, everyone comes out to share in its goodness. Everyone, including the sun itself. 

• Pfeffer, W. (2003). The shortest day: 

  • Celebrating the winter solstice. Explains what the winter solstice is and how it has been observed by various cultures throughout history. 

• Branley, F. (1974). Sunshine makes the seasons. 

  • Find out how the light from the sun affects life on the earth for all living things in this look at the only star in our solar system. 

• Gibbons, G. (1995) The reason for seasons.

  •  How the position of Earth in relation to the sun causes seasons.