Giving kids a hands-on opportunity to see energy in action, these 25 projects are an exciting introduction to the ways this hot topic affects both world politics and everyday lives. Packed with information about what energy really is, where it comes from, and its alternative sources, the projects range from a steam-powered boat and a solar-powered water heater to an electric burglar alarm and a geothermal geyser. The tough topics of energy shortages are covered with enthusiasm in a lively discussion so kids can make educated, positive changes for their future.

When natural disasters happen they grab headlines around the world. People, creatures, and the environment are all impacted when nature gets out of control. Natural disasters can be upsetting to live through, but scientists today better understand their causes and how we can protect ourselves and others. Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth's Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects teaches readers about some of the natural disasters throughout history, what caused them, their impact on civilizations, and how people today cope with natural disasters. Readers of this book will make their own shake tables, create a cake batter lava flow, invent a wind tunnel, and experiment with avalanches. These hands-on activities engage readers and add depth to the text while ensuring that the learning is made lasting and fun.

Soil! We walk on it, play in it, build with it, grow our food in it, and get antibiotics from it. But what exactly is soil? What makes it so important? Can we survive without it? In Explore Soil! With 25 Great Projects, young readers learn how vital soil is to our lives. It filters the water we drink and the air we breathe, and most of the food we eat either grows in soil or subsists on plants that grow there. Soil is a very important part of our daily diet! Activities such as exploring soil runoff, composting, and analyzing soil composition offer kids the chance to get their hands dirty while coming face to face with the study of soil. Kids learn concepts within the fields of life science and chemistry while discovering the dangers soil faces. Explore Soil offers fun, practical information about something kids already love: soil!

What's it like outside? And what are you going to do about it?
Every morning, before heading to school or out to play, kids want to know what the weather is going to be like that day. Is it a day for building a snowman, constructing a sandcastle, or planting a garden? Will they be stuck inside because of rain at recess? Or stuck at home because of snow? And what about tomorrow? "Explore Weather and Climate " will help kids understand the "how" and "why" behind the "what." They'll learn how wind, sun, and water combine to form the weather we experience every day. They'll find out why the weather gets extreme. "Explore Weather and Climate " offers engaging text reinforced with 25 hands on projects that include creating a storm in a bottle, touching the clouds, and eating an edible climate map, resulting in an unforgettable understanding of these forces of nature.

The environment is all around us, whether you live in a city, suburb, or the country. Sometimes, it's easy to ignore. But forgetting about the environment isn't an option if we want our planet to be healthy! Planet Earth: Finding Balance on the Blue Marble with Environmental Science Activities for Kids introduces middle grade readers to all the parts of the natural world, including the oceans, the atmosphere, the earth, and everything in between. In this book, kids master ecology basics, such as the food web and animal habitats, while also learning about environmental issues such as wind and solar power, endangered species, climate change, and more. Stories about new innovations in fields such as recycling, agriculture, and energy production galvanize readers to turn their creative thinking skills to their own inventions. Planet Earth includes hands-on STEM activities and critical thinking exercises to encourage readers to discover connections among their observations of their immediate environment and the larger world around them. Fun facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions encourage readers to ask themselves what they could do differently to make the world a healthier place. Planet Earth is part of a set of four Build It Environmental Science books that explore the history and science of the planet and all that live on it through hands-on STEM activities and real-life environmental connections. Other titles in this series are Biodiversity, Garbage, and Biomes. Nomad Press books integrate content with participation. Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and STEM Education all place project-based learning as key building blocks in education. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.