Science

Writings dealing with science are nonfiction works that explore the natural world. These writings explain a principle, theory, or phenomenon.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Think about a garden. It is filled with plants that have flowers. How did they get there? What makes a flower grow? First, there is a seed. The seed is hard on the outside. That keeps what is inside nice and safe. Inside the seed is a baby plant. There…

Bats in Peril

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. They play a very important role in ecosystems around the world. They help eliminate pests for farmers. They also help ensure that rainforests stay healthy. Bats face many threats though. This means ecosystems across the globe are threatened too. There are…

Rachel Carson, Environmentalist

Rachel Carson ran home from school. “Mom! Mom!” Mom stood on the front porch. “What’s wrong, Rachel?” “They’re digging up the meadow. There are trucks and men all over.” Rachel paused to catch her breath. “Our beautiful meadow. It’s being destroyed.” Mom gave Rachel a hug. “Yes, honey. It’s called…

Amur Tigers: Big Cats in Crisis

Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are interesting animals. They are the biggest cats in the world. A full-grown Amur tiger can weigh over 600 pounds. Unlike lions that live in groups, tigers are solitary animals, meaning they live alone. Tigers also have very good eyesight and hearing. Its…

Project Mercury: The First Americans in Space

Project Mercury was America’s first human spaceflight program. The project was named after the Roman god of travelers – Mercury. The program began in 1958 and ended in 1963. Project Mercury was an important part of the “Space Race.” The Space Race was a space exploration competition between the United…

Blue Whales: Saving the Giants of the Ocean

Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. They are also the largest animals known to have ever existed. This means that they are bigger than the dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago. Blue whales weigh as much as 33 elephants (200 tons) and can be up to 100…

A Farmer’s Friend

Not everyone loves worms. Some people think they are slimy and disgusting, but these small wriggling creatures are very important. In fact, we can thank earthworms for many of the delicious foods on our plates. Earthworms are good friends to the farmers who grow fruits and vegetables. Earthworms can be…

Dr. Dian Fossey: Renowned Primatologist and Conservationist

Dr. Dian Fossey, founder of the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, initiated groundbreaking studies of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. She was considered one of the world’s foremost primatologists and animal conservationists. Along with primatologists Jane Goodall and Birutė Galdikas, she was known as one…

The Mystery Mammal

Every week someone in my class gets a turn at solving a problem. It’s always something different. I’m excited because today it’s my turn! My teacher clapped his hands to get the class’s attention. “We have been studying different kinds of animals, so this week’s problem will focus on one…

The Mercury 13: Paving the Way for Women in Space

During the early 1960s, there was an important group of American women pilots who dreamed of becoming astronauts. These women were known as the Mercury 13. Though their dreams were never realized, they blazed a trail for future female astronauts. The early 1960s was a key period in the “Space…