The nature’s recyclers unit introduces students to decomposition. Fifth graders will discover that living organisms carry out the process of decomposition. In caring and working with living organisms, they have the opportunity to develop good habits of environmental stewardship.
The Gift of the Tree by
Tresselt's classic story of The Dead Tree is given new life in this gloriously reillustrated volume. The role of an oak tree in the cycle of nature is revealed as an ancient tree, even as it dies and returns to the earth, provides nourishment for new life all around it. "Impressionistic illustrations beautifully reflect an evocative text." -- Kirkus Reviews.
Lots of Rot by
Decay is explored in a series of interesting experiments.
Rot and Decay by
Discusses Things That Rot And Break Down And Things That Don't, How Decomposing Things May Feed Insects Or Animals Or Help The Soil, And Talks About Recycling.
A Dead Log by
A living tree is home to many different creatures. When the tree dies, a different group of animals and plants move in. A Dead Log describes the diverse kinds of insects, plants, and animals that live on and under a dead tree's bark as well as inside the log itself. A fantastic fact box tells children how to identify different insects and a special section gives tips on how to become a log detective. Concepts are explained such as: * camouflage * food webs * shelter * how fungi reproduce * the process of decay in a log
A Log's Life by
When a tree falls in the forest, what is its fate? And what happens to the animals who've depended on it?Through the simple yet dramatic story of a tree's life, death, and decomposition, A Log's Life illustrates the interdependence of living creatures. A great oak tree provides food or shelter for squirrels, a porcupine, carpenter ants, fungi, slugs, and more. When lightning strikes, it topples to become a giant log. Now spiders, millipedes, termites, a porcupine, salamanders, etc. move in. Over time the log decays and collapses, driving the animals to find new homes. Moss carpets the log, breaking it down further; it becomes dirt. Then an acorn fails in the rich earth, and grows into another great oak tree, which is eventually struck down in another storm to become another giant log.
A Temperate Forest Food Chain by
Welcome to a North American temperate forest! As you walk along a shady trail, the forest seems cool and quiet. But it is full of life, from a butterfly flitting over a flower to a gray wolf prowling through the underbrush. Day and night in the forest, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All the living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animals to plants, plants to insects, and insects to animals. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the forest? Will you... Trail a black bear and her cubs? Dive down into a dark river with a beaver? Hunt from a high perch with a great horned owl? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
Rainforest Food Chains by
What do tapirs eat? What is a jaguar's favorite food? Which plant eats insects and spiders? Read this book to find out who eats who in a rainforest! What do tapirs eat? What is a jaguar's favorite food? Which plant eats insects and spiders? Read this book to find out who eats who in a rainforest! Contents include: What is a rainforest food web? What is a rainforest food chain? What is a producer in a rainforest? What is a primary consumer in a rainforest? What is a secondary consumer in a rainforest? What is a decomposer in a rainforest? How are rainforest food chains different in different places? What Happens to a food web when a food chain breaks down? How can we protect the environment and rainforest food chains?
A Cloud Forest Food Chain by
Welcome to an African cloud forest! As you set off down the mountain path, all you see ahead is a thick tangle of vines and bamboo trees. But the cloud forest is full of life, from a collared sunbird hovering over some flowers to a leopard stalking a giant forest hog. Day and night in the cloud forest, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the cloud forest? Will you . . . Watch a fierce honey badger battle a dangerous snake? Slink along with an African golden cat as it tails its prey? Munch on some leaves with a family of mountain gorillas? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Rain Forest Food Chain by
Welcome to a South American rain forest! As you push your way through the thick, green jungle, you see, hear, and feel the wildlife. Howler monkeys screech overhead as they munch on leaves. Antbirds swoop by in search of tasty bugs. Day and night in the rain forest, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the rain forest? Will you... Crouch in the shadows with a jaguar? Slither through the leaves with an anaconda? Lurk in the jungle night with a tarantula? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Savanna Food Chain by
Welcome to an African Savanna! As you walk through the tall grass, the Savanna seems flat and empty. But it is full of life, from a tortoise munching on some green leaves to a lion prowling for its next feast. Day and night on the savanna, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the forest? Will you... Race with a hunting cheetah? Graze with a hippo and her calf? Slither through the grass with an Egyptian cobra? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Galápagos Island Food Chain by
Welcome to the Galápagos Islands! As you follow a path through the black lava rock on one of the islands, you may hear the sea lions barking or the hum of a white-lined sphinx moth flying past your head. the Galápagos Islands are full of life, from a huge tortoise trudging toward a cactus patch to a Galápagos barn owl gliding in the air, ready to snatch up a Santa Fe rice rat. Day and night in the Galápagos Islands, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All the living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the islands? Will you . . . Go fishing with a blue-footed booby? Snack on some crabs with a Galápagos sea lion? Dive under the reef in search of algae with a marine iguana? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Tundra Food Chain by
Welcome to the arctic tundra! As you hike along the frozen ground of this cold, dry region, the tundra may seem quiet and empty. But it is full of life, in the spring when migrating lemmings munch on spring flowers, and even in the winter, when fur-coated wolves, foxes, and hares dart and prowl through the snow. Summer and winter in the tundra, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the tundra? Will you... Zoom with a peregrine falcon as it aims for its prey? Chomp with a caribou grazing on grasses? Sneak up on a polar bear fishing for its dinner? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
An Australian Outback Food Chain by
Welcome to the Australian Outback! As your jeep bumps along an empty road, the dry, dusty land all around you bakes in the heat. But the Outback is full of life, from a frilled lizard snapping at bush flies to a kangaroo family munching on grass. Day and night in the Outback, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the Outback? Will you... Run with a pack of dingos? Lurk with a saltwater crocodile as it stalks its prey? Swoop through the night sky with a ghost bat? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Desert Food Chain by
Welcome to the desert! Some people think of the desert as a hot, dry, lifeless place. But it is full of life, with diamondback rattlesnakes stalking scorpions and coyotes prowling for rabbits after nightfall. Day and night in the desert, the hunt is on to find food--and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the desert? Will you... Race after a roadrunner chasing her dinner? Fly with a pallid bat during her nightly insect feast? Shadow a pronghorn dining on prickly pear? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Nile River Food Chain by
Welcome to the Nile River in Egypt! As you slosh through the river bank and puddle-jump the marshy areas, you can hear birds calling, frogs peeping and little scurrying sounds from the underbrush. the Nile River is full of life, from Egyptian vultures snatching ostrich eggs to golden jackals gnawing on a dead rabbit. Day and night in the Nile River delta, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All the living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the river delta? Will you . . . Swoop through the air with an Egyptian slit-faced bat hunting insects? Stalk for frog dinner through thick reeds with a swamp cat? Scavenge for road kill with a striped hyena? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Mangrove Forest Food Chain by
Welcome to a Southeast Asian mangrove forest! As you wade through the tangle of mangrove roots, it's hard to tell where the ocean ends and the land begins. the mangrove forest is humming with life. a dog-faced water snake lures a school of archerfish with her wiggling tail, and a macaque swings through the branches in search of mangrove apples. Day and night in the mangrove forest, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the mangrove forest? Will you ... Creep along the branches with a clouded leopard as it stalks a wild pig? Play with otters as they wait for their shellfish to open in the sun? Soar through the dark with a flying fox in search of flowers and seeds? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
A Coral Reef Food Chain by
Welcome to a Caribbean coral reef! As you snorkel just offshore, you see brilliant fish, waving sea anemones, diving turtles - maybe even a prowling barracuda! the coral reef is full of life - from coral polyps snagging plankton to a moray eel gobbling up a goby fish. Day and night on the coral reef, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, and plant to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the coral reef? Will you . . . Tail a tiger shark as it sniffs out its next victim? Check out a stingray crushing clams? Watch a feathery fan worm trap bits of leftovers? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
An Estuary Food Chain by
Welcome to a North American estuary! As you travel through the swamp's murky water, you wade through green duckweed and push ahead to the moss-draped trees at the water's edge. Everything seems green and still. But the estuary is full of life, from an American alligator lying in wait for a cottonmouth snake, to a swarm of biting midges stinging you. Day and night in the estuary, the hunt is on to find food - and to avoid becoming someone else's next meal. All living things are connected to one another in a food chain, from animal to animal, animal to plant, plant to insect, and insect to animal. What path will you take to follow the food chain through the estuary? Will you ...swoop through the sky with a barred owl chasing a mouse? Join a family of opossums munching on a poisonous snake? Nibble on some water plants with a swamp rabbit? Follow all three chains and many more on this who-eats-what adventure!
Secrets of the Garden by
Perfect for spring planting season--an outstanding book about backyard science the whole family will appreciate. Alice's family plants a vegetable garden each spring, and this budding naturalist reports all she sees about how the plants grow, what insects come to eat the plants, and what birds and animals come to eat the insects.nbsp; It's the food chain, right in her own backyard! While Alice's narrative is simple and engaging, science concepts are presented in more depth in sidebars by a pair of very knowledgeable (and highly amusing) chickens! Noted science writer Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld knows how to layer information to make it accessible to a wide range of readers and useful for educators. And illustrator Priscilla Lamont's funny, friendly paintings make this a garden everyone will want to explore. Kids will eat up this wonderful book of backyard science--and perhaps they'll even be inspired to eat their vegetables! "A wonderfully informative and enjoyable journey through one family's backyard garden, from spring planting to fall harvest. . . . this is bound to spark some backyard explorations." --Kirkus, Starred Review From the Hardcover edition.
Mushrooms by 
Decomposers by
Describes decomposers which are from the fourth level of consumers in the food chain and get their energy by eating and breaking down dead plants and animals.
Rocks and Soil by
Bits of rock are a key component of soil. The kinds of rocks found in soil determine what sorts of plants will grow well in it. This book is full of information that readers can use in their own investigations of soil and rocks.
Using Soil by
This book answers the questions: What is soil? What is soil made of? Is all soil the same? How do we use soil? Will we ever run out of soil? Who studies soil? It also includes an activity about soil.
Soil Basics by
Text and photographs introduce soil including what it's made of and some of the different types of soil.
Super Soils by
Dig into the world of geology with the Rock On! series! Super Soils introduces readers to what makes up soil, from humus and plants and animals to water and air. Chapters discuss how weathering, erosion, parent material, decay, bacteria, organic matter,
Soil by
Soil looks at how different types of soil form, change, erode, and are used around the world.
Dirt by
What is soil? Who lives in dirt? How does earth help things grow? The answers are within this fun- and fact-filled picture book. Just follow the gardening star-nosed mole in the colorful outfits...and dig in!!
Let's Look at Earthworms by
What animal has a long body, slimy skin, and no backbone? An earthworm! But do you know where earthworms live? Or which end of an earthworm is its head?
Wiggling Worms at Work by
Crawling through the dirt, worms are hard at work, helping plants to grow. Worms help the fruit and vegetables we eat by loosening the soil and feeding the plants. Read and find out about these wiggling wonders!
Wormology by
Supports the national science education standards Unifying Concepts and Processes: Systems, Order, and Organization; Unifying Concepts and Processes: Evidence, Models, and Explanation; Unifying Concepts and Processes: Constancy, Change, and Measurement; Unifying Concepts and Processes: Form and Function; Science as Inquiry; and Life Science as outlined by the National Academics of Science and endorsed by the National Science Teachers Association.