Guest Hollow’s Science of Seasons Unit Study Book and Resource List

Welcome to the Guest Hollow’s Science of Seasons Unit Study Book and Resource List! This list is to give you an idea of what will be needed if you are using Guest Hollow’s Science of Seasons Unit Study along with some helpful tips and other information. For details about the unit study itself please click here.
Thank You,
The Guest Family
© Guest Hollow, LLC

Literature-based science that’s engaging and fun!

In order to use Guest Hollow’s Science of Seasons Unit Study, you will need to obtain the scheduled books and other items separately. You may be able to borrow many for FREE from your local library! Check out the F.A.Q. below for tips on how to save money when using a literature-based curriculum.

The printable version of the book list features:

• The ISBN number and author’s name
  You can make sure your copy of the book matches the one in the schedule.
• Notification of when each book or item is used
  You can plan ahead when to check out books from the library. Books used throughout the year are marked “multiple weeks,” so you can decide whether you want to purchase them vs. borrow them.
• Checklists for planning
  A handy checklist helps you plan if you are going to buy or borrow a book. It can also help you choose the format of your books (physical copy, e-book, or audio book).
• Consumables are marked
  You’ll get advance notice of which items are consumable, so you’ll know what you may need to purchase and how many copies you may want to get if you are using the unit study with multiple students.

Here’s an example of the printable book list:

Keep scrolling to see the full online book list (below the F.A.Q. on this page).

We’ve scheduled in lots of colorful, fact-filled, interesting and engaging books for Science of the Seasons! Before taking a look at the books and resources, we’ve addressed some common questions:

Book and Resource F.A.Q.

Warning! Preview all materials! We strongly recommend you preview all items to see if they are appropriate for your student. Every family is different in what they find offensive! Additional notes about some of the books are in the descriptions below.

Books and Items
Science, nonfiction	The Science of Seasons Click here for a PDF version you can print. Join Abigail, Henry, Grace, and their lively Fox Terrier, Beowulf, as they learn about the seasons in this lavishly illustrated, Christian friendly science book! Kids will learn about the seasons in different parts of the world, solstices, equinoxes, and a myriad of other topics brought together in a way to draw in both strong and reluctant readers! There are fun comics to read, celebrations in other parts of the world to learn about, and even yummy recipes to commemorate each season.
Science, math, language arts, art, and other activities.	The Science of Seasons Learn-and-Play Activities  Click here for a PDF version you can print. This activity book is stuffed with over 125 pages of engaging things to learn and do that expand on the topics in The Science of Seasons. Kids can bring to life the lessons they are learning with character cutouts and playsets, fill out the make your own comic templates, and create a globe of the earth for fun experiments and much more! Far more than a typical activity book,The Science of Seasons Learn-and-Play Activities contains a highly varied assortment of cross-curricular lessons and projects, which will engage children on many different levels.
Science	Explore Spring: 25 Great Ways to Learn About Spring This is an easy to read book with comic style illustrations and tons of activities. Even though it says, “Explore Spring!”, the book covers lots of different, basic science concepts.
	If You Were Quotation Marks (Word Fun) “If you were quotation marks, you would stand on either side of a book title, such as Cinderella. You could stand on either side of Cindy’s words when she says, This glass slipper fits!” What else could you do if you were quotation marks?”
	Art for Kids: Comic Strips: Create Your Own Comic Strips from Start to Finish This optional book is for kids who enjoy the comic book templates in The Science of Seasons Activities book and want to write and create more comics. It’s a great way to sneak in language arts for more reluctant writers, or to fan the flames of those who can’t write enough.
Fiction Note: This book is recommended as a read-aloud for younger children. Older children can use it as a reader.	Miracles on Maple Hill “The war is over and Marly’s father is home – but he’s not the same. Something inside him seems as cold and dead as the winter world outside. But when the family moves to Grandma’s old house on Maple Hill, miracles begin to happen. The sap in the trees begins to rise, the leaves start to turn, and maybe, just maybe, Marly’s father will begin to bloom again, like the world around them. Winner of the Newbery Medal, this wise and moving classic is a story of children and parents and the miracles of nature.”
Science	Why Do Elephants Need the Sun? “There are trillions of stars in the universe, but we rely on our sun to provide (or contribute to) most of what we need to survive and thrive: heat, light, plants, animals, wind, and water. Complete with fun, cartoon illustrations, this book give kids plenty of information about our sun in an easy-to-read and digest format. By focusing on the needs of an elephant, Wells makes clear just how important the sun is to life on Earth.”
Science	The Sun “Seymour Simon explores the wonders of the sun, from the constant nuclear explosions at its core to the sea of boiling gases that forms the surface, in this crisp, clear book illustrated with over twenty startling, full-color photographs, The Sun presents a fascinating introduction to the star that is the center of our Solar System and essential to life on Earth.”
Choose 1 of the following:
Science Younger students: The Sky Is Full of Stars (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) This book is free at the Open Library. Young stargazers learn about different star colors and brightnesses, how to locate major constellations, and how to make mini planetariums by using coffee cans and flashlights.	Older students: Star Finder!: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Night Sky  What do you see when you look up into the sky? Have you ever wondered what the stars mean? Or how they are connected? Or what each constellation is called? If so, then this may be the book for you! Little stargazers will enjoy paging through this awe-inspiring astronomy book and learning all about the constellations, their forms, shapes, and stories. This stunning space book for kids explores different groups of stars specific to the Northern Hemisphere, with step-by-step guides to identifying key constellations, star-spotting, and planet spotting!
Activity item	Tedco 8″ X 10″ Sun Art Paper Kit Use natural or man-made objects to make beautiful and unique prints.
Choose 1 of the following:
For younger students: Whales: The Gentle Giants (For grades 1-3) “Milton understands what kids like about whales, and packs a considerable amount of information into the book. This easy-reader leaps with appeal.”	For older students: Great Migrations Whales (For grades 3-7) “Over the course of their 70-year lifespan, sperm whales will easily travel the circumference of the Earth in search of food and the need to breed and find a mate. Males will travel as far north as the Bering Sea and as far south as Antarctica in order to find enough food to sustain their ways of live-up to 700 squid a day! Along the way, these massive beasts battle 30-feet-long giant squids, and each other, to sustain their ways of life.”
Math, history Note: I love books that teach math concepts with picture books! What a nice break from a textbook! I read this to my son several times over the course of our studies when he was younger.	What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras? “On a trip to Egypt, Pythagoras’ curiosity helps him discover the secret of the right triangle. A clever introduction to the Pythagorean Theorem.”
Math	The Greedy Triangle This is another fun math book that reinforces the lesson in The Science of Seasons Activities book.
Science	Explore Earth’s Five Oceans “Oceans cover three-quarters of the planet. This book shows how the world’s five oceans – Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic – are interconnected and why they are vitally important to the rest of Earth.”
Science, geography	Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights “Imagine a land where the sun rises at 1:58 a.m. in the summer and shines for less than four hours on a winter’s day.  The animals in the wilderness near Fairbanks, Alaska, witness some of the world’s greatest temperature extremes and light variations ever year.  At an average low of -16 degrees Fahrenheit, the winters may be unpleasantly frigid, but the light shows are always glorious!”
Documentary (rated G)	To The Arctic o the Arctic is a strikingly gorgeous 40-minute film by director Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea), producer Shaun MacGillivray (Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk), and writer-editor Stephen Judson (Everest) shot on location in the Arctic Circle in the IMAX 3-D format. The film focuses in on the special relationship between a mother polar bear and her two young cubs and offers a first-hand look at how climate change and the shrinking ice is threatening the polar bears’ continued survival. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking, allowing viewers not only a unique look at the icy glaciers and waterfalls of the Arctic, but a rare close-up look at a family of polar bears as they grow, swim, hunt seals, protect one another from predators and aggressive males, and struggle to survive in a world of melting ice. The underwater scenes of the polar bears swimming are especially stunning, and there’s also some great footage of walruses, migrating caribou, and Arctic birds.
Math	How Much Is a Million? How Much is a Million is used to help kids better understand just what it means when we say the sun is 93 million miles away! This book was taken off the shelf and read multiple times by my son. It is a family favorite and does a terrific job of making the number million meaningful.
Choose 1 of the following:
Option 1: The Secret Garden (Classic Starts) Following Sterlings spectacularly successful launch of its childrens classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes a dazzling new series: Classic Starts. The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the worlds beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve–all at an incomparable price. The discovery of a neglected garden transforms the life of a sullen and unloved little girl-and everyone around her, too. When the newly orphaned Mary Lennox leaves her native India and arrives at her uncles mansion in Yorkshire, everything seems strange to her. Then Mary hears of a mysterious garden where no one has set foot in 10 years. With the help of some new friends, she plans to uncover its secrets…and make it blossom once again.	Option 2: The Secret Garden (unabridged) When orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle’s great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of secrets. The mansion has nearly one hundred rooms, and her uncle keeps himself locked up. And at night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. The gardens surrounding the large property are Mary’s only escape. Then, Mary discovers a secret garden, surrounded by walls and locked with a missing key. With the help of two unexpected companions, Mary discovers a way in—and becomes determined to bring the garden back to life.
Math	Less Than Zero (MathStart 3) Introduce your children to negative numbers with this fun book about Perry the Penguin.
Math	Extreme Temperatures: Learning About Positive and Negative Numbers This is another picture book to help reinforce negative numbers and help your children retain what they are learning in The Science of Seasons Activities book.  Click here for a Google preview.
Math	The Great Graph Contest “Two comical creatures go crazy with graphs in an imaginative look at organizing information. Young readers can learn about bar graphs, pie charts, Venn diagrams, and more. Details about how each graph was made are shown at the end plus instructions for students to make their own.”
Choose one of the following four books:
Option 1: Australia (Country Guides, with Benjamin Blog and his Inquisitive Dog)	Option 2: The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef: Sydney, Australia
Option 3: Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #8: The Australian Boomerang Bonanza
Science	National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America  If you get this book, encourage your children to reference it throughout the year! Beautiful photographs illustrate this very informative book that features 100 species of birds from coast to coast.
Science	Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard This conversational, humorous introduction to bird-watching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and really look around. Quirky full-color illustrations portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types, while tongue-in-cheek cartoons feature banter between birds, characters, and the reader (“Here I am, the noble spruce grouse. In a spruce grove. Eatin’ some spruce. Yep.”). Interactive and enjoyable tips bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of bird-watchers.
Language Arts This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s Language Arts.	Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp: More About Verbs “One book is never enough to explore the wide range of verbs! The crazy cats deliver loads of additional examples to illustrate the power of both action verbs and linking verbs. Brian P. Cleary’s playful verse and Brian Gable’s comical cats turn traditional grammar lessons on end. Each verb is printed in color for easy identification. Read this book aloud and share the delight of the sense and nonsense of words.”
Language Arts This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s Language Arts.	Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What Is an Adjective? “Simple, rhyming text and colorful cartoon cats help children expand their vocabularies and gain an appreciation for the rhythm of language in this lighthearted book of rhyming verse. Adjectives like frilly, silly, polka-dotted, fizzy, and spunky are printed in color, and all the words will tickle you pink!”
Choose 1 of the following:
For very young students: Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration “For animals, migration is a powerful compulsion, sometimes over long distances, often skipping meals. Sometimes, as in the case of the monarch butterfly, a round-trip takes several generations. Why do they do it? How do they succeed? The ten featured species offer a broad representation of migration: loggerhead turtles, monarch butterflies, manatees, ruby-throated hummingbirds, Pacific salmon, Canada geese, California gray whales, caribou, Arctic tern, and emperor penguin. The book is loaded with additional tips for teachers.”	For older students (or all ages): Amazing Animal Journeys: The Most Incredible Migrations in the Natural World Ignore the age rating for this book. It’s a lovely book to look through, no matter what your age is. 🙂 This educational book for animal lovers features: – Lots of fun facts and statistics about the animal kingdom and their journeys – Expertly written text by by television personality and wildlife expert Philippa Forrester, making the journeys extremely clear  – Detailed diagrams, maps and charts that bring the journey and experiences of each animal to life – Beautiful full-page photographs of different animal species alongside fascinating text
Documentary rated G	Winged Migration (Documentary rated G) A critically acclaimed and award-winning unique, exquisitely beautiful and jaw-dropping documentaryabout birds in flight in their natural world.
Science	Face to Face with Caterpillars “Readers learn to study these insects like the experts: witness the astonishing life cycle with its metamorphosis from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly; see the amazing snake-like defenses of some poisonous species; and the silk stitching used by others to build leafy hideaways. Face to Face with Caterpillars encourages an active study of this intriguing insect: How to find caterpillars, how to raise a monarch, how to help preserve their habitats, how to photograph the caterpillar, and how to learn more; it’s all in Darlyne Murawski’s fun book.”
Activity	Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden My family did this project several times over the years, and it was well worth it. It’s highly recommended for a memorable experience and hands-on science your kids will love
Science	Creation Camouflage  One-Week Unit Study / Lapbook Click here for a sample. “Learn all about how and why animals hide in different parts of the earth, from oceans and rain forests to deserts and even the tundra. Meet distinguished animal-loving experts and watch videos of astonishing animals from around the world while learning about their most amazing forms of camouflage.”
Choose 1 of the following:
For younger kids: A Strange Place to Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home “Under the desert’s cracked and barren skin, spadefoot toads are waiting for rain. In the endless black of the deepest caves, blind fish find their way. Even in the frozen hearts of glaciers, ice worms by the billion flourish. In this fascinating look at fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth’s most dangerous places, renowned poet Marilyn Singer and celebrated artist Ed Young show that of all the miracles of life, it is life’s persistence that astounds the most.”	For older kids (or all ages): Habitats of the World (DK Panorama) From forests and ocean to deserts and the frozen Poles, explore Earth’s major ecosystems and the different communities of animals and plants that live in each one. Illustrated in incredible detail with CGI images, children will pore over the pages of this breathtaking visual journey through Earth’s incredible ecosystems. Dip beneath the sunlit surface of the Coral Sea to discover a reef bursting with life. Voyage to the frozen north to find out which animals survive on the icy Arctic tundra. See the sunrise over the Sonoran Desert in spring as this arid landscape bursts into bloom. Find out how animals and plants are adapted to their environment and how they interact with their surroundings and each other, from a teeming tropical rainforest to the hostile conditions of a high mountain peak or the icy Poles.
Culture, geography	Japanese Traditions: Rice Cakes, Cherry Blossoms and Matsuri: A Year of Seasonal Japanese Festivities A wonderful look at Japanese culture and family life, Japanese Traditions is an intricately illustrated romp through the childhood reminiscences of author/illustrator Setsu Broderick. Told via a series of short text blocks and lighthearted illustrations based on cats, Japanese Traditions displays seasonal festivals and activities such as O-Bon (Festival of the Souls), O-hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and preparing for the New Year. While enjoying the charming illustrations of a family of Japanese cats, the author shares her warm childhood memories of many Japanese customs, such as gathering around the kotatsu (heated table) to stay warm, throwing soybeans to keep away ogres and hanging handmade teru-teru-bozu (fine-weather) dolls out the window to stop the rain. There are also many traditional Japanese foods, toys, games and celebrations taught through the illustrations. All in all, Japanese Traditions provides a magical feast for children of all ages.
Science	How Not to Get Eaten: More than 75 Incredible Animal Defenses (Wonders of Wildlife)  From camouflage and color-changing, natural armor, playing dead, great escapes, detachable body parts, and impressive ways of fighting back, the range of survival tactics in the natural world is quite astonishing (and sometimes pretty disgusting). How Not To Get Eaten is a fun introduction to the ingenious antipredator strategies in the natural world. Discover how meerkats post sentries to guard their homes and possums play dead, to how mimic octopuses change their shape and bombardier beetles unleash a chemical weapon attack. This book is filled with intriguing illustrations and spectacular photographs of the amazing, obscure, and incredibly strange. You’ll never look at nature the same way again!
Science	The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice “The Longest Day takes us on a journey through the history and science behind the summer solstice, with a focus on summer celebrations from various cultures around the world. Teachers and students alike will treasure the varied and accessible knowledge, and activities in the back let everyone in on the festivities.”
History, literature	Farmer Boy (Little House) My kids loved this book, as did I, when I was a child! There is a rhythm to Almanzo’s family’s life that is dictated by the seasons.
Journal, language arts	All About Me: A Keepsake Journal for Kids This journal for children has thought-starter writing prompts.
Science	Extreme Weather: Surviving Tornadoes, Sandstorms, Hailstorms, Blizzards, Hurricanes, and More! Record heat. Record storms. Record drought, snow, rain, and ocean levels. What’s going on? In a world of crazy weather exacerbated by climate change, knowing about tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, derachos, blizzards, and storms is more important than ever. This book, based on cutting-edge science and first-hand accounts, helps kids learn about what’s going on and what to do about it.
History, geography	Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude “Sailors knew how to measure latitude, their location north or south of the equator, but they could not measure longitude, their location east or west of their home port. Because of this, many lives were lost worldwide. The key to solving this problem lay in devising a clock that could keep absolutely accurate time while at sea, unaltered by rough water or weather conditions. With such a timekeeper sailors would be able to know the time back at their home port and calculate the longitude. But no one knew how to design such a clock. John Harrison (1693-1776), an Englishman without any scientific training, worked tirelessly for more than forty years to create a perfect clock. The solution to this problem was so important that an award of 20,000 pounds sterling (equal to several million dollars today) was established by the English Parliament in 1714. Harrison won recognition for his work in 1773. “
Science	We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season “The fall equinox signals the time of year when we gather our harvests and give thanks for their bounty. With accessible, lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, this nonfiction picture book explains the science behind autumn and the social history of harvest-time celebrations.”
Fiction	Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Every child should read this book at least once. I remember listening to it read aloud at a library story time when I was little. I was delighted to find it for my own kids. It’s a family favorite!
Printable project	Stormy Weather Make & Learn Project “Did you know that thunderstorms are the least dangerous kind of storm? Follow the birth of a thunderstorm with this lift-the-flaps mini-book! This interactive mini-book features simple text and realistic art. Includes background information, easy how-tos, extension activities, and print and Web resources. A great way to introduce children to science and nonfiction!”
Game for learning coordinates (math)	Battleship This game is optional. I’ve linked to free printable versions of the game in the weekly schedule. It’s a great way to reinforce what your child will be learning about coordinates.
Science	For younger students: Why Do Leaves Change Color? I’ve included more detailed information for older children to read (or listen to), in the schedule. This picture book is still worthwhile for older children who don’t know why leaves change colors.
Activity Note: Younger students may need assistance with this kit.	Thames & Kosmos Wind Power V4.0 STEM Experiment Kit ★ Build wind-powered generators to energize your electric vehicles and charge your rechargeable batteries! ★ Models include: a 3-foot tall long-bladed turbine, short-bladed turbine, glider, motorcycle, jet car, tractor, race car, and sail car. ★ Includes two styles of wind turbine blades and a gearbox with three different gear ratios for experimenting. ★ A 36-page, full-color manual guides model building with step-by-step assembly instructions. ★ Learn all about renewable energy!
Science	The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder “How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered in this visually stunning exploration of the science of snow. Perfect for reading on winter days, the book features photos of real snow crystals in their beautiful diversity. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included.”
Seasonal fiction	The Big Snow “The woodland animals were all getting ready for the winter. Geese flew south, rabbits and deer grew thick warm coats, and the raccoons and chipmunks lay down for a long winter nap. Come Christmastime, the wise owls were the first to see the rainbow around the moon. It was a sure sign that the big snow was on its way.”
Poetry	Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold “In this outstanding picture book collection of poems by Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman (Song of the Water Boatman, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night), discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow.”
Activity	Instant Snow My kids LOVED activities like this.
Choose 1 of the following:
History, science This book is also scheduled in Guest Hollow’s Actions and Reactions Curriculum. Snowflake Bentley “From the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley’s enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist’s vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature. “	Curious About Snow (Smithsonian) When does it snow? Why is snow white? How do we know no two snowflakes are alike? (Hint: the proof is in the photographs, first made in the 1890s!) With full-color photographs and the Smithsonian’s famous Wilson Bentley snowflake photos, this new Curious About title looks at the science behind snow, and the history of record-setting blizzards and snowstorms—plus how people have fun in the snow
Science	Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter Jessica Kulekjian’s lyrical informational picture book uses expressive text supplemented with sidebars to explain how different animals survive winter. While the compelling narrative tells the bigger story, the sidebars provide fascinating information about specific winter animal behaviors ― for example, how box turtles lower their heart rates, and monarch butterflies travel all the way to Mexico! Salini Perera’s stunning illustrations show the concepts in detail and provide a visual story, featuring a father and a child, that evocatively traces the subtle changes in the landscape from late fall to early spring.

The terrific materials listed above are for Guest Hollow’s Science of Seasons Unit Study! We invite you to check it out!
Thank You,
The Guest Family
© Guest Hollow, LLC