An editor once asked me why I write about animals. I found this photograph in a National Geographic photo contest that says it all.

CLIMATE CHANGE

1. 97.1% of ALL climate research papers that take a position on the cause of climate change point to anthropogenic causes.  Only a wee fraction of those that take a position on the cause of climate change believe it is NOT anthropogenic.  As expected many climate papers discuss the results of some study and don't say one way or the other because that is not the subject of the paper.   Only 32.6% of all the research papers reviewed take a position.   Graph of climate and Earth scientist's opinions   NASA consensus 

2.  The counter climate movement was started by the same folks that had us believing that tobacco was not bad for our health
 
PBS Frontline
"Tactics developed and tested in the tobacco industry first, are now being applied to climate change."
http://tinyurl.com/apvgr7p

 "Many of the anti-science operatives who defended cigarettes are currently deploying their tobacco-inspired playbook internationally to evade accountability for the fossil fuel industry's role in driving climate disruption."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brendan-demelle/study-confirms-tea-party-_b_2663125.html
 
Climate skeptic organizations - learn more

3. Avoid getting your information from any of the sources listed in this database.  Many are NOT climate experts. 

  4. We CAN reduce CO2 emissions!  

Join the growing stop global warming movementTop 50 things you can do to prevent climate change.

Calculate your carbon footprint (how much CO2 your vehicle uses/year)

Climate change youtube video - spectacular photography. 1.5 hours long

Blackle - Energy saving google search

ACTIVITIES

GRIZZLY TRACK COOKIE RECIPE (soft sugar cookies)
author unknown. Makes a lot.
Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
4 cups plus 4 heaping teaspoons of flour
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream sugar, butter and oil
3. Add eggs and vanilla
4. Add dry ingredients and mix
5. Refrigerate until firm
6. Roll into balls. Flatten with fork on ungreased cookie sheets
7. Sprinkle with granulated sugar (skip this step if frosting then decorating)
8. Bake for 10 minutes
9. Frost and decorate if desired
ENJOY!

NOTE: I sprinkle colored sugar through stencils cut from plastic milk cartons

COLORED SUGAR
In a closed ziploc bag, shake 1 cup granulated sugar with 6 drops food coloring

DNA STRAND
an individual activity
Materials:
2 black pipe cleaners
pony beads in 4 colors - (A, C, T, or G)
Instructions:
1 Assign each color to a letter (G=green, C=Red...)
2. Bend the bottom of one pipe cleaner into a hook so the beads don't fall off. String beads on one pipe cleaner in any order
3. Carefully twist one end of pipe cleaners together
4. String second pipe cleaner so that A is paired with T on the opposite strand and C is paired with G.
5. Twist other ends of pipe cleaners together
6. Twist DNA into a double helix

DNA Pairing and Cell Division (DNA Replication)
A group activity suitable for a classroom
Before a cell divides, it must copy its DNA.
Materials:
Index cards - with one letter on each (A, C, T, or G)
Rope - 2 long pieces
Instructions:
1. Put the two strands of rope in a straight line on the floor parallel with each other about 2 feet apart.
2. Arrange kids in a circle. Hand the kids an index card with a letter.
3. Kids form A-T and C-G pairs and line up in pairs between the ropes. Those on the left take the left rope in left hand. Those on the right pick up the right rope in right hand.
4. Now DNA has formed and it's time to divide. The group on the left marches leftward. The group on the right veers to the right separating the strand like a zipper.

WISH LIST for KIDS & SCIENCE

Youtube for kids education
One place where kids can view endless quantities of short educational Youtube type videos. Both teachers and students could use it. Preferably the site would categorize the videos - by grade and subject. The site would be free of profanity, violence, and inappropriate content. A person or persons would be responsible for assuring the accuracy and educational content of the videos.

DNA beads
A large bag of beads in 4 colors with the first letter of a DNA base written on each (ACTG). This is merely a packaging issue. These colored beads currently exist, but are packaged as alphabet beads.

WRITING RESOURCES

Organizations
Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators
New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Children's Book Council

Writing
Queries, proposals and cover letters - Gulf Coast Writers Association
The Writing for Children Resource Site - Queries, synopsis, and outlines
Queries
How to write a short author's biography
The Purple Crayon - Harold Underdown
Ellen Jackson - links for writers fiction/nonfiction are on right side (tips, characters, setting....)
Smart Writers - Roxyanne Young
Verla Kay's Website for Children's Writers and Illustrators
Writing contests
Book Promotion
The Emotion Thesaurus - On the right sidebar emotions are equated to body language.
Publishing Information - Guide to getting published
Kidlit.con - Andrea Brown Agent Mary Cole - resources and advice on writing, publishing...
How to design a picture book -  Tara Lazar

Nonfiction
Interesting Nonfiction for Kids (I.N.K.) - a helpful website for writers of nonfiction. Many authors contribute to the ongoing blog.
Reviews of nonfiction books for children - the Looking Glass
Nonfiction Matters - School Library Journal blog by Marc Aronson
Fiona Bayrock - lots of articles about writing nonfiction for children
Library of Congress - for research
Print and photographs reading room - for photo research

Creating a website
How to build an easy website - Elizabeth O. Dulemba. (The directions I used to create this site)
Free blog counter (basic=FREE)
Another free blog counter

Market information
Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf - updates on what's happening in children's publishing
Kid Magazine Writers - Jan Fields website
Educational Markets - by Evelyn Christensen
Editor names and what they're looking for - Ellen Jackson
Resources for Writers - by Rachelle Burk

Windows Movie Maker - Making videos and book trailers. (Save often, like after every change)
School Visits - Alexis O'Neill

VIDEO LINKS - science, animals

Mr. Splashy Pants hydrophones used to study whales.  Greenpeace
Whales in Antarctica (amazing video) and some of the things scientists do to study them.  Greenpeace
BEARS - EXCELLENT clip of all different types of bears.  BEARTREK Motorcycle journey through Mongolia, Canada, Peru, and India for bear conservation
Grizzly bears emerging from their den (1st time caught on film).  Darling little cubs in tow.
DNA song for kids - The song is very cute and very amusing
DNA video for kids - similar video as above, but without the song.  More in depth.
Destruction of the rainforest in Indonesia