Inquire & Investigate

A deep dive into the period after the Civil War, when the country struggled to both heal and find a way forward. An essential read for students ages 12 to 15 in today's cultural climate. After the Civil War, Americans struggled to repair the divided nation. How does a country rebuild the infrastructure, government, and economy of a huge region while taking steps to resolve the status of 4 million newly freed slaves? In Reconstruction: The Rebuilding of the United States After the Civil War, middle schoolers examine the era from 1865 to 1877, a time when the United States wrestled with questions that still plague the country today: Who should have access to citizenship and voting rights? How should the power of the federal government be balanced against the rights of the states? What is the proper government response to white supremacy? Readers use an inquiry-based approach to explore how political, economic, and social problems were handled, during Reconstruction. Along the way, they design models for combating similar twenty-first-century problems, using critical and creative thinking skills.

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Teenagers have been sighing an approximation of these words for centuries, ever since William Shakespeare had Juliet utter them from her balcony in one of the most popular plays of all time, Romeo and Juliet. Tales of love, loss, rebellion, rivalry-before there was Twilight, Warm Bodies, and The Lion King, there was Shakespeare. The characters, language, imagery, and plot elements of many books and movies that appear on bookshelves and in cinemas today are directly influenced by the plays of the Bard.In Shakespeare: Investigate the Bard's Influence on Today's World, readers discover links between the books, movies, and music they listen to today and the words that were written and acted out more than 400 years ago. Readers deconstruct Shakespearean themes, imagery, language, and meaning by finding familiar ground on which to gain literary insight. Through hands-on projects such as coding a video game based on one of Shakespeare's plays to rewriting a scene in the text language of emoji, readers find compelling avenues into the dramatic, sometimes intimidating language, leaving them well-equipped to tackle any major text in the academic years to come.

Learn physics on the fly with this activity-based book for ages 12 to 15 that explores the connections between science, sports, and entertainment! Why are you able to jump so much higher from a trampoline than from the ground? What forces are at work, when you do an ollie on a skateboard? How does a counter rotation work on a snowboard? The answer is: physics! In The Physics of Fun, kids ages 12 to 15 explore the science behind awesome activities that kids love. What do skateboarding, snowboarding, trampolining, singing in a band, and playing video games all have in common, besides being fun? They are all made possible with physics! From Newton's laws of motion to the behavior of electrons, the science of physics is an integral part of any amusement park, play center, trampoline park, or home gaming center. The Physics of Fun offers detailed explanations of the science behind five familiar pastimes, along with hands-on investigations that use the scientific and engineering design methods to enable kids to apply their learning to a wide array of science challenges. Projects include using a skateboard to demonstrate inertia, investigating the transfer and conservation of energy on a trampoline, observing sound waves with water, and building a guitar to explore the sound waves made by its strings. Links to online media, discussion questions, and career connections offer middle schoolers the chance to do some real, hands-on science around activities they already love to do! Additional materials include a glossary, index, and a list of current reference works, websites, and internet resources.

A fascinating tour of the human genome and the role of genetics in our lives! Hands-on science investigations and STEM research projects help readers ages 12 to 15 discover a mysterious part of their own bodies-their genes! Have you ever wondered why you look the way you do? The answer lies in your human genome, the code of life. The Human Genome: Mapping the Blueprint of Human Life investigates the fascinating world of genetics and the human genome. Kids ages 12 to 15 learn the basics of how genes work, how DNA is structured, and how genetic inheritance happens. Explore the discoveries scientists have made about the human genome and how these discoveries have helped us better understand and treat certain diseases, trace our human ancestry and migration, and compare our species to others. In addition, explore some of the ethical, legal, and social issues that arise from advances in genomic science. • Combining hands-on activities with history, biology, and chemistry, The Human Genome offers entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars to illuminate the topic and engage readers further. • The Human Genome integrates a digital learning component by providing links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites. Text-to-self and text-to-world connections make learning applicable and fundamental. • Investigations include decoding DNA sequences and identifying the proteins they code, using online scientific databases, carrying out a genetic variation investigation, debating potential genomic issues, and using genomic data to find a gene mutation associated with cancer. • Additional materials include a glossary, and a list of current reference works, websites, and Internet resources. About the Inquire & Investigate Human Science set and Nomad Press The Human Genome is part of a set of three Inquire & Investigate Human Science books that explore the human body, genes, and brain. The other titles in this series are Inside the Human Body and Psychology: Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing. Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. 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. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

How could a country founded on the honorable ideals of freedom and equality have so willingly embraced the evils of enslavement and oppression? America's history of race relations is a difficult one, full of uncomfortable inconsistencies and unpleasant truths. Although the topic is sensitive, it is important to face this painful past unflinchingly-knowing this history is key to understanding today's racial climate and working towards a more harmonious society. In Race Relations: The Struggle for Equality in America, kids ages 12 to 15 follow the evolution of race relations in America from the country's earliest beginnings until present day. The book examines how the concept of race was constructed in the seventeenth century and how American colonists used racial differences to justify slavery, discrimination and the persecution of people of color. Through links to online primary sources such as newspaper articles, letters, poems, and songs, young readers will explore how race relations changed-and didn't-through the eras of Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and Civil Rights, and under the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The book introduces students to people from four different centuries-some famous, some ordinary citizens-who took great risks to fight for freedom, equality, and social justice. It also fosters discussions of contemporary racial issues and social justice movements, including Black Lives Matters, and encourages students to consider steps they can take to help improve race relations. Race Relations: The Struggle for Equality in America teaches students about American race relations in a fact-based way that promotes empathy and understanding. Projects such as identifying the influences that contributed to the reader's own view of other races, writing journal entries from the perspective of student of color at a newly-integrated school in the 1960s, and investigating implicit racial bias in newspaper photographs or news articles helps students to think critically and creatively about their own position and role in society and gain a broader understanding of the world they live in. Interesting facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions take readers on an exploration of the past, present, and future of race relations. Race Relations is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Gender Identity, Feminism, and Immigration Nation. Nomad Press books integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. Common Core State Standards and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies 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. As informational texts, our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can make their own inferences. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.

On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania changed the global community, pushing terrorism into the spotlight, and triggering a series of world events that included the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraq War. For many people in the United States, it was their first experience of terrorism in their home country. Terrorism is a global phenomenon that affects many people worldwide, yet it is not a new problem-terrorism has a long history dating back to ancient societies. For generations, terrorist attacks have been carried out against people of all nationalities and ethnic and religious backgrounds. Recent terrorist attacks in Belgium, California, and France demonstrate that the threat of terrorism continues and prompts many questions. Who are the terrorists? What are their motives? And how can we stop the violence? Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace examines the history of terrorism, its current forms, different causes for it, the effects of terrorism on countries and communities, the psychology of recruiting, who is attracted to it, and how they become engaged. This book explores how terrorism is defined and the motives and methods behind these violent acts. It also encourages students to think critically about current and future efforts to prevent terrorist attacks. Open-minded, investigative projects encourage readers to brainstorm problem-solving strategies to prevent terrorism and to help communities recover after an event. Terrorism teaches students about a crucial topic in an objective, fact-based way that promotes empowerment and understanding. Throughout Terrorism, stories of resilience and kindness are featured alongside realistic, respectful stories of tragedy, allowing students to perceive the harsh reality of the phenomenon without losing sight of the eternal capacity for hope. Investigations and experiments provide hands-on, problem-solving opportunities for students while links to online primary sources and other pertinent resources allow students to independently indulge their own curiosity and follow trails of academic and personal significance.

More than 58,000 American troops and military personnel died in the humid jungles and muddy rivers of Vietnam during the 20-year conflict called the Vietnam War. Why? What were they fighting for? And how could the world's most powerful and technologically advanced military be defeated by a small, poverty-stricken country? These questions have haunted the U.S. government, the military, and the American public for nearly a half century. In The Vietnam War, kids ages 12 to 15 explore the global conditions and history that gave rise to the Vietnam War, the reasons why the United States became increasingly embroiled in the conflict, and the varied causes of its shocking defeat. As readers learn about how the fear of the spread of communism spurred the United States to enter a war that was erupting on the other side of the world, they find themselves immersed in the mood and mindset of the Vietnam Era.Through links to online primary sources, including speeches, letters, photos, and songs, readers become familiar with the reality of combat life for young American soldiers, the frustration of military advisors as they failed to subdue the Viet Cong, and the empty promises made by U.S. presidents to soothe an uneasy public. The Vietnam War also pays close attention to the development of a massive antiwar movement and counterculture that divided the country into "hawks" and "doves." In-depth essential questions help middle schoolers analyze primary sources and develop their own evidence-supported views on a range of issues.The Vietnam War also fosters critical thinking skills through projects such as creating antiwar and pro-war demonstration slogans, writing letters from the perspective of a U.S. soldier and a south Vietnamese citizen, and building arguments for and against the media's coverage of the war. Additional learning materials include engaging illustrations, maps, a glossary, a bibliography, and resources for further independent learning.The Vietnam War is one book in a set of four that explore great events of the twentieth century. Inquire and Investigate titles in this set include The Vietnam War; World War II: From the Rise of the Nazi Party to the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb; Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events; and The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon.Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging older readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. 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. Consistent with our other series, all of the activities in the books in the Inquire & Investigate series are hands-on, challenging readers to develop and test their own hypotheses, ask their own questions, and formulate their own solutions. In the process, readers learn how to analyze, evaluate, and present the data they collect. As informational texts our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can work out their own inferences. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. Soon they'll be thinking like scientists by questioning things around them and considering new approaches.

What would your life be like if you were a Jewish person living in Nazi Germany in 1940? You might be forced to leave your home with only what you and your family could carry. You might even be killed by members of the Nazi party.The Holocaust is a grim period in human history. More than 11 million people, including 6 million Jewish people, died at the hands of the Nazis. In The Holocaust: Racism and Genocide in World War II, readers ages 12 to 15 learn about the long history of anti-Semitism, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, the increasing persecution of Jewish people and other populations, and the events of "The Final Solution," the attempt to exterminate an entire race of people through industrialized death camps. Projects such as writing letters in the voices of teenagers of different races who lived in the 1930s help infuse the content with realism and the eternal capacity for hope. In-depth investigations of primary sources from the period allow readers to engage in further, independent study of the times. Additional materials include links to online primary sources, a glossary, a list of current reference works, and Internet resources.Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging older readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. 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. Consistent with our other series, all of the activities in the books in the Inquire & Investigate series are hands-on, challenging readers to develop and test their own hypotheses, ask their own questions, and formulate their own solutions. In the process, readers learn how to analyze, evaluate, and present the data they collect. As informational texts our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can work out their own inferences. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. Soon they'll be thinking like scientists by questioning things around them and considering new approaches.

A fascinating, full-color introduction to the earth science happening over our heads, packed with STEM experiments and science-minded research projects that invite kids ages 12 to 15 to explore the wonderful world of meteorology through real-world connections! Take a look out your window. What's the weather like today? Has it changed much from morning to afternoon? What is the difference between weather and climate? In The Science of Weather and Climate: Rain, Sleet, and the Rising Tide, middle schoolers learn the science behind why it snows, how wind is formed, what makes one region hot and dry and another region cold and damp, plus lots more! By studying the atmospheric sciences of meteorology and climatology, kids learn to connect the weather they experience on a daily basis in their town with the changing conditions across the entire planet. • The activity in our atmosphere plays a critical role in our lives and in the health of our planet. Today's weather determines what clothes you wear and what you are going to do after school, while the local climate influences what kind of car your parents drive, what kind of house you live in, and-believe it or not-what foods you eat! • Readers learn that the difference between weather and climate is a difference in measurement-weather is measured on a daily, even hourly basis, while climate is observed across decades and even centuries. As the planet warms, these changing climate conditions cause a rise in extreme weather events across the planet and create the need for a new understanding of how human behavior affects the atmosphere and, eventually, our own environments. • Science-minded STEM activities such as creating your own barometer, testing the effects of air pressure, and tracking the effects of uneven heating on the earth's surface encourage young readers to think like scientists while critical thinking exercises, essential questions, fascinating facts, links to online resources, and more encourage readers to explore this incredible planet.

A fascinating exploration of why we do the things we do, according to science! Dive into the psychology of the human brain with STEM activities and research projects that get readers excited about learning their own minds. Psychology: Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing introduces students to the science behind behavior. From the developing teenage brain to genetics, psychology, and social environments, readers ages 12 to 15 gain a greater understanding of the complexities behind how we behave. Why does one person react to test anxiety by studying harder while another person gives up? As with all other behavior, the answer depends on many things: genetics, cultural and family expectations, previous behaviors, and a person's own special blend of attitudes and values. Plenty of text-to-self and text-to-world connections provide a foundation for deeper learning. • Hands-on STEM activities and research projects such as testing teenage risk-taking thought processes, conformity experiments, and exploring mindfulness and empathy engage readers beyond the text. • Psychology includes graphic novel style illustrations, fascinating sidebars, and interesting trivia. • Psychology integrates a digital learning component by providing links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites. Text-to-self and text-to-world connections make learning applicable and fundamental. About the Inquire & Investigate Human Science set and Nomad Press Psychology: Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing is part of a set of three Inquire & Investigate Human Science books that explore the human body, genes, and brain. The other titles in this series are The Human Genome: Mapping the Blueprint of Human Life and Inside the Human Body. Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. 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. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

A deep dive into the origins of the universe! Explore the ways people have tried answering the fundamental question of how the universe began with STEM activities and research projects that bring out-of-this-world learning into your own hands! What exactly is the universe? Is it brilliant stars, distant galaxies, and giant black holes? What about the sun, the moon, or the planet Earth? The universe is all these things, and more! But where did it come from? How did we get here? And where is it all going? Explore these questions and more in “The Universe: The Big Bang, Black Holes, and Blue Whales.” In this book, readers ages 12 to 15 embark on an exciting journey that starts with the Big Bang and takes them all the way to the end of the universe, with many thrilling stops in between. Take a look billions of years into the past and discover the mind-bending early moments of the universe, the rise of the first stars, and the formation of the earliest galaxies. Explore the birth our sun and solar system and the formation of the only place in the universe known to support life: the earth. Finally, we'll zoom billions of years into the future to learn about the death of the sun, a colossal collision of galaxies, and even the fate of the universe itself.

A fun way for middle schoolers to learn about chemistry, through food! Includes hands-on science projects and graphic novel type illustrations. Why does tomato sauce taste different from fresh tomatoes? Why does pasta go limp, when you cook it in boiling water? What makes ice cream melt? In The Chemistry of Food, middle school readers learn the science behind the food they love to eat as they explore the chemistry within the meal, how nutrition works, what creates flavor, and why texture is important. What better place to learn the fundamentals of chemistry than in the kitchen? This book offers detailed explanations of five ways chemistry is part of the food they eat. Hands-on, science-minded investigations, links to online resources and media, career connections, and text-to-world questions all create a delicious learning experience for ages 12 to 15.

A fun and informative introduction to the earth science happening beneath our feet, packed with hands-on science experiments and STEM research projects that help readers ages 12 to 15 discover the amazing world of geology! Did you know that minerals were necessary for the beginning of life? Or that geothermal power could provide all the energy the world needs? Planet Earth is our home, but how much do you really know about the world beneath your feet? Rocks and Minerals: Get the Dirt on Geology offers a glimpse under the surface of the earth and explores the forces that have shaped-and continue to shape-our world. • Make career connections and learn all that geologists do, including help communities find water and plan how to use it, find the safest places to construct buildings and roads, help oil and gas companies find resources to keep our homes and schools powered, help the environment by investigating climate change in the past, predicting the future, and exploring ways to trap poisonous carbon deep underground. • Middle schoolers dive deep into earth science with a discussion of plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion, while exploring the earth as an energy resource and looking ahead toward what the future might bring in terms of the planet. • Science-minded STEM activities such as constructing a model turbine, making a geologic timescale with a roll of toilet paper, and comparing energy sources encourage young readers to think like geologists, while critical thinking exercises, essential questions related to geology, fascinating facts, links to online resources, and brief sidebars encourage readers to explore their incredible planet.

Slavery or freedom? The question of whether to make the United States a slave country or to make all people free was the question that pitted the states against each other in a brutal battle. In The Civil War: The Struggle that Divided America, readers ages 12-15 explore this conflict through the eyes and ears of the men and women who were touched by the clash that left more than 700,000 soldiers dead. Following the American Revolution, slavery was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. However, the United States still wrestled with whether it would be a country of slavery or grant freedom for all. The southern states relied on slavery's economic role, while the northern states, though also beneficiaries of the benefits of slavery, were closer to deciding that the institution should be outlawed. The rapid territorial expansion of the United States in the first half of the nineteenth century created a series of crises that upset the delicate balance of power between free and slave states, ultimately sparking the Civil War. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, sounding the death knell of slavery. This act permitted African-Americans to join the fight and enslaved people fled to Northern lines. The Confederacy lost slave labor, one of its greatest war weapons. The Union implemented a strategy of total war, which achieved victory, but only after shocking carnage. The Confederate army surrendered on April 9, 1865, but celebrations in the north were short-lived. A week later, President Lincoln was assassinated. The legacies of the Civil War are far reaching and include the abolition of slavery and the endurance of a unified nation. In The Civil War: The Struggle that Divided America, readers follow in the footsteps of two young men, Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins. From opposite sides, these men fought for similar reasons-adventure, country, and freedom. Readers become myth busters as they examine primary source documents to prove slavery's role in causing the war and experience the life of a soldier as they evaluate patriotic music, design models of battlefield fortifications, and explore camp life. Other activities include calculating the mathematics of death and examining the role women played in providing medical care and on the home front. The Civil War was the central crisis in American history. The issues at the heart of the conflict-race, freedom, and citizenship-still resonate today.

From the American Revolution to the French Revolution, from the civil rights era in the United States to Arab Spring in the Middle East, the ongoing battle for freedom and democracy is a profound and fascinating study of the power of human will to change the world.Civic Unrest: Investigate the Struggle for Social Change examines the history behind civic unrest and the methods people use to fight for basic human rights such as freedom of speech and the right to vote. Civic Unrest discusses the different reasons for and methods of revolution, while offering young readers the opportunity to learn about the structure of the U.S. government and how the elements within the U.S. Constitution were decided upon by the Founding Fathers. Activities use elements of history, civics, and mathematics to interpret data, create maps, and debate issues. These enrich learning and encourage students to ask questions, make inferences, and draw conclusions while allowing for a hands-on immersion in the complex elements of civic unrest and democracies.Civic Unrest: Investigate the Struggle for Social Change meets Common Core State Standards for literacy in history and social studies; Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

An informative and compelling book for ages 12 to 15 about both the science and human sides of natural disasters, full of hands-on investigative activities and research projects along with real-world connections that encourage kids to dive deeper into a topic that directly affects them. News reports from around the world offer detailed descriptions of wildfires, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, and more. While these kinds of events might seem horrifically random, scientists can explain quite a lot about why they happen, how they develop, how we can try to prevent them, and how we can predict where and when they'll happen next. The Science of Natural Disasters: When Nature and Humans Collide examines the science behind earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires: • Use historical and current events as case studies, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the floods in China in 1931, and the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, the Galveston, Texas, hurricane in 1900, and the Daulatpur-Saturia tornado in 1989. • Kids explore natural disasters using real-world data to work those critical-thinking skills as they brainstorm innovative solutions for the problems facing our planet today and in the future. • Many different kinds of careers are related to studying, preventing, warning about, and combatting natural disasters, from meteorologists to municipal program leaders to geologists to boots on the ground-kids will explore how different roles that contribute to our understanding and prevention of hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. • Science-minded STEM activities such as assessing the flood risk of the town where you live, researching a wildfire of historical significance, and engineering hurricane resistant cities encourage readers to think like scientists while essential questions, fascinating facts, links to online resources, and more encourage readers to explore the ever-evolving dynamics of this incredible planet.

An informative and project-filled book for middle graders to explore the meaning and history behind LGBTQ rights movements, including biographies of key figures in gender and gay/lesbian history, the context behind today's transgender "bathroom wars" and dozens of activities and research ideas for perspectives and further learning. What does it mean to think of gender as being a range instead of being simply male or female? In Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms, middle school readers unpack the cultural significance of gender identity in the United States and around the world. Written using #ownvoices and with editors trained in the sensitivities of today's gender discussions, the book is filled with interesting facts, primary sources, a range of text features, and more to engage readers. Highlights include: • Introductions to concepts crucial to understanding the basics of gender identity, including how gender identity differs from physical sex and sexual orientation, the importance of gender-specific and gender-neutral pronouns, and more • Short biographies of gender activists and other important public figures throughout the text, filled with personal stories to help readers form social-emotional connections to the subject – including Renee Richards, Chaz Bono, and gender rights pioneers Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, plus early transgender individuals including Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen. • In-depth information on famous gay/lesbian rights protests and movements, detailing the cultural and legal struggles for gay rights and gender acceptance, from the Compton Cafeteria riots to the Stonewall Riots to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and more. Sidebars throughout on how books and popular TV shows and movies helped expand gay/lesbian awareness and rights, from 1970s shows such as The Jeffersons to the contemporary show Meet Polkadot. Projects and activities encourage teens to form their own, well-informed opinions on the many facets of gender perspectives and issues. Gender Identity is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Feminism, Immigration Nation, and Race Relations.

What do you see when you look up into the sky at night? The moon, stars, maybe even a comet or asteroid? You can also see other planets! In Planetary Science: Explore New Frontiers, readers ages 12 to 15 embark on a journey through the solar system and beyond, exploring planets, moons, dwarf planets, exoplanets and everything in-between. For many ancient cultures, planets were mysterious objects that moved against the backdrop of the heavens in strange but predictable patterns. Ever since Galileo Galilee first used a telescope to explore the moons of Jupiter, we've known that the planets are much more than mysterious points of light in the night sky. With the creation of incredible technologies such as space probes, giant ground-based telescopes, and Earth-orbiting observatories, we've learned that Mars once had water on its surface, that Jupiter's Great Red Spot has been churning for centuries, and that thousands of exoplanets circle distant suns. Planetary science is also exciting because of what we don't know. Was there ever life on Mars? Is Planet Nine lurking in the outer reaches of the solar system? Will we ever find another Earth? How far can we go? In Planetary Science, readers examine the latest information on Pluto, the discoveries of the Mars rover Curiosity, and the incredible catalog of distant planets uncovered by the Kepler Space Telescope. They learn about how planets are formed and why they travel on their orbits. Planets, those pinpricks of light you might spot on a clear night, come closer through informative illustrations, links to online primary sources, illuminating sidebars and fun facts, and hands-on, in-depth activities, such as building scale models of planets, hunting for alien worlds through citizen science, and crafting a comet in the kitchen. Planetary Science also promotes critical thinking skills through inquiry, discovery, and research by encouraging readers to explore questions that remain unanswered, such as whether Mars once had life or the possibility of a ninth planet hiding in the furthest reaches of the solar system. With discoveries being made almost every day, it's an exciting time to be a planetary scientist!

The United States boasts a rich musical diversity. Colonial Americans integrated European traditions with new cultural influences to compose a unique musical identity. African traditions influenced hymns and folk songs that connected people to religion and to the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Patriotic tunes created unity in wartime. America's jazz, blues, rock, and hip-hop continue to evolve from their African-American origins. Music: Investigate the Evolution of American Sound invites kids ages 12 and up to explore the roots of American music genres as they investigate the social, political, and religious influences that inspire musicians. Activities encourage readers to inquire into the art and science of music. Readers can engage in a hands-on exploration of the physics of sound vibrations, decibel levels, and acoustics, or use vocal styling to improvise and discover the rhythm of their bodies to create a beatbox. Music encourages readers to analyze lyrics, their meanings, and rhythms, and then use that analysis to write their own songs. This title meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

Why do we walk on two legs? How do our muscles know how to work together when we dance? How does our brain work with our hands to sink a basketball? In Human Movement: How the Body Walks, Runs, Jumps, and Kicks, readers ages 12 to 15 learn the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body and discover how bones, muscles, tendons, and nerves work together to make movement possible. Bones give the body structure and the ability to stay upright. Muscles make possible the movement of the bones. The brain tells the muscles what to do and when to do it. And your heart, lungs, and other organs provide the fuel that powers movement. Human Movement takes a look at all of the components of the human body and examines how they allow you to move and interact with the world around you. Readers also learn what they can do to keep their bodies healthy and fit and moving well.Combining hands-on activities with biology, chemistry, biomechanics, and nutrition, Human Movement offers entertaining graphic novel illustrations and fascinating sidebars to illuminate the topic and engage readers further. Human Movement integrates a digital learning component by providing links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites to deepen readers' experiences and strengthen practical connections to the material.Projects include building a hand model with working muscles and tendons, testing what makes bones strong, examining how changing your center of gravity affects balance and motion, identifying how different types of joints work, and using yeast to investigate how the body metabolizes food into energy. Additional materials include a glossary, and a list of current reference works, websites, and Internet resources.

About 200,000 years ago, humans arose as a species on the continent of Africa. How did they get to the rest of the world? When did they leave, why, and what did they use for transportation? Whether by bamboo raft or Boeing 747, whether to escape political persecution or because of climate change, migration is a recurring pattern throughout the human history of the world.In Human Migration: Investigate the Global Journey of Humankind, readers ages 12 to 15 retrace the paths taken by our ancestors, starting with the very first steps away from African soil. Understanding who has migrated, from where, when, and why helps us understand the shared history of humans across the world and the future that links us together.Kids discover how archaeologists, paleoanthropologists, linguists, and geneticists piece together different parts of the puzzle of ancient migration. Open-ended, inquiry-based activities and links to primary sources help readers draw inferences and analyze how these human journeys have changed where and how people live. Human Migration takes readers on a journey from our common ancestry to our shared future on an increasingly fragile planet.

What does it mean to be an immigrant today? Has the immigrant experience changed since the last century? Immigration Nation: The American Identity in the Twenty-First Century invites middle and high schoolers to explore the history of immigration in the United States, along with immigration law and statistics through the perspectives of immigrants, citizens, policy makers, and border agents. For more than a century, an immigrant from France has stood vigil in the New York Harbor. At 350 feet tall, with a majestic spiked crown upon her head, a tablet of laws clutched in one hand and a torch held aloft in the other, the lady is hard to miss. She cries out to the world, "Give me your tired, your poor…I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Millions of immigrants have answered the Statue of Liberty's call, passing over, under, or through the Golden Door to become Americans. However, on the eve of its 250th birthday, the United States is in the middle of an identity crisis. Should this land of immigrants open the door open to outsiders, people hungry for opportunity and desperate for freedom? Or should the country shut the golden door, barring entry to all but a select few? And what does it mean to be an American? How citizens answer these questions in the early twenty-first century will determine the future of America's identity. Immigration Nation includes critical-thinking activities and research exercises to encourage readers to dive deep into the topic and consider viewpoints from many different identities. Interesting facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions take readers on an exploration of the past, present, and future of immigration. Immigration Nation is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Gender Identity, Feminism, and Race Relations.

A fun and informative introduction to the bodily systems that keep us alive! Hands-on science experiments and STEM research projects help readers ages 12 to 15 discover an amazing world-their own bodies! What is the most complex machine on earth? The human body! In Inside the Human Body, readers ages 12 to 15 peel back the layers to take a look inside this amazing machine and learn the basic anatomy of the human body and its bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs. We'll also explore the body's physiology and how its organs work together to allow us to function and survive. Take a ride through the different organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, immune system, and urinary system, and investigate each system's role in operating our human body machine. In addition, we'll explore some of the diseases that can affect the human body and what we can do to keep our bodies healthy and fit. Text-to-self and text-to-world connections make learning applicable and fundamental. • Combining hands-on STEM activities in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, and nutrition, Inside the Human Body offers entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars to illuminate the topic and engage readers further. This book integrates a digital learning component by including links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites. • Projects include building a model of the lungs to demonstrate how they function, creating a working model of the cardiovascular system, investigating how the immune system protects the body from common illnesses, using vinegar to demonstrate how the stomach breaks down food, and creating a multimedia presentation about a disorder of the endocrine system. • Additional materials include a glossary and a list of current reference works, websites, and internet resources. About the Inquire & Investigate Human Science set and Nomad Press. Inside the Human Body is part of a set of three Inquire & Investigate Human Science books that explore the human body, genes, and brain. The other titles in this series are The Human Genome: Mapping the Blueprint of Human Life and Psychology: Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing. Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. 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. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

Find out the science behind your clothes in this fun, interactive book full of hands-on projects for middle schoolers! What kinds of sneakers are you wearing right now? What material is, your shirt made out of? And, how did all of these clothes and accessories get made and arrive at a store for you to try on and buy? In The Science of Fashion, readers ages 12 to 15 learn how science and engineering makes the entire fashion industry possible. Fashion is one of the biggest, most influential industries in the world. But, how much do you know about how your clothes are made? Most people tend to think of fashion designers and scientists as occupying two completely different worlds, but the truth is, the fashion business is completely dependent on and intertwined with science and engineering. The computer technology used in fashion design, the science behind dyes and special treatments such as waterproofing, the engineering innovations in manufacturing of fast fashion are just a few of the ways the fashion world and the science and engineering world meet.

Examine what it means to be a global citizen, and learn about the rights and responsibilities that we all have. The right to grow and thrive in a safe environment. The right to a name and an identity. The right to the free expression of ideas. The right to an education. In Global Citizenship: Engage in the Politics of a Changing World, readers ages 12 to 15 discover the resources and information they need to learn about issues of global concern and strategies for taking informed action, as outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly. Each chapter centers on a specific human right outlined by the United Nations' "Convention on the Rights of the Child," focusing on the political, human, economic, environmental, and cultural guarantees born of our common humanity. Readers learn about the history and evolution of citizenship, about past and ongoing human rights struggles, about economic justice, and about environmental sustainability. They also learn about cultural appreciation and preservation in an age of global convergence. Ready to create a better future for all? Let's go! • In an interconnected world with countless tools for education and social participation, children need not wait until adulthood to become civic participants and social justice advocates! Young people can forge local and international partnerships to combat inequality, promote sustainability, and foster intercultural understanding. • Links to online resources provide a digital learning experience that integrates content with an interactive platform. • Investigations include examining case studies, researching global groups working for change, and developing biographies of key people. • Essential questions guide readers' investigations while hands-on activities promote critical and creative problem solving, and text-to-world connections highlight the way the past provides context for the present-day world. About the Inquire & Investigate series and Nomad Press Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. 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. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

Have you noticed that our planet is becoming increasingly connected? At the supermarket, you can buy food from all around the world, including olive oil from Greece, cheese from France, and coffee from South America. At home, you surf the Internet on a computer made in Asia, reading news from many different countries. Your parents might drive a car made in America, Japan, or Germany while you listen to music from American and Canadian pop stars on the radio.In Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events, kids ages 12 to 15 focus on the definition of globalization, how technology drives globalization, and how globalization affects economies, political systems, human rights, and cultures around the world. The book also explores the future of globalization and discusses issues the global community might face in coming years.For centuries, people from different societies and cultures have made contact with each other and exchanged goods and ideas. Globalization is not a new thing, but in recent years, advances in transportation and technology have made it easier than ever to connect with people everywhere, whether they are sitting next to you on a bus, waiting for you at home, or sitting on a different bus halfway around the globe. Jet airplanes and great ocean ships carry people and goods everywhere in the world. Cell phones, computers, the Internet, and social media allow people to communicate instantly, no matter where they are. Through globalization, the world is becoming more interconnected and interdependent. Is globalization a good thing? Does globalization benefit all world citizens, rich and poor? Or does it only benefit a few, while harming others?In this civics book, middle grade students are encouraged to think critically about how globalization affects local and global communities. Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events teaches students about a crucial topic in a fact-based way that promotes empowerment and understanding. Investigations and hands-on experiments provide students with problem-solving opportunities that help students determine the right balance between the benefits and costs associated with globalization. Projects such as tracking the origins of different objects and devices you might find at home lead readers through an inquiry-based, open-ended investigation with plenty of room to explore individual creativity.Globalization is one book in a set of four that explore great events of the twentieth century. Inquire and Investigate titles in this set include The Vietnam War; World War II: From the Rise of the Nazi Party to the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb; Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events; and The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon.Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging older readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. 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. Consistent with our other series, all of the activities in the books in the Inquire & Investigate series are hands-on, challenging readers to develop and test their own hypotheses, ask their own questions, and formulate their own solutions. In the process, readers learn how to analyze, evaluate, and present the data they collect. As informational texts our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can work out their own inferences. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. Soon they'll be thinking like scientists by questioning things around them and considering n

Why do we do and say the things we do and say? The Brain: Journey Through the Universe Inside Your Head introduces students to the fascinating world of the human brain and its effect on behavior. Readers learn about the main anatomy and functions of the brain while discovering the brain's role in learning, memory, communication, and emotions. Kids also read about new technologies being used to research the brain in its various states of performance while being introduced to the effects of sleep, alcohol, and exercise on our most complex organ.Combining hands-on activities with neuroscience, anatomy, and psychology, The Brain includes projects such as building a 3-D brain model and testing how the brain adapts to a new situation. The Brain integrates a digital learning component by providing links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites. Additional materials include a glossary, timeline, and a list of current reference works. The Brain is a unique opportunity to connect behavior, physiology, and the outside world in one amazing place-your head!This title meets Common Core State Standards for literacy in science and technology; Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

Early science fiction imagined a world with space travel, video calls, and worldwide access to information, things we now know as NASA's human spaceflight program, Skype, and the Internet. What next? Could we really bring back the dinosaurs, travel to a distant star, or live on Mars?In The Science of Science Fiction, readers ages 12 to 15 explore the science behind classic and modern science fiction stories, including artificial intelligence, androids, and the search for alien life. They learn how cutting edge concepts, including time dilation and genetic manipulation, influence today's fiction.The Science of Science Fiction promotes critical thinking skills through inquiry, discovery, research, analysis, and reflection of key scientific ideas and concepts made popular by many titles in science fiction. Each chapter features informative sidebars and video and website links for an in-depth look at key topics. Science-minded experiments include a simple demonstration of artificial gravity using a bucket of water and calculating the speed of light using chocolate in a microwave. This variety of resources ensures the material is accessible to students with diverse learning styles.

Why are women treated differently from men? What is feminism? Why is this movement such an important part of the history of civic rights, and why is it still important today? Feminism: The March Toward Equal Rights for Women invites middle and high schoolers to examine the different stages of the feminist movement, from early mentions in history through the suffragettes' fight for the vote to today's evidence of feminism in the struggle for equal pay and equal rights around the world. As social justice movements gain more traction in the national news media, many students are evolving into activist citizens who are working towards bettering humanity and the planet. This history of feminism gives them an introduction to the ways and means of community activism, which can be applied to a multitude of causes. Feminism: The March Toward Equal Rights for Women introduces readers to some of the icons of feminism, including Simone De Bouvier, Gloria Steinem, and Angela Davis. By examining and deconstructing writings and other arts, readers gain a deeper understanding of the struggles women and men have undertaken for the deceptively simple goal of equal rights for all. Issues such as domestic violence and the fight for equal pay for equal work, plus a discussion of the more recent #metoo movement, all encourage kids to pay close attention to the world in which we live and insist on justice at every turn. Feminism includes critical-thinking activities and research exercises to encourage readers to dive deep into the topic and consider viewpoints from many different identities. Fun facts, links to online primary sources and other supplemental material, and essential questions take readers on an exploration of the past, present, and future of feminism. Feminism is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Gender Identity, Immigration Nation, and Race Relations.

Over 7 billion people live on the earth, and 84 percent of them describe themselves as being religious. Few topics incite such passion as religion. What does that mean? Why are humans invested in ideas that may never be proved? Why has religion played such an important role in history?In Comparative Religion: Investigate the World through Religious Tradition, readers seek answers to these questions by comparing and contrasting the cultural, spiritual, and geographical underpinnings of five different religions. By developing a better understanding of the similarities and differences among religions of the world, readers gain a strong foothold in a dialogue that has continued for thousands of years.Combining hands-on activities with theology, history, geography, world cultures, art, and architecture, Comparative Religions encourages deeper understanding of the world's religions. Entertaining graphic art, fascinating sidebars, and links to primary sources bring the topic to life, while key questions reaffirm foundational concepts.Activities include conducting an interview with a rabbi, comparing the story of Abraham and Isaac in three sacred texts, studying the architecture of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, studying the Hindu practice of yoga and meditation, and examining how religious doctrines shape the behavior of believers.

Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation introduces students to the fascinating world of forensic science and shows them how to find clues, analyze evidence, and crack the case.Combining hands-on activities with forensic science, kids will have fun learning about the world of forensics, evidence collection, and crime lab analysis. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebarsilluminate the topic and bring it to life, reinforcing new vocabulary.Projects include documenting a crime scene, identifying fingerprints, analyzing blood spatter, and extracting DNA. Additional materials include a glossary and a list of current reference works, websites, museums, and science centers.

If you look at a piece of a leaf or a drop of saliva through a microscope, what do you see? Cells are the basic building blocks of life and they make up every living thing, from plants to animals, from humans to bacteria! In Cells: Experience the World at Its Tiniest, readers ages 12 to 15 investigate cells and learn how they affect our health, reproduction, criminal investigations, and agriculture. Through cell science, scientists have been able to create many things to help society, including seeds that grow better in certain locations, tools that can detect DNA at crime scenes, and immunizations to keep people healthy.To reinforce learning and encourage investigation, hands-on activities include finding and identifying bacteria from pond water and human mouths and building models of different types of cells. Links to online primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites provide a digital learning component that appeals to this age group and promotes further, independent learning while strengthening practical connections to the material. Additional materials include a glossary and a list of current reference works, websites, and Internet resources.

Have you ever wondered what makes up everything in the world around you? Or what exactly is the difference between solids, liquids, and gases? Have you wanted to know what causes two substances to react or change? Chemistry: Investigate the Matter that Makes Up Your World introduces readers 12 through 15 to the fascinating world of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Learn how these molecules combine to form ordinary objects such as the chair you're sitting on, the water in your glass, even you! Through hands-on, investigative projects, readers delve into the world of chemical reactions and changing matter, learning how these principles are used in many areas of science, from biochemistry to nuclear science.Combining hands-on science inquiry with chemistry, mathematics, and biology, projects include building models of molecules and bonds, identifying acids and bases, investigating the effect of temperature on reaction rate, and observing how a chemical reaction from vinegar, water, and bleach can accelerate the rusting of steel. Chemistry offers entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars to illuminate the topic and engage readers further, plus integrates a digital learning component by providing links to primary sources, videos, and other relevant websites.