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Rolypolyology
Provides instructions for finding, collecting, and keeping these crustaceans and suggests ways to delve into their secret lives
48 pages, Library Binding
First published December 1, 1995
5 people want to read
About the author
Michael Elsohn Ross
54 books4 followers"I am fascinated by children's natural curiosity and innate science exploration skills," says author and Yosemite Association naturalist Michael Elsohn Ross. "For ten years I have worked with my good friend Allison Brown, a teacher, seeking new ways for children to experience open-ended science play."
It was findings from this project that ultimately gave rise to WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM, a book of hands-on mini-experiments that lead to Big Ideas--and promote an ongoing passion for independent discovery. "I decided I wanted to create a fictional classroom where kids were having the kind of grand adventures and discoveries that I'd observed," the author says. "To an adult, dirt is dirt, water is water, and gloop is just some yucky squishy stuff. But to Corrie, Miguel, Pearl, and other intrepid youngsters, great discoveries are just around the corner." The seven science stations in WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM are designed to encourage students to use all their senses to make observations and draw conclusions, ultimately making science discoveries as simple as child's play. Says KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Hopefully, Ross, a naturalist and author of 40 books for children, has many more Mr. Whiskers adventures planned. Great fun with appealing science."
Michael Elsohn Ross, who is also the author of SANDBOX SCIENTIST, a book for parents and teachers that was named a SMITHSONIAN Notable Book, as well as the children's book SNUG AS A BUG, enjoys visiting schools to present assemblies and workshops students, teachers, and families. He lives on the edge of Yosemite National Park with his wife and son.
It was findings from this project that ultimately gave rise to WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM, a book of hands-on mini-experiments that lead to Big Ideas--and promote an ongoing passion for independent discovery. "I decided I wanted to create a fictional classroom where kids were having the kind of grand adventures and discoveries that I'd observed," the author says. "To an adult, dirt is dirt, water is water, and gloop is just some yucky squishy stuff. But to Corrie, Miguel, Pearl, and other intrepid youngsters, great discoveries are just around the corner." The seven science stations in WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM are designed to encourage students to use all their senses to make observations and draw conclusions, ultimately making science discoveries as simple as child's play. Says KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Hopefully, Ross, a naturalist and author of 40 books for children, has many more Mr. Whiskers adventures planned. Great fun with appealing science."
Michael Elsohn Ross, who is also the author of SANDBOX SCIENTIST, a book for parents and teachers that was named a SMITHSONIAN Notable Book, as well as the children's book SNUG AS A BUG, enjoys visiting schools to present assemblies and workshops students, teachers, and families. He lives on the edge of Yosemite National Park with his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 21, 2014
What a great book for kids learning science. Rolypolys-- pill bugs, sow bugs, etc.-- are easy to find in the wild, don't bite, and are more or less cute; my five year old is obsessed with them. Five is a bit too young for this book-- it's really more of an independent reader, say grades 3 or 4.
Each section is set up to encourage scientific investigation and experimentation. Information about setting up a Rolypoly "hotel" where you can bring the bugs in for investigation is given first, then readers are encouraged to observe and speculate on the body configuration and behavior of the bugs; only afterward are the accepted facts about different classes of rolypoly bugs presented. Then students are again urged to investigate questions about these land crustaceans via simple experiments, often with example-stories of other children coming up with questions, setting up experiments, and reporting data in charts.
Children are urged to treat their pillbug subjects with care and gentleness overall-- some parents may be bothered by the experiments in which children tested how long different pillbugs remained alive in water, but the children are said to have felt badly about the pillbugs dying and stopped the experiment.
Photos are clear; the text is somewhat dense but it reads well.
I think this might make a great background for science fair work, unschooling, homeschooling, or experiential science curriculums.
Each section is set up to encourage scientific investigation and experimentation. Information about setting up a Rolypoly "hotel" where you can bring the bugs in for investigation is given first, then readers are encouraged to observe and speculate on the body configuration and behavior of the bugs; only afterward are the accepted facts about different classes of rolypoly bugs presented. Then students are again urged to investigate questions about these land crustaceans via simple experiments, often with example-stories of other children coming up with questions, setting up experiments, and reporting data in charts.
Children are urged to treat their pillbug subjects with care and gentleness overall-- some parents may be bothered by the experiments in which children tested how long different pillbugs remained alive in water, but the children are said to have felt badly about the pillbugs dying and stopped the experiment.
Photos are clear; the text is somewhat dense but it reads well.
I think this might make a great background for science fair work, unschooling, homeschooling, or experiential science curriculums.
December 15, 2025
This book is for 7 -9 year olds. It talks about studying Rolypolies. I know I have seen them, but knew nothing about them. I learned they will not bite or sting you. That's always good too know.
This book tells of their habitat, defense tactics, and how they compare to others in their classification. There are exercises in how to observe them and many questions of things to look for when observing them. There is also a section of Kid Experiments that were done at a local school near the author, and the outcome of the experiments.
This book is part of Michael Elsohn Ross Backyard Buddies series.
This book tells of their habitat, defense tactics, and how they compare to others in their classification. There are exercises in how to observe them and many questions of things to look for when observing them. There is also a section of Kid Experiments that were done at a local school near the author, and the outcome of the experiments.
This book is part of Michael Elsohn Ross Backyard Buddies series.
November 5, 2014
Not only is this book dated and in need of good, hi-def pictures of the insect discussed, but it contains an experiment where children are encouraged to drop the bugs in water and see how long it takes them to drown. Not cool.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews