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Scientists in the Field
The Elephant Scientist (Scientists in the Field Series) by O'Connell, Caitlin, Jackson, Donna M. (2011) Hardcover
2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book In the sprawling African scrub desert of Etosha National Park, they call her “the mother of all elephants.” Holding binoculars closely to her eyes, American scientist Caitlin O’Connell could not believe what she was seeing from these African as the mighty matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit, stopped midstride, and stood as still as statues. This observation would guide the scientist to a groundbreaking discovery about elephant elephants actually listen with their limbs.
Hardcover
First published July 11, 2011
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707 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin O'Connell
12 books45 followersDr. Caitlin O'Connell is an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and a world renowned expert on elephants and vibrotactile sensitivity. She is the author of the internationally acclaimed nonfiction science memoir, The Elephant's Secret Sense (2007, Simon & Schuster--Free Press), which highlights a novel form of elephant communication as well as their conservation plight. Her narrative nonfiction photo book An Elephant's Life (2011, Lyons Press) uses a graphic novel approach to revealing subtle and intimate aspects of elephant society. Her co-authored nonfiction children's book, The Elephant Scientist (2011, Houghton Mifflin Children's Books) won five awards, including the Robert F. Sibert Honor and Horn Book Honor for 2012. A Baby Elephant In The Wild (2014, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers) was a Junior Library Guild Select and winner of the 2015 NSTA award for Outstanding Science Trade Book for students K-12. Her second science memoir, Elephant Don: The Politics Of A Pachyderm Posse (University of Chicago Press) came out in 2015. Her debut novel, Ivory Ghosts, also came out in 2015 with Alibi, an ebook imprint of Random House. The sequel to Ivory Ghosts, White Gold, came out in February, 2017 and the first issue of the comic came out in May, 2018. Bridge to the Wild was published in August, 2016 with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. In her latest nonfiction book, Wild Rituals, 2020, O'Connell highlights the importance of ritual to all social animals including ourselves. O'Connell is the co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization, Utopia Scientific (www.utopiascientific.org), dedicated to research and science education. She is also co-director of Triple Helix Productions, with a mandate to develop more accurate and entertaining science content for the media. She has taught Science Writing for Stanford University and The New York Times Knowledge Network.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
January 5, 2020
Caitlin O'Connell studies elephant herds at the Etosha site in Namibia.
She and her team have made ground-breaking discoveries about seismic/vibratory communications between elephants as part of their efforts to curtail the crop destruction by the species which leads in turn to humans killing the herds. This excellent YA series shows how scientists actually work - their history, prior work that leads to new insights, their equipment, painstaking measurements that must be made, and the requirement of several specialists working together with the human residents on the ground.
The anatomical details of the elephant's foot and the behavior of the Bull/Male herds was particularly interesting as it seems so similar to the behavior of large groups of immature human males -- think frat parties.
For a more detailed look at O'Connell's research in a book intended for adults: The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa by Caitlin O'Connell.
I have never read a volume of this series that I did not like.
Scientists in the Field. Read for Book Riot Challenge 2020.
She and her team have made ground-breaking discoveries about seismic/vibratory communications between elephants as part of their efforts to curtail the crop destruction by the species which leads in turn to humans killing the herds. This excellent YA series shows how scientists actually work - their history, prior work that leads to new insights, their equipment, painstaking measurements that must be made, and the requirement of several specialists working together with the human residents on the ground.
The anatomical details of the elephant's foot and the behavior of the Bull/Male herds was particularly interesting as it seems so similar to the behavior of large groups of immature human males -- think frat parties.
For a more detailed look at O'Connell's research in a book intended for adults: The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa by Caitlin O'Connell.
I have never read a volume of this series that I did not like.
Scientists in the Field. Read for Book Riot Challenge 2020.
January 25, 2021
This appealingly-presented book is the fascinating story of an elephant biologist who made a discovery about how the huge animals communicate, and is now applying her findings to protecting them. Stunning photos of elephants in their natural habitat fill the pages.
ELEPHANT SCIENTIST ticks the boxes for multiple popular subjects in youth nonfiction: endangered species, science/research, animal facts, and women in the sciences. It would be a great recommend to any student interested in these topics or who is looking for essay subject matter.
I was especially intrigued by the way scientific discoveries about elephant communication are being used to humanely mitigate conflicts between farmers and elephants in Africa. The enormous animals can wipe out a whole season's worth of crops in a few hours, which can be obviously devastating to the small farmers. Killing the elephants has been the traditional response, which is of course also terrible. Scientists have discovered that by playing recordings of the elephants' own warning calls, it makes a much deeper impression about staying out of certain areas than any fence ever could.
ELEPHANT SCIENTIST ticks the boxes for multiple popular subjects in youth nonfiction: endangered species, science/research, animal facts, and women in the sciences. It would be a great recommend to any student interested in these topics or who is looking for essay subject matter.
I was especially intrigued by the way scientific discoveries about elephant communication are being used to humanely mitigate conflicts between farmers and elephants in Africa. The enormous animals can wipe out a whole season's worth of crops in a few hours, which can be obviously devastating to the small farmers. Killing the elephants has been the traditional response, which is of course also terrible. Scientists have discovered that by playing recordings of the elephants' own warning calls, it makes a much deeper impression about staying out of certain areas than any fence ever could.
February 13, 2017
The elephant scientist of the title is Caitlin O'Connell, who studies elephants in Namibia, Africa. I found her observations of elephant behavior fascinating. She discovered that they can communicate through "hearing" vibrations with their feet, which have special cells for the purpose! She also experimented with types of dangers calls, in hopes of finding one that could be used to warn elephants away from farms, where they can damage crops. So all this research has a practical purpose! Elephants need a lot of territory to range in, because they eat so much, but as their habitat is encroached upon by farms, they come into conflict with the farmers. Toward the end she also describes how they tell individual elephants apart by observing unique features of their ears--nicks, cuts, tears, etc. What saddened me was in the last chapter, as she comments upon how the wild African and Asian elephant population has decreased from some 10 million one hundred years ago to about 500,00 African and 20,000 Asian elephants today. I hope that books like this one, another in the "Scientists in the Field" series, will teach the next generation to appreciate and try to preserve these huge, intelligent creatures. Highly recommended!
March 15, 2012
I was lucky enough to win this lovely book in a Good Reads competition. The pictures were absolutely beautiful and illustrated the authors words perfectly. The thing I really like about this book is that it would enrich the learning experience of students learning about elephants, as it gives a real-life glimpse into that particular field of science. It is written in such a way that the book would compliment other facts and figures style reading material i.e. it is more of a narrative.
Thank you kindly to the author Donna Jackson for sending me this book. I am keen to look for other books in this series and other work by Donna Jackson.
Thank you kindly to the author Donna Jackson for sending me this book. I am keen to look for other books in this series and other work by Donna Jackson.
March 26, 2013
This series is turning upside down what students (as readers) may think scientists do for a living. Scientists are not locked in a lab somewhere with a white coat. Dr. O'Connell is actually in a temporary camp in the Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa with a team of researchers who are observing and investigating the behavior patterns of elephant - including collecting and analyzing elephant dung. The major focus of their work is confirming O'Connell's theory that elephants communicate by sending and receiving messages through the ground. They can sense vibrations from miles away - vibrations that indicated the presence of friend or foe.
This is another in the Scientists in the Field series, a series that has won several awards for the quality of the text and illustrations. The photos alone could lead to important conversations if groups of teens (or tweens) read this in a literature (nonfiction) circle. Essential questions for discussion might include simply "Why bother? Why is O'Connell's team's work important?" and "What does this inspire?"
This is another in the Scientists in the Field series, a series that has won several awards for the quality of the text and illustrations. The photos alone could lead to important conversations if groups of teens (or tweens) read this in a literature (nonfiction) circle. Essential questions for discussion might include simply "Why bother? Why is O'Connell's team's work important?" and "What does this inspire?"
November 27, 2017
Summary: In the African desert of Etosha National Park, one could find the "mother of all elephants", Caitlin O'Connel. O'Connel is an American scientist that explores elephants in the African desert where she learns that elephants can hear through their limbs.
Evaluation: I rated this book a 4. The images in this book are engaging, and their is a good amount of information about elephants. The information that this book includes is explorations, pachyderm terms, source notes, and elephant adoptions.
Teaching Idea: Students could work on comparing and contrasting.
The students could fill out a comparing and contrasting graphic organizer on elephants. On the left, the students could put information on what they already know about elephants. On the right, the students could put information about what they found from reading the book. In the middle, the students could put information that relates to both sides.
Evaluation: I rated this book a 4. The images in this book are engaging, and their is a good amount of information about elephants. The information that this book includes is explorations, pachyderm terms, source notes, and elephant adoptions.
Teaching Idea: Students could work on comparing and contrasting.
The students could fill out a comparing and contrasting graphic organizer on elephants. On the left, the students could put information on what they already know about elephants. On the right, the students could put information about what they found from reading the book. In the middle, the students could put information that relates to both sides.
July 24, 2024
Continuing my read of Sibert winners and honors. This one was just a bit dry. But it was also fascinating. For me it definitely puts the scientist's other books on my TBR list. Too much text and not enough photos. And too much scope and not enough. I would probably have been happy if the whole book had been on elephant's communicating with vibrations with even more science. But just didn't have quite the mix I was looking for. 3.5 of 5
December 10, 2014
The author’s purpose in The Elephant Scientist, by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson, is to explain to the reader how and why elephants can sense vibrations through their feet and trunk. After the reader finished this book, she/he will realize that elephants are very smart animals, and they have a very orderly way of living their life. This book features Caitlin O’Connell and her crew as they study the elephants in Namibia. This book is an informational non-fiction piece, and throughout the book, there are many pictures with informational captions. There are several chapters to this book, and each new chapter brings new vocabulary and information that can been understood from previous knowledge. This very interesting book has information on a new discovery of elephants, but also it contain information of daily activity, an elephant “social ladder”, and many more surprising detail about one of the world’s biggest animals, that prove how complex they really are.
I enjoyed this book and one reason why is because of the fact that I liked that the information was presented in such a way that I never got bored. One way they did this was that they had a page with pictures of elephants and the captions gave the information while the reader had a visual to see it. Another reason that this book appealed to me was that I thought is sent such an inspirational message to anyone and everyone who will ever read this book. Caitlin O’Connell started out studying tiny little bugs, planthoppers, which could communicate through vibrations. When she realized that the elephants were acting like the planthoppers, it helped her made her amazing discovery. This goes to show that one can accomplish anything he/she wants to do, and just remember prior knowledge to help in life, “It was during Caitlin’s visits to Etosha that she first noticed the elephants “freezing” like planthoppers when listening for the arrival of other herds. When she saw the huge mammals stopping in their tracks and leaning forward on their front feet, she began to wonder if vibrations in the ground could hold important messages for elephants.”(29) The one critique for this book would be for it to be a little longer, and have something like, “A year later” chapter. I think the ending that was written works really well because after learning about how smart and advanced elephants are, it tells about how they are endangered, and where you can go online to adopt one. Since the reader has read all about elephants, they have a better chance of wanting to adopt and help them. I would only recommend this book to a friend if they wanted non-fiction, I didn’t get bored, but this book wasn’t good enough to make it my favorite genre. It had good facts, pictures, and captions, and is a great book if the friend was really into non-fiction.
I enjoyed this book and one reason why is because of the fact that I liked that the information was presented in such a way that I never got bored. One way they did this was that they had a page with pictures of elephants and the captions gave the information while the reader had a visual to see it. Another reason that this book appealed to me was that I thought is sent such an inspirational message to anyone and everyone who will ever read this book. Caitlin O’Connell started out studying tiny little bugs, planthoppers, which could communicate through vibrations. When she realized that the elephants were acting like the planthoppers, it helped her made her amazing discovery. This goes to show that one can accomplish anything he/she wants to do, and just remember prior knowledge to help in life, “It was during Caitlin’s visits to Etosha that she first noticed the elephants “freezing” like planthoppers when listening for the arrival of other herds. When she saw the huge mammals stopping in their tracks and leaning forward on their front feet, she began to wonder if vibrations in the ground could hold important messages for elephants.”(29) The one critique for this book would be for it to be a little longer, and have something like, “A year later” chapter. I think the ending that was written works really well because after learning about how smart and advanced elephants are, it tells about how they are endangered, and where you can go online to adopt one. Since the reader has read all about elephants, they have a better chance of wanting to adopt and help them. I would only recommend this book to a friend if they wanted non-fiction, I didn’t get bored, but this book wasn’t good enough to make it my favorite genre. It had good facts, pictures, and captions, and is a great book if the friend was really into non-fiction.
October 29, 2013
This is an amazing book about scientist Caitlin O'Connell and the discovery she made during her research in Africa with elephants. After initially beginning her career working with insects, Caitlin had an opportunity to go to Erosha National Park in Namibia to study elephants in their natural habitat. It was her insect background that helped her to notice the elephants acting in the same manner as planthoppers, which communicate with each other by sending out vibrations. After many experiments Caitlin found that elephants could feel vibrations through their feet because of a special layer of "acoustic fat" and those vibrations told the elephants important messages. This discovery would be a major breakthrough in better understanding elephants and helping to protect them. There were so many other important and fascinating facts about elephants that I didn't know about until I read this book. The pictures of the elephants were amazing. They were taken by Caitlin O'Connell and her husband Timothy Rodwell, another scientist. Each photograph has a caption to explain what is happening and reinforces the information in the text. The photographs point out the details in the elephants that make you see them as individuals because each one is so distinct. I felt like I wanted to go back and look at each photograph again to figure out if the elephant was Tim, Smokey or Greg, to name a few.
Elephants have so many human qualities, it would be interesting to see if students could pick them out. Some students may not have the background knowledge though like humans and elephants have distinct fingerprints/footprints. I think this book would be better suited for upper elementary/middle grades. There was a lot of information contained in the 72 pages. The book also included a glossary of pachyderm terms, an index, and there was a page with some additional resources (books, DVD's and web links)to explore for that inquisitive student or for a teacher to use in the classroom.
Elephants have so many human qualities, it would be interesting to see if students could pick them out. Some students may not have the background knowledge though like humans and elephants have distinct fingerprints/footprints. I think this book would be better suited for upper elementary/middle grades. There was a lot of information contained in the 72 pages. The book also included a glossary of pachyderm terms, an index, and there was a page with some additional resources (books, DVD's and web links)to explore for that inquisitive student or for a teacher to use in the classroom.
February 10, 2017
The Elephant Scientist is an interesting biography that could be used in a 4th or 5th grade classroom. This book follows the life of Caitlin O'Connell in her career as a scientist. It focuses mostly on her time studying elephants in Africa. It gives you a look into the life of elephants, scientists and bull fighting!?!
I would use this book to combine science and guided reading into one lesson. I think it would be a great book to use with an animals and ecosystems lesson, as well as a fun autobiography that could be used in teaching reading strategies, especially finding the meaning of unknown words. It would also be a great book to read when starting a research project on animals or scientists. I think this book is very adaptable for any lesson.
This book was a WOW book for me because it gave much depth into the life of elephants and of Caitlin O'Connell. I have always loved elephants and this gave me more insight into their lives. The pictures and graphics complemented the text and provided even more insight. It was written very well and kept my attention until the very end. It was one of the most interesting autobiographies I have ever read!
I would use this book to combine science and guided reading into one lesson. I think it would be a great book to use with an animals and ecosystems lesson, as well as a fun autobiography that could be used in teaching reading strategies, especially finding the meaning of unknown words. It would also be a great book to read when starting a research project on animals or scientists. I think this book is very adaptable for any lesson.
This book was a WOW book for me because it gave much depth into the life of elephants and of Caitlin O'Connell. I have always loved elephants and this gave me more insight into their lives. The pictures and graphics complemented the text and provided even more insight. It was written very well and kept my attention until the very end. It was one of the most interesting autobiographies I have ever read!
November 1, 2013
I chose to read this book after hearing the book talk in class. It sounded interesting to learn more about the uniqueness of elephants. The pictures in the book were amazing. There were up close and personal, as well as views of elephants in action in their natural habitat.
A few things that stuck out to me that I learned were that they have now broken down the major types of elephants. The African elephant was separated into separate sub groups: African forest elephant and African savannah, while the Asian elephants into four: Indian, Sri Lankan, Sumatran, and Borneo.
“The wrinkles in an elephant’s skin help keep it cool. While it may look thick and tough, elephant skin is actually very sensitive-especially to insect bites.” I liked this little tidbit. It’s neat to hear about.
Additionally, the footprints of an elephant are just like fingerprints of humans.
This was a great book that depicted a story of elephants through Caitlin O’Connell’s research. The book would be a good story to use for upper elementary students to use a research text. There is a great deal of firsthand information provided that allow for a research project and presentation that includes the wonderful pictures.
A few things that stuck out to me that I learned were that they have now broken down the major types of elephants. The African elephant was separated into separate sub groups: African forest elephant and African savannah, while the Asian elephants into four: Indian, Sri Lankan, Sumatran, and Borneo.
“The wrinkles in an elephant’s skin help keep it cool. While it may look thick and tough, elephant skin is actually very sensitive-especially to insect bites.” I liked this little tidbit. It’s neat to hear about.
Additionally, the footprints of an elephant are just like fingerprints of humans.
This was a great book that depicted a story of elephants through Caitlin O’Connell’s research. The book would be a good story to use for upper elementary students to use a research text. There is a great deal of firsthand information provided that allow for a research project and presentation that includes the wonderful pictures.
April 15, 2012
Really liked how it showed how scientists' thought evolves while exploring. Sometimes a little complex for average kid "Using a needle glued to an old gramophone stylus"...what child today has any idea what that might be? ...especially when by way as an explanation it goes on "similar to having a record player stylus read the grooves in a vinyl record"...again for many children that is not helpful!
July 13, 2012
This series makes science so COOL! In my next life I want to be a scientist. The author talks about how her life led her to studying elephants and her efforts to help the people of Africa live in harmony with them. Her experiments show that elephants feel vibrations at great distances with their trunks and feet and alarms may be sent through the ground to keep the animals out of farmers' fields. Amazing. Elephants are really just amazing.
June 21, 2012
Audience: 3rd graders to adults who like animals, especially wild ones in their native habitats
Appeal: magnificent pictures of elephants in the wild and narrative that draws the reader into the search to discover more about elephants and their methods of communication.
2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
Appeal: magnificent pictures of elephants in the wild and narrative that draws the reader into the search to discover more about elephants and their methods of communication.
2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
June 3, 2011
Another great addition to this wonderful series.
December 11, 2020
The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M. Jackson is an expository nonfiction picture book that won the 2012 Sibert Honor Book. This book is all about elephants who live in the desert of Etosha National Park in Namibia. I checked this book out from the Chicago Public Library and was happy that I looked at a hardcover version of this book because of the incredible photographs. This book chronicles the adventures and work of American Scientist Caitlin O'Connell, who studies elephants and their behavior. This story follows a matriarch and a group of elephants that are roaming through the Namibian desert. O’Connell watches the elephants through her binoculars and watches them scan and roam the horizon. The book also includes the groundbreaking scientific discovery that Cailtilin O’Connell made about elephants and how they communicate - elephants actually listen with their limbs.
This book is a wonderful example of expository nonfiction because it teaches its readers all about elephants and their behavior. This book is a great book for upper-elementary school students, middle schoolers, and even high schoolers. Students in grades 3-8 could use this book in their study of animals and/or in science class. The images are engaging and informative. In high school students could use this as a paired text with the TED Talk from Caitlin O’Connell. Not only does this book teach students about elephants, it can also give students a view into what it means to be a scientist and what a scientist's job can actually look like. Students could also use this text to practice visualizing, putting things in order, and understanding cause and effect. Overall, I highly recommend this book and have even shared it with the science teachers at my school.
This book is a wonderful example of expository nonfiction because it teaches its readers all about elephants and their behavior. This book is a great book for upper-elementary school students, middle schoolers, and even high schoolers. Students in grades 3-8 could use this book in their study of animals and/or in science class. The images are engaging and informative. In high school students could use this as a paired text with the TED Talk from Caitlin O’Connell. Not only does this book teach students about elephants, it can also give students a view into what it means to be a scientist and what a scientist's job can actually look like. Students could also use this text to practice visualizing, putting things in order, and understanding cause and effect. Overall, I highly recommend this book and have even shared it with the science teachers at my school.
October 8, 2017
Summary:
This book is a very information scientific read. It about the research of a scientist named Caitlin O'Connel. Her nickname is the elephant scientist which inspired the title of this book! She studies elephants in Namibia, Africa. I think her observations of elephants and their behavior are very fascinating. She states that she found that elephants can communicate through "hearing" vibrations with their feet, which have special cells for the purpose! There are many more interesting findings about the life of elephants in this book. This book is one of the many in the "Scientists in the Field" series, and I am interested in reading more books in this series.
Evaluation:
I rated this book with four stars due to the interesting findings that were stated and how this scientist conducted her research. It is a good read for children who wish to learn more about elephants. Students could easily grasp a greater understanding of scientific material by just reading this easy read. I believe that this book could teach many students how to appreciate things bigger than themselves, such as these interesting creatures.
Teaching Tip:
This book, and the book's series should be inside every classroom. This book could be used in a science project on animals that live in a certain region. I remember doing a project in fifth grade on a animals of our choice. We were asked to do this research project after an unit on the regions of the world. We got to pick our animal, and had to use a certain amount books, research articles, and websites to gather our research. This book could have help a lot with the student who chose to do an elephant project.
This book is a very information scientific read. It about the research of a scientist named Caitlin O'Connel. Her nickname is the elephant scientist which inspired the title of this book! She studies elephants in Namibia, Africa. I think her observations of elephants and their behavior are very fascinating. She states that she found that elephants can communicate through "hearing" vibrations with their feet, which have special cells for the purpose! There are many more interesting findings about the life of elephants in this book. This book is one of the many in the "Scientists in the Field" series, and I am interested in reading more books in this series.
Evaluation:
I rated this book with four stars due to the interesting findings that were stated and how this scientist conducted her research. It is a good read for children who wish to learn more about elephants. Students could easily grasp a greater understanding of scientific material by just reading this easy read. I believe that this book could teach many students how to appreciate things bigger than themselves, such as these interesting creatures.
Teaching Tip:
This book, and the book's series should be inside every classroom. This book could be used in a science project on animals that live in a certain region. I remember doing a project in fifth grade on a animals of our choice. We were asked to do this research project after an unit on the regions of the world. We got to pick our animal, and had to use a certain amount books, research articles, and websites to gather our research. This book could have help a lot with the student who chose to do an elephant project.
October 31, 2017
Summary: This book is about an American scientist, Caitlin O’Connel who explores elephants in the African desert of Etosha National Park. She gets her name as the “mother of all elephants.” During the time she spends in the desert, she learns all kind of interesting things about elephants and what they do. The overall learning that takes place during this book is the fact that elephants actually can hear through their limbs, and not so specifically, their ears.
Evaluation: I gave this book an evaluation of a 5. For me, I love elephants and have always been interested in them. This book provides tons of factual information about elephants along with other outside sources such as ways to adopt an elephant, explorations, pachyderm terms, selected source notes, and an index. All information in this book is well cited.The pictures in this book are also wonderful and extremely engaging.
Teaching Point: I think I would use this book in a 4th or 5th grade classroom. I would have my students write down interesting facts about elephants that they think they already know. I would then read them the book, and as I am reading them the book I would ask that they write down other information that they learn about elephants. After reading the book, I would tell them to tell me some things they didn’t know before reading the book. After discussing that, I would introduce a new science content area about mammals and the and how offspring can resemble parents in inherited traits and also learned behaviors. I would reflect on the book by asking students to think about some of the learned behaviors that they took note of about elephants.
Evaluation: I gave this book an evaluation of a 5. For me, I love elephants and have always been interested in them. This book provides tons of factual information about elephants along with other outside sources such as ways to adopt an elephant, explorations, pachyderm terms, selected source notes, and an index. All information in this book is well cited.The pictures in this book are also wonderful and extremely engaging.
Teaching Point: I think I would use this book in a 4th or 5th grade classroom. I would have my students write down interesting facts about elephants that they think they already know. I would then read them the book, and as I am reading them the book I would ask that they write down other information that they learn about elephants. After reading the book, I would tell them to tell me some things they didn’t know before reading the book. After discussing that, I would introduce a new science content area about mammals and the and how offspring can resemble parents in inherited traits and also learned behaviors. I would reflect on the book by asking students to think about some of the learned behaviors that they took note of about elephants.
September 13, 2017
Summary: A book from the Scientists in the Field series, The Elephant Scientist tells the story of American scientist Caitlin O'Connell and her research with wild elephants in the Namibian desert of Africa. The team of scientists ends up making a groundbreaking discovery about elephant communications.
Evaluation: This book is a step-by-step recounting of the research Caitlin O'Connell and her team of scientists did with wild elephants. During their research, the team were made aware of problems local farmers were having with elephants devouring their crops. What ensued was groundbreaking research into elephant communications. Through this research, the team discovered that elephants have fat pads in their feet that allow them to detect vibrations in the ground. The book was very interesting and I enjoyed following the process of discovery that is documented in this book.
Teaching Idea: I believe the best idea for using this book would be to incorporate Caitlin O'Connell's process of developing a hypothesis into a lesson. She observed the elephants leaning on their front feet and inferred that they must be getting information from the ground. She took what she knew about other animals' communications (such as the Hawaiian planthopper, spiders, frogs, fiddler crabs, and naked mole rats) and developed a hypothesis. She tested the hypothesis, gained new knowledge and continued the process. This experiment could be used to model this process for students to come up with their own hypothesis to test.
April 15, 2019
What do you do when elephants become a nuisance, eating crops and destroying property? Call an elephant scientist. Caitlin O'Connell became an elephant scientist after studying pre-med and plant hoppers in grad school. After a year-long study opportunity in Africa, she knew she wanted to study elephants more. Her doctoral studies led her to consider the unique communication strategies of elephants including their vocalizations, foot stomping along with othr behaviors. The local residents called her "the mother of all the elephants." O'Connell and the rest of the research team even camped out and worked in a scaffolded tower to observe the elephants at various times during the day and night. Her book, The Elephant's Secret Sense, describes the way elephants use their feet, their trunks and the ground to listen and report needs to each other. The Elephant Scientist includes references, terms, and an index for reference. This book will be a hit with students who love elephants and science.
I'd strongly recommend this informational book for 3rd-6th students. This book was selected as a Robert F. Sibert Honor book. Dr. Catilin O'Connell and her now husband Dr. Timothy Rodwell collaborated on the elephant research and the amazing field photographs for this book. The cover features a realistic image of a herd of elephants at twilight appealing to students who are curious about elephants. Teachers could use this book to analyze the scientific behaviors described, comparing them to their own information about the scientific process.
I'd strongly recommend this informational book for 3rd-6th students. This book was selected as a Robert F. Sibert Honor book. Dr. Catilin O'Connell and her now husband Dr. Timothy Rodwell collaborated on the elephant research and the amazing field photographs for this book. The cover features a realistic image of a herd of elephants at twilight appealing to students who are curious about elephants. Teachers could use this book to analyze the scientific behaviors described, comparing them to their own information about the scientific process.
April 16, 2018
For my informational text I picked the book “The Elephant Scientist” by Caitlin O’Connell and Timothy Rodwell. In the beginning of the book it goes over Caitlin life as a kid and how she succeed in science.Which lead her into biology major and for her love of animals. Caitlin first went to Africa when her and her husband planned a year long trip to view wild animals. Caitlin then explains overall facts about the elephant and a interesting thing she said is elephants lifespan is determined by their teeth “When the set of teeth wears ou and drops out of an elephant’s mouth,the elephant goes hungry and dies (16)”. I find this really interesting based on the fact these huge animals life span is based on their teeths. Throughout the book Caitlin continues to convince the audience and how elephants relate to humans in many ways. Which I thought was a really cool idea based on the fact, I personally didn't know any of this about elephants. . This book is filled to the brim of information on elephants from their behavioral patterns to their physical body. I would specifically use this book in a biology class and one the unit of animals based on all the information in the book. I believe Caitlyn did a really good job explaining her personal experience and all her information she found out. Overall I think this a great informational text based on all the information Caitlin brings.Overall really great book and has everything you need to do a unit on elephants!!
November 13, 2018
Summary:
American scientist, Caitlin O'Connell, studied elephants in the African scrub desert of Etosha National Park. O'Connell is known as "The mother of all elephants." She uses her binoculars to observe wonderful things from African elephants. She discovers that elephants actually communicate through hearing vibrations of their feet. Because elephants eat so much, they need a lot of territory. There are several chapters of this book. Each chapter covers new vocabulary and broadens one knowledge from previous chapters. The book will give you a look into the life of elephants.
Evaluation:
I liked this book because it was very engaging, and I never was bored. I have always loved elephants, and this book gave me a better insight into the lives of elephants. The pictures were excellent with great captions tying along to the picture. The pictures point out great details of the elephants.
Teaching idea:
This book could incorporate a science and guided reading lesson. This book would be great to learn about elephants and the ecosystem they live in. It would be good to pull small groups so the teacher can point out new, unknown words and they could discuss the meaning of those new words together as a group. While doing this as a guided reading lesson, students could fill out some sort of graphic organizer to write down their new findings on to help them stay engaged in the book. Definitely for the upper grades.
American scientist, Caitlin O'Connell, studied elephants in the African scrub desert of Etosha National Park. O'Connell is known as "The mother of all elephants." She uses her binoculars to observe wonderful things from African elephants. She discovers that elephants actually communicate through hearing vibrations of their feet. Because elephants eat so much, they need a lot of territory. There are several chapters of this book. Each chapter covers new vocabulary and broadens one knowledge from previous chapters. The book will give you a look into the life of elephants.
Evaluation:
I liked this book because it was very engaging, and I never was bored. I have always loved elephants, and this book gave me a better insight into the lives of elephants. The pictures were excellent with great captions tying along to the picture. The pictures point out great details of the elephants.
Teaching idea:
This book could incorporate a science and guided reading lesson. This book would be great to learn about elephants and the ecosystem they live in. It would be good to pull small groups so the teacher can point out new, unknown words and they could discuss the meaning of those new words together as a group. While doing this as a guided reading lesson, students could fill out some sort of graphic organizer to write down their new findings on to help them stay engaged in the book. Definitely for the upper grades.
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November 25, 2019Summary:
In this book, the author tells the story of the discovery found while observing elephants in an African desert. The book provides real life images of elephants in their natural habitat. While observing and photographing these magnificent animals, the scientist discovered something about the elephants. It was found that elephants can use their limbs (feet and trunks) in order to communicate and to warn the herds about incoming predators. As you read through this book regarding the remarkable discovery, readers realize just how magnificent these animals are.
Evaluation:
I enjoyed "The Elephant Scientist" because it is interesting and engaging to readers. The book displays real life images of elephants in their natural habitats. The readers get to read about a new discovery found about elephants in the wild. I would recommend this book to teachers and students of the upper elementary level.
Teaching idea:
For a teaching idea, this book could be used to have students complete a compare and contrast essay. In this book, the authors talk about both African and Asian elephants. After reading the whole book, students could gather evidence from the book for both African elephants and Asian elephants and then use this information in order to write a compare and contrast essay. To make it easier to write the essay, students could first begin by creating a venn diagram individually or as a group, then they could use that in order to write the essay.
In this book, the author tells the story of the discovery found while observing elephants in an African desert. The book provides real life images of elephants in their natural habitat. While observing and photographing these magnificent animals, the scientist discovered something about the elephants. It was found that elephants can use their limbs (feet and trunks) in order to communicate and to warn the herds about incoming predators. As you read through this book regarding the remarkable discovery, readers realize just how magnificent these animals are.
Evaluation:
I enjoyed "The Elephant Scientist" because it is interesting and engaging to readers. The book displays real life images of elephants in their natural habitats. The readers get to read about a new discovery found about elephants in the wild. I would recommend this book to teachers and students of the upper elementary level.
Teaching idea:
For a teaching idea, this book could be used to have students complete a compare and contrast essay. In this book, the authors talk about both African and Asian elephants. After reading the whole book, students could gather evidence from the book for both African elephants and Asian elephants and then use this information in order to write a compare and contrast essay. To make it easier to write the essay, students could first begin by creating a venn diagram individually or as a group, then they could use that in order to write the essay.
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December 4, 2019Summary:
This is a Scientists in the Field book. Caitlin, a scientist in the book, has discovered the elephants stomp their feet. She noticed something similar in bugs by their way of communicating, so she thinks maybe elephants are developing the same form of communication. The book explains elephants and some of the things they do. It then talks about how she noticed what they do with their feet and calls it “freezing.” Caitlin conducts an experiment using alarms to see how the elephants will react, and the results are very interesting. She then sets off to prove her theory. Her first step is to prove that elephants generate vibrations. After that, she works to prove that the elephants can detect other vibrations.
Evaluation:
I really enjoyed this book. I love how it is filled with lots of real life pictures and captions to explain every element of the scientific discovery Caitlin made. The text features are helpful and engaging. The organization is also set up nicely, and I knew what to expect on each page.
Teaching Point:
I would use this book to teach about scientists, what they do, and the process and steps they follow to make discoveries about the world around us. This is a larger book, so I would either read excerpts, or read a little bit of it each day and make it a unit plan.
This is a Scientists in the Field book. Caitlin, a scientist in the book, has discovered the elephants stomp their feet. She noticed something similar in bugs by their way of communicating, so she thinks maybe elephants are developing the same form of communication. The book explains elephants and some of the things they do. It then talks about how she noticed what they do with their feet and calls it “freezing.” Caitlin conducts an experiment using alarms to see how the elephants will react, and the results are very interesting. She then sets off to prove her theory. Her first step is to prove that elephants generate vibrations. After that, she works to prove that the elephants can detect other vibrations.
Evaluation:
I really enjoyed this book. I love how it is filled with lots of real life pictures and captions to explain every element of the scientific discovery Caitlin made. The text features are helpful and engaging. The organization is also set up nicely, and I knew what to expect on each page.
Teaching Point:
I would use this book to teach about scientists, what they do, and the process and steps they follow to make discoveries about the world around us. This is a larger book, so I would either read excerpts, or read a little bit of it each day and make it a unit plan.
November 28, 2017
Summary: This is a true story about the author of this book, Caitlin O'Connell, and her adventure to Namibia to study African elephants. She went on the trip so that she could observe elephants in their natural habitat to learn more about them. While she was on her trip, O'Connell gathered much of the information that helped her make a large discovery. Read to find what see saw and found out!
Evaluation: I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend students to read it. I love the story this book tells and how included within it are fascinating images. Again, this text is lengthy so I would not suggest it for beginner readers, but do think it is a great choice for upper elementary students, especially those interested in elephants.
Teaching: I would use this book in a fourth grade science classroom. Using this book as a resource when doing projects on different species of animals would be wonderful as it includes so many interesting and true facts about elephants. I would allow for students to read through this book independently and pull from it the information they so desire that would help them in completing their project.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend students to read it. I love the story this book tells and how included within it are fascinating images. Again, this text is lengthy so I would not suggest it for beginner readers, but do think it is a great choice for upper elementary students, especially those interested in elephants.
Teaching: I would use this book in a fourth grade science classroom. Using this book as a resource when doing projects on different species of animals would be wonderful as it includes so many interesting and true facts about elephants. I would allow for students to read through this book independently and pull from it the information they so desire that would help them in completing their project.
November 28, 2018
Summary:
This is a fantastic nonfictional text that shows photographs and has fun informational facts about
Namibian elephants. This book provides a plethora of helpful information regarding the calls of elephants, how elephants communicate with one another, and captures the true heart of this magnificent beast. All claims and facts are supported by in-depth research.
Evaluation:
I love this book! I think that this would be a fantastic tool for students to have, because of the level of research support available in this text and simple-to-understand layout of all information. Students who are passionate about animals, especially elephants, would really enjoy this resource because it provides real life pictures and fun blurbs of information throughout the text.
Application:
I think this book would be a great resource to use for reading and writing development. It would be a great text to use to introduce the relationship between captions and pictures. Perhaps have the students draw a picture of an elephant carrying out a specific fact or detail they learned about their lives, and have them explain the significance of the detail/fact within their caption.
This is a fantastic nonfictional text that shows photographs and has fun informational facts about
Namibian elephants. This book provides a plethora of helpful information regarding the calls of elephants, how elephants communicate with one another, and captures the true heart of this magnificent beast. All claims and facts are supported by in-depth research.
Evaluation:
I love this book! I think that this would be a fantastic tool for students to have, because of the level of research support available in this text and simple-to-understand layout of all information. Students who are passionate about animals, especially elephants, would really enjoy this resource because it provides real life pictures and fun blurbs of information throughout the text.
Application:
I think this book would be a great resource to use for reading and writing development. It would be a great text to use to introduce the relationship between captions and pictures. Perhaps have the students draw a picture of an elephant carrying out a specific fact or detail they learned about their lives, and have them explain the significance of the detail/fact within their caption.
December 3, 2019
SUMMARY-This is a scientist in the field book about Caitlin O’connell and her research on elephants. Caitlin was doing research in Namibia to help farmers figure out a safe way to keep elephants out of their crops. During her first trip, she observed a herd of elephants all at once, for no apparent reason, stop and move into a defensive stance. She wondered if elephants, like other animals she has studied, could be using seismic communication. Seismic communication is the ability to convey information through vibrations. Read this book to discover Caitlin O’connell’s incredible journey and her elephant research.
EVALUATION-I was really surprised with how much I liked this book. When I picked up a Scientist in The Field book, I thought it was going to be a book about dull research, but I found Caitlin’s entire research process so fascinating. I knew that elephants are very smart and interesting animals, but this was entirely new information for me.
TEACHING POINT-I would you this book in science. I would use this book to demonstrate the scientific method and the importance of making observations and asking questions.
EVALUATION-I was really surprised with how much I liked this book. When I picked up a Scientist in The Field book, I thought it was going to be a book about dull research, but I found Caitlin’s entire research process so fascinating. I knew that elephants are very smart and interesting animals, but this was entirely new information for me.
TEACHING POINT-I would you this book in science. I would use this book to demonstrate the scientific method and the importance of making observations and asking questions.
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December 4, 2019Summary: This book is about a scientist named Caitlin who students Elephants. She creates a hypothesis about how elephants communicate through vibrations in the ground. She found this was similar to the way some bugs in the area communicate and decided to test it. The book is broken up into sections to give the reader the necessary information to understand the research. We learn Caitlin’s background in animal communication, and about the characteristics of elephants. She was able to figure out what elephant calls and rumbles are the most important. The then played them and elephants responded as a group, calmly but dramatically to the seismic frequencies. She also is still continuing her work today.
Evaluation: This book is a great way to introduce students to the idea that scientists are real people whose work continues and builds over time.
Teaching idea: I would use this book to teach my students when we learn about different biomes. The Sahara where elephants live is a place very different than what we see daily, but this book makes it interesting and adds the element of real scientists to make it practical.
Evaluation: This book is a great way to introduce students to the idea that scientists are real people whose work continues and builds over time.
Teaching idea: I would use this book to teach my students when we learn about different biomes. The Sahara where elephants live is a place very different than what we see daily, but this book makes it interesting and adds the element of real scientists to make it practical.
October 11, 2017
Summary
The Elephant Scientist is part of the Scientist in the Field Series and focuses on a young scientist named Caitlin, who studies elephants. The book tells the reader about what life is like for elephants in the desert and it focuses on some of the major problems that they face. The book also tells about some of Caitlin's studies done on the elephants.
Evaluation
This book provides lots of visuals and graphs for students but it may be too advanced for most students in elementary school. An example of this is when the book is talking about the planthopper studies of the scientist, Caitlin. I do like that the book provides many facts and that it introduces students to a great deal of new information.
Teaching Ideas
I would read some of this book to my students if we were learning about the desert to provide a snapshot of what it is like for animals and people there. Once I have read to students, they would go back and write what it would be like for another animal living in the desert based on the information I have given them.
November 18, 2017
The Elephant Scientist is an informational book from the eyes of Caitlin O'Connell. In the book, O'Connell is the Namibian dessert where she is viewing the African elephants where she watched them the elephants be at a stand still and she later discovered through her observation of these mammals that elephants are able to listen with their limbs.
I would include this book in my classroom as it allows for students to scientist in the field of working on this unique discovery. The book gives diagrams for students to visualize her location as well as it is full of of a glossary that allow for students to gain a vast vocabulary.
A great teaching point for this book would be to use this book for talking about subspecies in science for students. The students can use the book as a reference to talk about the two elephants in subspecies: African Savanah and African Forest. The students can make posters on the subspecies and use maps and other information in the book to describe their species.
I would include this book in my classroom as it allows for students to scientist in the field of working on this unique discovery. The book gives diagrams for students to visualize her location as well as it is full of of a glossary that allow for students to gain a vast vocabulary.
A great teaching point for this book would be to use this book for talking about subspecies in science for students. The students can use the book as a reference to talk about the two elephants in subspecies: African Savanah and African Forest. The students can make posters on the subspecies and use maps and other information in the book to describe their species.
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