Scholastic Inc., the publisher of children’s books and classroom magazines, is launching the first literature-based magazine for 3rd to 5th graders.
“Our mission is to turn kids on to great literature,’' said Tamara Henneman, the editor of the new publication, entitled Storyworks.
The preview issue, which was mailed to 250,000 educators this spring, offers book reviews by children; an excerpt from Virginia Hamilton’s Many Thousands Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom; a sampling of Chinese poems; a story by the award-winning children’s book writer Cynthia Rylant; and an original play by Robert McCloskey based on the Homer Price character he created in his books for children.
Young readers of the magazine can also collect trading cards featuring children’s book authors and characters.
Storyworks will be published six times a year beginning in September. The cost is $10 for a single subscription or $3.95 each for 10 subscriptions or more.
To help inform girls in elementary school about their career choices, the National Women’s History Project has produced a videotape and a biography series about women scientists.
“You Can Be a Scientist, Too,’' is a 13-minute video about science careers that was filmed in elementary classrooms. The video interweaves classroom scenes with biographical sketches of women scientists.
The biography series, “American Women in Science,’' is a group of booklets with a multicultural theme that features many of the same scientists featured in the videotape.
Information on ordering the video and biography series is available from N.W.H.P., 7738 Bell Rd., Windsor, Calif. 95492; (707) 838-6000.
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, which contains data on everything from birthrates to hazardous-waste sites, offers a wealth of information for educators. However, wading through the bulky, 1,000-page document can be a daunting prospect.
To help make the document more teacher-friendly, the U.S. Bureau of the Census has put together a free teaching supplement to the abstract that is aimed at grades 5 through 12.
The guide contains suggestions for classroom activities that involve data from the abstract, and explains some useful statistical concepts.
The 28-page supplement is available from the Census Bureau Education Program; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Dept. E.W., Washington, D.C. 20233-8300.--D.V. & P.W.
