I LOVE SCHOOL VISITING!

 I LOVE School Visiting with READERS! 

Time Together

Sharing my books

Sharing science magic

READ WITH ME! WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL TEETH!?

 Grab your copy of 

WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL TEETH!?

Now, you're ready to read along with me.

Click Here!

Did you choose your favorite animal teeth?

If not, please go back and pick. 

It's FUN to have a favorite and imagine those animal teeth being your teeth for one day.

My favorite are ELEPHANT teeth, called tusks.

What animal teeth did you choose? 

SANDRA MARKLE READS ON WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

Join me this February as I celebrate WORLD READ ALOUND DAY by reading my Scholastic book Could You Ever DIVE WITH DOLPHINS!? 

Ready to join me? Click HERE!

WINTER WONDERS!

 

Some animals are perfectly suited to living with ice and snow. Check out this book I wrote about camping out with Adélie penguins raising their chicks. Or READ IT HERE.

So those animals would think you're lucky to have cold winter weather. There is definitely a special kind of winter fun to enjoy. These activities will give you ideas for ways you can make the most out of living where winter is--well--wintery!

GO ON A SCAVENGER HUNT

You might find maple seeds like these.

FIND:

• Something older than you are
• Something younger than you are
• A seed
• Something rough
• Something smooth
• Something that will change in the spring

HELP YOUR LOCAL BIRDS

You can get a good look at birds that spend the winter in your neighborhood, if you invite them to dinner. An easy treat to make is a peanut butter pinecone. Loop a string around the top of a pine cone and tie a knot. Next, smear peanut butter on the cone and roll the cone in birdseed. Then have an adult partner hang the pinecone where birds will be able to perch and eat. 

Now, keep watch. Use bird books and search on-line to help you identify the birds visiting your bird diner. Also, answer these questions:

1. What time of day do the birds come to eat? 

2. Do the birds come more on stormy or sunny days?

3. Do the birds take turns and feed one at a time? Or do they compete to eat?

4. Which birds usually chase other birds away?

Create a colorful bar graph to share the data you collect about your dinner guests.

Remember, to replace your pinecone with a fresh treat from time-to-time to keep the dinners coming back for more.

IMAGINE!

While you stay snug and toasty warm inside, think what fun it could be to take a trip to Antarctica. And while there stay and play with Adélie penguins. READ ABOUT THE FUN HERE!

THE STORY BEHIND MY BOOK SNOW SCHOOL

 

Dr. Tom McCarthy with snow leopard cub
(courtesy of Panthera Snow Leopard Trust)

When I can, I love to investigate firsthand. But, when that isn't possible, I track down experts who have been able to study animals in amazing wild places.  Then I can share the stories talking to those experts inspire--like Snow School (Charlesbridge).  I discovered that story about snow leopard cubs growing up from interviewing Dr. Tom McCarthy who has spent many years climbing the high, rugged mountains of Pakistan in order to learn about the life and behavior of snow leopards.  That's it--shown in red on this globe.

The setting for story is the Hindu Kush Mountains in that country.  That high mountain habitat is one of the harshest on Earth. It requires the cats to be able to chase fast prey downhill over very rocky terrain.

Even during his many years studying snow leopards Dr. McCarthy shared that he only had a chance to watch a few downhill chases as snow leopards caught prey.  He said, “Once, I was lucky enough to see a mother have two cubs with her while she hunted.”  

Dr. McCarthy guessed the cubs were in training.  Snow leopard cubs spend two years with their mothers learning to survive on their own.  That inspired me to wonder what lessons snow leopard cubs need to learn in order to be successful in the extreme conditions of their home habitat.  

For one thing, as soon as they’re big enough, snow leopard cubs travel with their mother. That way they get a close look at the features of their environment.  And they learn the shortest, safest routes to take. 

The snow leopard’s habitat is really a high desert with very steep terrain.  When these cats hunt, they have to chase down prey animals, like ibex, capable of running down steep, rocky slopes without falling.  And they have to pounce at just the right moment to stop their prey without going over a cliff.

Snow leopards do have some natural built-in advantages. One is a very long tail.  Dr. McCarthy reports that a snow leopard’s tail is all muscle and that it’s heavy. He said, “It must even be heavy for the snow leopard.  In snow, I’d see a mark where  a cat would start to drag its tail after every two or three steps.  So holding up its long tail must be tiring.”

Having such a long tail is worth the effort, though, when the snow leopard starts to run.  It swings its tail back and forth and that helps it stay balance while twisting and turning.  To get a feel for how its tail helps a snow leopard stay balanced, try this.  Stand on one foot with your hands at your sides.  Then repeat standing on one foot but this time stretch out your arms and move them forward and backward.  

Snow leopards also have big feet that act like snowshoes, helping them walk on top of fluffy snow.  In fact, Dr. McCarthy reported a snow leopard’s feet leave very round footprints because their feet are about as wide as they are long (about four to five inches in both directions.) 

These cats also have a lot of fur around their toes and the pads of their feet to shield them from the ice and snow.  Like housecats, snow leopards have retractable claws.  They put these out to help them climb and to stop themselves from skidding.

Dr. McCarthy reported that once a snow leopard catches prey it needs a safe place to eat—safer than on a steep mountainside.  Dr. McCarthy said, “I’ve watched a snow leopard drag a big goat that weighs as much, if not slightly more, than the cat does.  And it drags this prey uphill.”   

Imagine pulling something that weighs as much as you do.  Now, imagine doing it the way a snow leopard does.  This cat bites to grab its prey.  Then it drags this weight between its legs.  This is another behavior snow leopard cubs learn by being copycats, doing what their mother does.

You might be surprised to learn that snow leopards usually only get a chance to catch big prey about once a week.  So when it does, the cat is likely to stay by its prey and eat as much as 25 pounds of meat a day for two to three days.  

Can you guess what snow leopards do after such big meals?  You’re right!  They sleep.  Like lions, tigers, and housecats, snow leopards sleep most of the day to save their energy for hunting.  

Now let me read you SNOW SCHOOL (Charlesbridge)  Click here to start.

WHAT IF YOU HAD A SANDRA MARKLE VISIT!?

  The Wait Is Over!

I'm coming off the Virtual Screen and back into Schools! I can FOR REAL Visit You!

No power points. It's all REAL, Interactive, FUN!

I can't wait to share SCIENCE MAGIC before your eyes. 

I can't wait to have my audience right there with me--even share some hugs.

I'm ready to answer questions and share one of your FAVORITE books--OR my newest!

I'm ready to share the WONDER, LAUGHS, and SMILES in person as well as Virtually across the miles.

DID I GRAB YOUR ATTENTION!?

If you'd like to find out more about my In-Person Visits, costs, and available dates both for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year as well as the coming 2025-2026 school year, email me.

sandramarkle@yahoo.com 

JOIN ME FOR A READING AND TREAT---FINDING HOME and GINGERBREAD COOKIES

 

Click Here To Listen

The story, based on the real-life adventures of Cinders, a koala who survived two bushfires, chronicles the challenges faced by a mother koala. She protects herself and her joey from a raging bushfire. Then she faces finding food and a new home for them both. Curious about her, a community of people first cause problems and then help her succeed. 

WAIT! How about baking up a treat to enjoy while you're listening? 

This is my recipe for gingerbread cookies. It's what my grandmother called "Sandy's Delights" because they were my favorites. I grew up just a block away from my grandparent Sauler's house. Actually, it was just a quick dash from our backyard through the neighbor's backyard to their house. And in what had to be a kitchen as tiny as a closet--though there were always potted violets blooming in the window--grandma created fabulous food. 

I imagine I could smell the Sandy's Delights from my house because I managed to be there whenever the cookies came out of the oven. My favorite place to eat them was with my grandpa on the big swing on the front porch.

Of course, I baked these cookies for my children too, especially in the Fall. Gingerbread just tastes like Fall to me. I hope you enjoy them too, along with the story.

Here's the recipe.

Preheat the oven to 350F

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar (I like dark)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup white sugar for rolling cookies before baking

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

grated rind of one orange or lemon

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

pinch of salt

Baking paper

Cream together butter, brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar with electric mixer. Beat in molasses and egg. Add grated rind.

Sift together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, clove, and salt. Stir into wet ingredients. CHILL for about 30 minutes.

Roll spoonfuls into balls. Roll in white sugar.

Place on cookie sheet topped with baking paper. Bake for 8 minutes or just until tops are risen and about to crack.

Cool and enjoy while listening to 

FINDING HOME!