Science, Math & Health Kits for Classrooms & Home Instruction

Parents and teachers have long known that kids learn best when they can combine factual information with exciting, hands-on activities. When kids are encouraged to use their five senses to experience the world around them, it establishes neural pathways to the brain, and the information is remembered long after the activity is over.

One of the projects we created is Discovery Bags, handy bags chock full of books, videos and CD-ROMs that you can check out of any Springfield-Greene County Library Branch. Teachers can use the variety of formats to bring the world of science, math and health to elementary and middle school students in a way that best suits their different needs and learning styles. Parents can use the kits with their children to reinforce classroom learning at home.

Discovery Bags, a project of the Springfield-Greene County Library and the Discovery Center of Springfield, was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

To locate a bag to check out, click on the Discovery Bag title:

Astronomy: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Exploring the Planets by Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer; Stars & Planets Atlas, by Ian Ridpath; Exploring the Night Sky by Robin Kerrod; Space Science for Children: Stars (video-recording); Space Science for Children: All About the Moon (video-recording); Space (CD-ROM).

Astronomy: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Astronomy by Simon & Jacqueline Mitton; Astronomy by Kristen Lippincott; A+ Projects in Astronomy by Janice VanCleave; Space Science in Action: Stars (videorecording); Space Science in Action: Astronomy (video-recording); Solar System (CD-ROM).

Bones & Muscles: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Bones and muscles, Susan LeVert; Movers and Shapers, Sarah Angliss; Look at your body : Muscles, Steve Parker; All about Bones & Muscles (videorecording); Eyewitness : Skeleton (videorecording); Bones & Muscles / Nervous System (CD-ROM).

Bones & Muscles: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Secret world's body : Bones, muscle, blood and other body bits, Richard Walker; The Skeletal and Muscular Systemovers, Pam Walker and Elaine Wood, The Skeletal System, Laura Gilbert; An inside look : Broken Bones (videorecording); Skeletal & Muscular Systems (videorecording); Ultimate 3D Skeleton (CD-ROM).

The Brain: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Head to Toe Science by Jim Wiese; The Brain and the Nervous System by Steve Parker; The Brain, Our Nervous System by Seymour Simon; All About the Brain (video-recording); The Ultimate Human Body (CD-ROM).

The Brain: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Inside the Brain by Ronald Kotulak; Science Projects About the Human Body by Robert Gardner; 101 Questions Your Brain Has Asked About Itself, But Couldn't Answer Until Now by Faith Hickman Brynie; The Brain & the Nervous System (video-recording); Understanding the Amazing Brain (video-recording); Bodyworks: A 3-D Journey Through the Human Anatomy (CD-ROM).

Chemistry: Elementary Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Chemicals in action, Ann Fullick; Chemistry experiments for children, Virginia L. Mullin; Science project ideas about kitchen Chemistry, Robert Gardner; Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for every kid, Janice VanCleave; Magic School Bus :Ready, Set, Dough, (videorecording); Beakman's World, (videorecording); Science Discovery for Children; (videorecording).

Chemistry: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Teaching Chemistry With Toys; Chemistry For Every Kid by Janice VanCleave; Chemistry by Ann Newmark; Chemicals in Action by Ann Fullick; Physical Science in Action: Atoms & Molecules (video-recording); Physical Science in Action: Elements, Compounds & Mixtures (video-recording); Chemistry (CD-ROM).

Deserts: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Deserts, Susan H. Gray; Deserts; Susan Wilkins; Animals of the Desert, Stephen Savage; Life in the Deserts, Lucy Baker; All about Deserts & Grasslands; (videorecording); Really Wild Animals, The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals, (CD-ROM).

Deserts: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Desert, Edward R. Ricciutt; Closer look at deserts and wastelands; Cally Oldershaw Draw desert animals, Doug DuBosque; Desert, Miranda Macquitty; American Deserts; (videorecording); Biomes of the world in action, (videorecording); Desert Springs to Life, (videorecording); Ecosystems and Biomes, (CD-ROM).

Ecology: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Janice VanCleave's Ecology for every kid, Janice VanCleave; Earth Book For Kids, Linda Schwartz; An Inside Look at the Environment, Michael Allaby; Real World Science : Trash & the Environment (videorecording); Crunch, smash trash : monster machines that recycle (videorecording); Trash and the Environment (CD-ROM).

Ecology: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Acting For Nature, Sneed B. Collard, III; Science Projects about the Environment and Ecology, Robert Gardner; Looking at the Environment, David Suzuki; The Environment; Robert Snedden;Recycling (videorecording); Save the Earth : a how-to Video (videorecording); Science Collections : Ecology (CD-ROM).

Electricity & Magnetism: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Electricity, Peter D. Riley; Magnetism, Peter D. Riley; What makes a magnet?, Franklyn Mansfield Branley ; Switch on, switch off!, Melvin Berger; All about magnets, (videorecording); All about electricity, (videorecording); Electricity and magnetism, (CD-ROM & book).

Electricity & Magnetism: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Awesome experiments in electricity & magnetism, Michael DiSpezio; The magnet book, Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone; Electricity, Steve Parker; Physical science in action : Magnetism, (videorecording); Physical science in action : Electricity (videorecording); Virtual physics : escape from braindeath (CD-ROM).

Endangered Animals: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Endangered Wetland Animals, Dave Taylor; Endangered Island Animals; Dave Taylor Endangered Grassland Animals; Dave Taylor; Endangered Animals, Rhonda Lucas Donald; All About Endangered & Extinct Animals (videorecording); Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures (videorecording).

Endangered Animals: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Endangered Ocean Animals, Dave Taylor; Endangered Forest Animals; Dave Taylor Endangered Mountain Animals; Dave Taylor; Endangered Animals, George S. Fichter; Endangered & Extinct Animals (videorecording); Extinction (videorecording).

Energy: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: The Cool Hot Rod and Other Electrifying Experiments on Energy and Matter; Energy by Rebecca Hunter; Energy by Robert Snedden; What Is Energy? (video-recording); All About the Transfer of Energy (video-recording); Wheels: Explorations in Physical Science (CD-ROM).

Energy: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Energy by Steve Parker; Energy by John Woodruff; Energy by Chris Oxlade; Energy: Potential & Kinetic (video-recording); The Transfer of Energy (video-recording); Whelmers McRel’s Accessibile Science Series (CD-ROM).

Exercise & Nutrition: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Food Rules by Bill Haduch; Food and Nutrition For Every Kid by Janice VanCleave; Diet and Nutrition by Patsy Westcott; Human Body For Children, (video-recording); Shape Up Youth Fitness (video-recording).

Exercise & Nutrition: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: To the Limit by Jeffrey Crelinsten; Food and Nutrition by Janice VanCleave; Stay Fit by Catherine Reef; Muscle in on Your Metabolism, (video-recording); Nutrition (video-recording).

Forces & Motion: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Awesome Experiments in Force & Motion by Michael DiSpezio; Teaching Physics With Toys; Force by Robert Snedden; Motion! by Darlene Lauw; Physical Science For Children: All About Forces & Gravity (video-recording); Physical Science For Children: All About Motion & Balance, (video-recording); I Love Science! (CD-ROM).

Forces & Motion: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Awesome Experiments in Force & Motion by Michael DiSpezio; Teaching Physics With Toys; Force & Motion by Peter Lafferty; Forces & Motion by Peter Riley; Physical Science in Action: Motion & Balance (video-recording); Physical Science in Action: Forces, (video-recording); Pinball Science, (CD-ROM).

Hurricanes & Tornadoes: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Hurricanes; Victor Gentle; Tornadoes, Peter Murray; Tornado; Stephen Kramer; Dynamic Earth (videorecording); Weather's Fury, (videorecording); Dynamic Earth (CD-ROM).

Hurricanes & Tornadoes: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Janice VanCleave's volcanoes, Janice VanCleave; Hurricane & Tornado; Jack Challoner Storms and hurricanes, Kathy Gemmell; Tornadoes, P.M. Boekhoff; Hurricanes & Tornadoes; (videorecording); Weather or not, Volume 2, (videorecording).

Insects & Bugs: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Amazing book of insect records, Samuel G. Woods; Janice VanCleave's insects and spiders; Janice VanCleave; Bugs and other insects, Bobbie Kalman; Make it work : insects; Liz Wyse; Incredible insects; (videorecording); All about bugs, (videorecording); Amazing insect warriors; (videorecording) Bugs : explorations in life science, (CD-ROM).

Insects & Bugs: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: How Insects Build Their Amazing Homes, W. Wright Robinson; What Do You Call A Babt Scorpion?; Emma Nathan; Insects, Jackie Ball; Insects; Laurence Mound; Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures; (videorecording); Eyewitness : Insect, (videorecording); Insects, (CD-ROM).

Light & Sound: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Sound by Rebecca Hunter; Teaching Physics With Toys; Light and Dark by Rebecca Hunter; Sound and Light by Robert Snedden; Physical Science For Children: All About Light (video-recording); Physical Science For Children: All About Sound (video-recording); I Love Science! (CD-ROM).

Light & Sound: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Awesome Experiments in Light & Sound by Michael DiSpezio; Teaching Physics With Toys; Light & Sound by Steve Parker; Physical Science in Action: Light (video-recording); Physical Science in Action: Sound (video-recording); Virtual Physics: Escape From Braindeath (CD-ROM).

Math: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Internet Activities for Math by Walter Sherwood; 40 Fun-tabulous Puzzles by Bob Olenych; Measuring Sizes by Andrew King; Math, Who Needs It? (video-recording); I Love Math! (CD-ROM).

Math: Intermediate Level (grades 5-8)
Contents: 50 Problem Solving Lessons by Marilyn Burns; Cool Math by Christy Maganzini; Real World Math by Donna Guthrie & Jan Stiles, Why Do I Need Math? (video-recording); Carmen Sandiego, Math Detective (CD-ROM).

Matter: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Matter by Rebecca Hunter; What Is the World Made Of? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld; Solids, Liquids and Gases by Ontario Science Centre; Experiments With Solids, Liquids and Gases by Salvatore Tocci; Physical Science For Children: All About Solids, Liquids & Gases (video-recording); Physical Science For Children: All About Properties of Matter (video-recording); I Love Science! (CD-ROM).

Matter: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Matter by Ann Fullick; Matter by Christopher Cooper; Investigating Solids, Liquids and Gases With Toys; Physical Science in Action: Changes in Properties of Matter (video-recording); Physical Science in Action: Properties of Matter (video-recording); Whelmers 41 Awesome & Easy-to-Use Science Activities, (CD-ROM).

Rainforest: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Crafts for Kids who are Wild about Rainforests, Kathy Ross; Rainforest; Edward R. Ricciuti; Rainforest Wildlife, Antonia Cunningham; Animals of the Rainforest; (videorecording); Plants of the Rainforest, Destination : Rain Forest, (CD-ROM).

Rainforest: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Draw rainforest animals, Doug DuBosque; Rainforests; Jan Green; Rainforests, Peter Murray; Rain forest; (videorecording); The nature connection, Amazon Trail, 3rd edition, (CD-ROM).

Rocks & Minerals: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Janice VanCleave's Rocks and Minerals, Janice VanCleave; Geology Rocks! , Cindy Blobaum; Rocks and Minerals, Charles A. Sorrell; Rocks & Minerals, (videorecording); All About Rocks & Minerals, (videorecording); GeoSafari Science, (CD-ROM).

Rocks & Minerals: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Rocks and Minerals, Chris Pellant; Sedimentary Rocks! , Melissa Stewart; Rocks, Minerals and Fossils, Rebecca Hunter; Eyewitness :Rock & Mineral, (videorecording); Earth Science in Action : Minerals, (videorecording); Rocks and Minerals, (CD-ROM).

Weather: Elementary Level (grades 3-5)
Contents: Janice VanCleave's Weather, Janice VanCleave; How the Weather Works, Michael Allaby; Experiment with Weather, Miranda Bower; Weather and Climate; Krista West; All about Meteorology (videorecording); Dynamic Earth (videorecording); Dynamic Earth (CD-ROM).

Weather: Intermediate Level (grades 6-8)
Contents: Guide to Weather, Michael Allaby; Teacher's Weather Sourcebook, Tom Konvicka; Simple Weather experiments With Everyday Materials, Muriel Mandell; Science Projects about Weather; Robert Gardner; Hurricanes ND Tornadoes (videorecording); Weather's Fury (videorecording); Weather & Climate (CD-ROM).

Each of the Discovery Bag topics can be further explored through hands-on exhibits and special programs at the Discovery Center. The Discovery Center website has links to related sites and curriculum ideas to expand your use of the Discovery Bags.