Greg Roza

Platinum is even rarer than gold, and that makes this metal just as precious. Besides a source of wealth, platinum is used to make jewelry, electronics, magnets, medicine, and other valuable objects. This remarkable element and important science concepts are explored throughout this book. Graphic organizers, colorful photographs, and fun fact boxes add support to the text.

Before the American government enacted strict laws about landfills and toxic waste disposal, tragedies of pollution occurred across the country. Today, landfills are safer and more environmentally friendly, but problems can still happen. Our laws don't stop other countries from continuing poor landfill practices. Readers will learn the terrible story of Love Canal and the hazardous chemicals that can be produced by landfills. With the help of detailed sidebars and full-color photographs, the narrative introduces an important conservation topic, including its social and scientific aspects.

In this book, readers take a look at Texas and the original explorers who first set eyes on this vast land hundreds of years ago. Featured adventurers include la Salle, Coronado, de Soto, and Cort s. Biographical sidebars give readers a more detailed understanding of Texas's most important explorers.

Readers find out what life is like for a murder of crows through the help of accessible text and eye-catching photographs. Crows are some of the smartest animals on the planet. They can remember people's faces and warn each other of danger. Some crows even know how to use simple tools. These fascinating facts and more are waiting to be discovered by readers. A useful graphic organizer provides additional information about these amazing animals.

Wedges are very useful simple machines. Some wedges, such as axes and knives, help us split things apart. Others, such as nails and pins, help us keep things together. Readers discover the science behind wedges in an educational and engaging way. Accessible text is presented alongside detailed photographs, helping readers independently learn fun facts about how wedges work and the ways we use them every day. A graphic organizer and glossary enhance the reading experience, allowing readers to explore essential science concepts in a thorough and enjoyable manner.

Wedges are very useful simple machines. Some wedges, such as axes and knives, help us split things apart. Others, such as nails and pins, help us keep things together. Readers discover the science behind wedges in an educational and engaging way. Accessible text is presented alongside detailed photographs, helping readers independently learn fun facts about how wedges work and the ways we use them every day. A graphic organizer and glossary enhance the reading experience, allowing readers to explore essential science concepts in a thorough and enjoyable manner.

This title offers a curation of enthralling and educational opportunities for readers interested in studying and exploring the natural world. Internship and volunteer opportunities profiled include caring for plants, animals, and habitats as well as teaching about nature and the great outdoors. In addition to being an exciting introduction, this book is also practical, providing a roadmap for readers on where to search for opportunities and how to get a foot in the door.

Exploring Rocks and Minerals is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts, addressing Literacy.RI.1.9 and Literacy.L.1.4. The exciting minerals and rocks of Earth are explored in this fun volume. Readers are shown how rocks form and the broad variety of them found in Nature. A graphic organizer shows readers where fossils are found. This book should be paired with "Inside Earth: Rocks and Minerals (9781448890439) from the InfoMax Common Core Readers Program to provide the alternative point of view on the same topic.

People rarely think about what's under their feet. If they're inside, it might be a rug or a wood floor. However, there's more than meets the eye beneath our feet--dust mites, bacteria, and other disgusting things exist on those surfaces. Step outside, and there's a whole world of bugs, worms, and other matter underfoot. Readers will never look at the bottom of their shoes the same way after they discover how gross, but amazing, the world is.

Mixed Martial Arts has just recently gained widespread popularity in American culture, but MMA has been around for many years. Muay Thai is just one of many disciplines of MMA. Originating in Thailand, the name loosely translates to "art of the eight limbs." Though it may appear violent to some from its depictions on TV, the fighting technique is greatly used for self-defense, exercise, and personal discipline. With a brief history and overview of Muay Thai, as well as step-by-step descriptions and photo images of signature moves, this book will teach readers to respect the roots of the sport as well as how to practice on their own in a safe and healthy manner.

Some earthquakes are so powerful they change the landscape. Many are so weak people can't feel them. Even with advances in science, seismologists still can't accurately predict when an earthquake will strike. However, we now know a lot more about where an earthquake is likely to occur. In this book, readers will learn about plate tectonics, faults, and seismic waves. They'll read about historic earthquakes, see photographs of the aftermath, and learn how to prepare for an earthquake's mighty tremors.

Your skeleton is the framework of your body. Bones provide protection, but they do much more than that. They also produce blood cells and even act as storehouses for minerals the body may need in the future. This guidebook to the human skeletal system includes information about diseases, disorders, and injuries, and discusses how to keep your bones healthy. Numerous photographs and informative diagrams help readers understand the human body and provide a remarkable look at the skeletal system.

Inside this guidebook to the muscular system, readers will learn about the different kinds of muscles and how they function. From your eyes to your toes, muscles help you get things done every day. They help you grab, lift, push, pull, swing, and twist. The muscular system is made up of three different kinds of muscles. Many muscles move by thinking about the movement. Others work constantly without us thinking about them, and these muscles help keep us alive. Easy-to-follow, scientific text is paired with colorful photographs and diagrams to help readers learn about the muscular system.