Family Activities Who is Zoey?

 Design and experiment like Zoey to figure out In the first book of this series, Zoey dis- what a bug you may find outside would look Zoey and Sassafras covers a glowing photo and learns an like. Make sure that an adult helps you and that your bug can breathe, is kept out of direct sun- amazing secret. Injured magical animals light and has access to water. After a few hours come to their backyard barn for help! Dragons & Marshmallows of observing your bug, release it back into the When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up wild. to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong using the scientific method. Will  Can you think of another magical creature that Zoey might encounter? Draw a picture of your they be able to help little Marshmallow magical creature. Then write or verbally ex- before it’s too late? Little Rock School District staff who plain what the creature is like and what it needs ______help with. Start a science journal just like Zoey helped with the creation of the guide in- after drawing your magical creature. Be sure to clude: include a drawing of your creature and all the The Case for STEM Education parts to the experiment of what your creature Joel Spencer needs help with (question, hypothesis, materi- “60% of U.S. employers are having difficulties als, steps to the experiment and conclusion). finding qualified workers to fill STEM va- Laura Beth Arnold cancies.” - Council of Foreign elations ______Nolan Brown What is the scientific method? “54% percent of the nation’s 4th graders Margaret Wang and 47% of its 8th graders report that The scientific method is a way to ask and they “never or hardly ever” write re- Sabrina Stout answer scientific questions by making ob- ports about science projects. 39% of servations and doing experiments. There Maria Narvaez 8th graders report that they “never or are 6 simple steps to follow: hardly ever” design a science experi- ______ Ask a question or identify a problem ment.” - U. S Department of Labor

you would like to solve. What is Arkansas “Out of 65 education systems, American  Make observations and do research students rank 27th in math and 20th in Reads One Book? about the question or problem you science.” - U.S Department of Labor would like to study. This is a program designed to create a shared reading experience throughout a district at  Form a hypothesis (what you think will the elementary level. happen in your experiment). Every student in the district receives a book  Design an experiment to test your hy- with a family resource guide. The goal is to K-2 Family pothesis. create a culture of family reading and STEM  Collect and analyze data from your literacy in Arkansas. experiment.

 Use your data to form a conclusion Guide (what happened and why).

Chapter 9: Chapter by Chapter Chapter 5: Chapter 13: Chapter 1:  Zoey’s mom gave her some advice on tak-  What mistake did Zoey make during her  What did Zoey’s mom do to make her ing care of the animals. What was her ad- experiment? feel better?  Who are Zoey and Sassafras? vice?  In Chapter 9 they talk about warm and Chapter 14:

 What does Zoey decide to do with the  How did Zoey prepare for her new job of cold blooded animals. How are warm and  Why was Zoey’s mom proud of her? bugs? cold blooded animals alike and different? taking care of the magical creatures? Chapter 15:  What is the difference between thinking  Why couldn’t Zoey’s dad help her with the  What did Zoey learn from her first exper- goggles and regular goggles? creatures in the barn? iment?  Why did Marshmallow have to leave the barn?  What photo do you think Zoey’s mom was Chapter 6: Chapter 10: holding at the end of chapter 1?  Why do you think it was hard for Zoey to  What did Zoey see when she entered the  What plan does Zoey have to make say goodbye to Marshmallow? barn? Marshmallow feel better? Chapter 2: Chapter 16:  Who was Zoey’s first patient?  How does Zoey’s dad help Zoey with the  What was in the photo that Zoey’s mom magical creatures even though he can’t  What valuable lesson did Zoey learn  In this chapter, when the magic doorbell was hiding? see them? from Marshmallow? rings, Zoey sees a blue tail disappear into the bushes. Who to you think the tail be- Chapter 11: Scientific Vocabulary longs to and why? Chapter 3:  What did Zoey do to help Marshmallow?  Reptile— an animal that has scales in- Chapter 7: stead of feathers or fur, cold blooded.  Who is Pip and how did he get hurt in the  In this chapter, Zoey is introduced to car- woods?  In Chapter 7, Zoey used her “thinking nivores, herbivores and omnivores. Ex-  Mammal— an animal that breathes air goggles.” How did these goggles help Zo- plain the difference between these three through lungs, has a backbone and  How did Zoey’s mom figure out how to ey? groups. grows air or fur. help Pip?  Zoey observed reptiles and mammals. Chapter 12:  Warm blooded—animals that can make  At the end of Chapter 2 Zoey smiles. How are reptiles and mammals different?  Describe and explain Zoey’s new experi- their own body heat even when it is cold What do you think this means? outside. Their body temperature stays  What did Zoey do to help the snake? Is a ment? the same (mammals and birds). snake a reptile or mammal?  Why didn’t Zoey write everything down Chapter 4:  Cold blooded—animals that become hot- Chapter 8: in her science journal during her second ter and colder depending on the outside  How did Zoey feel about being in charge experiment?  What was the first question in Zoey’s sci- temperature (reptiles and fish). of the barn and all the magical creatures ence journal? Why do you think it’s im-  What did Zoey learn from her second ex- that might need help? Why do you think  Carnivore—animals that eat meat. portant to keep a science journal? periment? she felt this way?  Herbivore—animals that eat plants.  What advice did Zoey’s mom give about  What evidence did Zoey see that eating  What questions and answers did Zoey conducting an experiment? fish helped Marshmallow?  Omnivores—animals that eat both meat have for her mom? and plants.  Why does Zoey offer the baby dragon more than one kind of food?