Frank Carlson Library

To the untrained eye, one rock looks like another. But for the geologists who study them, rocks tell stories. Whether rocks are igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, each one holds clues about Earth's history and formation. From dynamic creation to wave battered erosion, get ready to discover the science of rocks and the people who love them.

With a fiery red explosion, a volcano becomes a disaster in the blink of an eye. Lava and ash shower down, covering the landscape for miles. Starting with molten rock beneath Earth's surface, each eruption can cause incredible damage and destruction. From volcano formation to studying volcanoes, prepare to jump into a scalding look at volcanic eruptions.

"A girl and her family debate whether they should drive in bad weather, and the girl learns about how meteorologists predict the weather"--

Two children try to create a mudslide on a playground and then learn about the dangers of real mudslides, as well as how wind, water, and ice erosion can shape the land. Includes two hands-on experiments and further resources.

Two boys walk home in the dark after their flashlight goes out and learn about light, light sources, and properties of light. Includes two hands-on experiments and further resources.

Bionics is the combination of biology and electronics, but sometimes the line between the biological and mechanical is hard to define. Will Mary Catherine and her friends be able to figure out what makes a person 'bionic' or not? This engaging and informative play is the perfect introduction to the science of bionics and the questions it raises. It repositions complex scientific concepts into concrete examples to help readers process and retain important...

Mary Catherine and her friends have the easiest assignment ever. They just have to design an 'oil-free' car. Electric cars are totally oil-free vehicles, aren't they? Not exactly. Readers of this humorous play will learn all about the sneaky materials hiding in even the 'greenest' cars. Charming illustrations and plenty of humor will draw in developing readers. This informative play is the perfect way to show readers how much we rely on oil, and how...

How is a supersized soda like a giant redwood tree? Mary Catherine and her friends are going to get to the root of the matter in this engaging play about how trees transport water. Readers will learn about important concepts, including capillary action, root pressure, and transpiration. The narrative structure of the play helps simplify complex topics into concrete examples. Charming illustrations and plenty of jokes will keep developing readers absorbed....