National Geographic Learning & Cengage

Heads up, homeschoolers! I wanted to make sure that you know about the Spanish/Dual-Language materials available from National Geographic Learning.

Their materials cover:

• Literacy
• Reading
• Social Studies
• Science
• and Language Development

You can take a look at their online catalog here.

Summer Reads: Explorer Academy

I finally have time to share another title in my Summer Reads list for 2019. (Psst! If you want to see the entire list, check out my Idea List on Amazon. aff link)

This post contains affiliate links. See my sidebar for further explanation. 

This was actually first on my list for this summer because my 13 yo son had read the first book last fall and was totally sold. I picked up the second book at Barnes and Noble not long ago and he was so excited to get the second book that he devoured it in two days. He said it was even better than the first. And he's anxiously awaiting the release of the third book in September. (Seriously, as I sit here typing, my son is going on nonstop telling me everything about the series.)

Explorer Academy is a new series by National Geographic Kids. My kid says it's like National Treasure meets A Series of Unfortunate Events (the one on Netflix). It's full of intrigue, adventure, genius children, and modern technology.

Cruz Coronado is the main character (I love that he's Hispanic!) who applies to an exclusive school that trains adventurous and gifted students to become professional explorers. His mother was a scientist who worked there developing a secret formula for cell regeneration, but she died under suspicious circumstances in a lab explosion. Now, in addition to his studies, Cruz is on a hunt for her secret formula.

There are cool gadgets and cryptic puzzles scattered throughout the book. My son loves that the series is full of adventure but is reality based. He says it has awesome gadgets inspired by real tech devices. And the adventure doesn't have that feeling of fantasy, which he enjoys, but knows it could never happen. With Explorer Academy, the adventure seems almost attainable. "It could happen," he exclaims.

Here's what I like about it: I LOVE the diversity of the characters! They represent so many different cultures and as a reader, you learn about them and their backgrounds. And most of these multicultural characters are talented, skilled students.

Also, National Geographic has created an entire support site for the series. Their website introduces you to the stories and the characters, but it also allows for extended learning with educational games, articles about the real technology that inspired the gadgets in the book, and even interviews with real scientists doing amazing things around the world.

I also like that although the book is written for older children, it still contains some illustrations. They're much more grown up, of course, including photographs, maps, and information based images. Oh, and some are cleverly fused images of photographs with the illustrated character embedded. But our kids are such visual learners and the illustrations serve to complement the storyline and motivate the reader to continue on.

Really, this series stays true to the spirit of National Geographic, encouraging the reader to explore, appreciate, and protect the world around us. So it's at the top end of my Summer Reads list for 2019.

You can find the book series here on Amazon, and visit their website to see the games and explore all the materials they've shared.

National Geographic's Climate Hub

With Earth Day coming up on Monday, now's a great time to explore different resources available for discussing climate change and the importance of taking care of our planet.

I really love this slide show from National Geographic's Climate Hub. It does a great job of focusing on just the facts and presents them in a simple, clear format. The slides have a few graphics to help visual learners, as well as clean charts to help the reader understand the numbers being presented.

And it isn't all doom and gloom. It does end with a positive message on how we can make a difference.

Overall, I think this slide show is a perfect jumping off point for students in 5th grade and up (as well as adults!). The facts are presented and the kids can continue researching on their own.

New National Geographic Kids from Pley!

Monthly subscriptions are always one of my favorite gifts to give during the holidays because they last ALL year. They also tend to be educational in nature while maintaining that element of fun that kids crave.

Since my two oldest children are animal/nature lovers, I was ecstatic to receive a sample of Pley's newest box series in partnership with National Geographic Kids. Pley is a monthly mystery box club that partners with brands such as LEGO, Disney, Minecraft and more.

When we received the new adventure box, my 11-year-old son was beside himself with delighted curiosity. He tore into it before I could blink and began to triumphantly hold up the different items inside amid shouts of joy.

This month's theme was Sea Animals. Last year for math, we focused on ocean life, so my son was pretty geeked to get a packet on animals with which he was familiar.

Here's a look at what the box we received contained:

The first thing he did was put on his new T-shirt (it is his new favorite) and then grab the chapter book on sharks. It is filled with fun facts and fascinating stories. And afterward, he began punching out the trading cards that have fast facts about specific reef animals.

Then he started going through the activity booklet page by page and filling out everything he knew.

But I think his favorite items out of the box were these miniature whale and clownfish figures. There's just something about miniature figures that enthrall my kids.

Are your kids into stickers? Then they will love the sheet of animal stickers that features animals found in coral reefs. And if you have a child who enjoys new jewelry or accessories, the colorful bracelet will be a happy surprise.

And the fun doesn't stop here in the box because the kit also includes a link to an online game. My son had to select an avatar then learn about his mission to help save the Great Barrier Reef. It included challenges such as selecting the proper gear, marking a map, using your camera to take pictures of sealife, and opening the mission's iPad which has more detailed information about the creatures living in the reef. There are also games that teach kids about the habits of specific animals. For example, there's one game where you have to make the White-Bellied Sea Eagle fly through a certain area and collect fish without crashing into things.

Are you looking for activities to keep the kids busy on long car rides? Do you have a family vacation coming up? Or maybe the wait in the doctor's/dentist's office bores your kid to tears. Whatever your story, your child may love that the box even turns into a fun travel case with the enclosed handle. Just insert it into the designated holes and your travel case is ready to go anywhere.

Do you have an adventurer at home who loves monthly discoveries? If so, I would highly recommend this particular subscription from Pley!


Disclosure: I am a National Geographic Kids Insider which allows me access to new materials from NGK to share with MommyMaestra readers. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own. 

Celebrating Shark Week with National Geographic Kids

I have to admit a secret: I'm not a fan of sharks. I never have been ever since I saw a few scenes of JAWS as a kid. And here I am a former zookeeper! Isn't that silly? Logical Me knows that what I saw on the show was a bunch of bunk, but the Illogical Me is all "Ummm. No way."

But luckily Logical Me is careful not to pass on my fear to my kids. We don't live too far from the Outer Banks here in North Carolina. And, yes, we go to the beach. (No, I don't get in the water...but my kids do. And you can bet your bippy I'm watching from the shore like una loca.)

We have books on sharks and watch occasional documentaries on sharks. My son is fascinated. So you can imagine how excited he was to get the newest National Geographic Kids 2018 Almanac (aff), which happens to feature a shark on the cover.

And on the inside, there is a new Almanac Newsmaker Challenge to save our sharks. Led by National Geographic explorer and marine conservationist, Jessica Camp, the challenge teaches kids all about sharks. And if your kids visit natgeokids.com/almanac, they'll find

• an interview with Jessica
• a shark quiz and earn a SOS certificate
• the "What kind of shark are you?" personality game
• shark mask and poster downloads
• a poll to select the shark photo to appear on next year's almanac
• more stuff your kids can do to help save sharks

These Nat Geo Kids almanacs are one of my kids' favorite gifts each year. I try to keep them in the car to keep my kids busy reading on long (or short!) car rides.The "bite-sized" (see what I did there?) stories are just right for a quick, 10-minute ride, or can entertain my two for much longer trips. Of course, whoever is reading is constantly reading aloud interesting tidbits for everyone in the car to enjoy. But really, my son will take it and read it anywhere: at home, outside, at the library, at the doctor's office...wherever. It makes me happy to know they are enjoying their time reading while maintaining and developing important literacy skills.

Of course, the Almanac isn't just about sharks. Oh, no. It has more than 350 pages and 500+ incredible photos about EVERYTHING you can imagine - and some things you can't! New this year is the Your World 2018 chapter that shares things to do, places to see, and ways that your kids can change the world.

You'll also find:

• games, jokes, and activities
• chapters dedicated to engineering and technology, space, and Earth & life sciences
• updated maps, facts, and reference materials
• much, much more!

And don't forget that your kids can find extensive digital extras at natgeokids.com/almanac.

And because I simply can't help myself, I decided to put together a quick, one-page, shark-themed download for y'all. But guess what? It grew into a 20-page packet. Oops! But I had a lot of fun doing it. So, in honor of Shark Week, I'm offering it to all MommyMaestra readers for FREE THIS WEEK ONLY. And it is only available in English at this time. Don't worry, it's on my list of projects to translate into Spanish.   It's available in Spanish now, too!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Enjoy Shark Week!!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• 5 Ways to Explore the Ocean with Young Children
  
  
• Children's Crafts & Activities for Shark Week
  
  
• Free Beach-Themed Printables (in Spanish)
  
  
• Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections

Disclaimer: I am a National Geographic Kids Ambassador. I received the products pictured at the top of this post for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

2 Books that Teach Kids about People Who Changed the World

Are you looking for books to inspire and empower your kids to do great things? Two of my go-to sources these days are the new books of heroes and heroines from National Geographic Kids.

The Book of Heroes (aff link) features more than 100 heroes in history. From action heroes to peaceful protesters, this book tells you about ordinary men from around the world who did extraordinary things to save others. From Nelson Mandela to Pancho Villa to Chiune Sugihara you'll find examples of leading men, heroes for hire, peace heroes, inspiring minds and more.

The Book of Heroines (aff link) is similar with gritty girls, legendary ladies, daring dames, and others. You'll learn about Agustina de Aragón and how she saved her town from Napoleon's army. And then there's Itzpapalotl, the legendary Aztec warrior goddess who rules over paradise. Your kids will be impressed by Buffalo Calf Road Woman, the Cheyenne woman who charged into danger to rescue her brother, and by Khutulun, the Mongol princess who agreed to marry any suitor who beat her in a wrestling match (she won 1,000 horses).



What I love best about these books is that they don't overwhelm kids with dry information. Children are given manageable chunks of information that highlight each person(s) accomplishments. The layout is bold and engaging, capturing m10-year-old and 12-year-old's attention. My son says it is almost like a graphic novel/comic.

In addition, each book is careful to include examples of the opposite sex. So in the Heroes book, they mention a few women who rocked history, too, and in the Heroines book, they include a few gutsy guys.

Both books also have a short section in the back that highlights amazing animals, so that rounds out the book nicely for those of you with animal lovers.

If you'd like to incorporate this book into your homeschool lessons, I've put together a free printable for you to use. Once a week (or more!) I have my kids pick up one of these books and read about three of the people inside. Then they must write one fact that they learned about each one. You can print the pages front and back and keep them in a binder.

Enjoy!

Click here to download the worksheets

Disclosure: I'm a National Geographic Kids Insider. I receives copies of these books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

National Geographic Kids: Family Field Guide

Hey, Parents! Did you know that National Geographic Kids has a new e-newsletter out? While most NGK materials are created for children, the Family Field Guide is designed specifically for parents. It gives advice and parenting tips on topics not typically covered by other outlets. So you might, for example, find a quick article on how Star Wars can inspire an interest in STEM in your young explorer...

Or you might read about how your family can help protect the environment, or how to help your kids be culturally aware. Got 5 minutes? 15 minutes? 30 minutes? Some of the articles are broken down in terms of how much time you may or may not have and then give suggestions for using with your children.

Others are longer to promote ideals shared by National Geographic, such as values, how animals inspire kindness, food and family culture, or fostering family together time through food, etc.

The best part is that the newsletter comes out every other week, so your inbox isn't swamped with emails. I'm really loving it because I get quick ideas to use with my kids.

If you are a nature-loving family you can sign up for the Family Field Guide here!

4 Books for Young Trivia Lovers

If you have young adventurers at home who absolutely love learning amazing trivia, then you ought to consider buying some of these fabulous books from National Geographic Kids! Now more than ever, it is so important to introduce our children to other cultures and the amazing planet where we all live. Nothing combats ignorance and stereotypes faster than education...but learning doesn't have to be boring!

NGK has been one of our favorite resources for YEARS. So I was really hopeful when I applied to become a National Geographic Kids Insider and my whole family was beyond the moon when I was accepted. Why? Not only do I get to review great new materials like those listed below, I'm also able to share something that we love with MommyMaestra readers through reviews and occasional giveaways.

Every year, the kids beg me for the Almanac. And they spend forever reading it cover to cover and spouting off crazy facts. One year, someone gave my son his first set of Weird But True books and after that "Did you know...?" became a common refrain in our house.

So I want to encourage you to buy books for your kids this holiday season. And if you are looking for fun and educational titles, then be sure to check the following titles out.

This post uses affiliate links. See my sidebar for more information.

National Geographic Kids ALMANAC 2017 - $11.50

I'm not surprised that this is NGK's bestselling children's book, since my boy snatched it up as soon as he saw it and took off for the couch for some serious reading time. This book explores what's new in our world and is jam-packed full of scientific discoveries, wonders of nature, marvelous cultures and so much more. You'll find trivia, games, lists, longer stories and full-color photographs.

Your kid will learn about everything from armadillos and big cats to carnivorous plants and types of clouds to daring women in U.S. History. That's not even a drop in the bucket to the amount of information packed into this 352-page book!

New features include highlights on National Geographic Explorers and their amazing projects (plus, ways you can get involved!); a tour of history's most famous sites; an updated "Fun and Games" chapter filled with all-new games, jokes, and comics; an exclusive sneak peek from a National Geographic Kids Chapters book; all new weird-but-true facts, crafts, and activities; a new special "17 Facts for 2017" feature in every chapter; updated reference material; and much more.

Best suited for kids ages 8 - 12.

Nat Geo Kids National Parks Guide USA (Centennial Edition) - $10.50

A few years ago, my husband and I took the kids to the Grand Canyon and then up to Yellowstone. It is a family trip that we'll never forget. If you've never been to a national park, I want to encourage you to seriously think about it.

This past August, the National Parks Service celebrated its 100th anniversary. In preparation, this awesome guide was published earlier this year. And it is SO MUCH FUN! If your family is planning to travel to one of our National Parks this coming year, or if you've already been to one and simply want to expound upon that experience, then you need to get this book! Even if you don't have current plans to visit a National Park, it's a great way to experience one or more of them from the comfort of your own couch!

From Acadia National Park in Maine to Zion National Park in Utah, this book is full, full, FULL of wonderful information. We learned about parks we never even knew about! And it includes maps, lists, tips on things to see and a checklist of things to do, plus much, much more.

THIS is a book for young adventurers and travelers!

Best suited for kids ages 8 - 12.

Weird But True 8 - $6

The latest book in the Weird But True series, this one has over 300 new extreme, ridiculous, and amazing facts. Science, space, weather, geography, food, pop culture... Your child will read about everything! As usual, the photos and illustrations are stunning.

This is a great little book can go anywhere, but is especially perfect to keep in the car or bathroom and even makes an excellent bedtime read.

Best suited for kids ages 8 - 12.

Famous Fails - $11

This is such a fun book! It shares amusing stories about failures in history; your kids will learn about people, places, ideas that started as total flops. In fact, even in the book itself has mistakes in it!

I love how it reinforces the idea that sometimes, in order to succeed, we first have to fail. That sort of perspective releases our children from the pressure of trying to be perfect and always getting things right the first time around. In fact, my favorite quote from the book is this one by Tomas Edison:

"I have not failed 10,000 times;
I've successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work."

Your kids will laugh their way through this book that includes silly side features help to analyze the failures: "Lesson Learned," "It Could be Worse!," "Losing Combinations," and a "Fail Scale" help readers navigate the different kinds and scopes of the mistakes made. Read to learn what went wrong, what went right, and what kids can learn from each failed attempt.

Best suited for kids ages 8 - 12.

Happy learning!

Weird but True! Live Facebook Event to Celebrate New TV Series

When my son turned 8 years old, someone gave him a boxed set of Weird But True! books from National Geographic Kids. For weeks after that, he would come up to us and say things like, "Did you know a piece of cake more than 4,000 years old was found in a tomb in Egypt?" or "Did you know that newborn babies are color-blind?" The books started out in the car and he would pull them out as soon as we climbed in to go somewhere and start reading. But they eventually made their way to his bedroom where they became part of his bedtime reading routine. Even after he had finished reading them, he'd start over with the first book because the facts inside were so crazy that he was just fascinated. That was two years ago, but he still pulls those books out and reads through them from time to time.

Is your child intrigued by crazy trivia? Do weird facts amuse them? Well, mark your calendars because tomorrow, September 14th at 11:30 a.m. ET, National Geographic Kids is hosting a Facebook Live! event to celebrate the launching of their new TV series based on their bestselling book series, Weird But True! It officially premieres this week on TV (check your FOX network).

Both my kids and I will be watching the FB Live event because (as I mentioned) they are voraciously addicted to weird trivia. They love to tell their friends and family (really, anyone who'll listen) about things that will blow their mind away.

Hosted by a brother and sister team, Charlie and Kirby Engelman, the TV series will investigate the fun, strange and surprising ways our world works. From exploring shipwrecks to discovering caves to hunting meteorites, your kids will love the adventures that Charlie and Kirby take you on. Each episode includes a craft and an interview with an expert. Charlie says that meeting these experts and seeing how passionate they are about the subjects they study and their dedication has made him appreciate the uniqueness of people.

Charlie says that his favorite wild but true facts are the ones about everyday things that you never knew, such as how peanuts aren't really nuts. The biggest takeaway he wants for his young audience is for them to be curious about the world and to not be afraid to go out and find the answers to the questions they have about our world and how it works.

On tomorrow's Fb Live event, Charlie will attempt to demonstrate roughly 25 of our wackiest, most visually impressive Weird But True! facts. You can watch and ask questions. 

Get your kids and watch a trailer for the new series here on the WBT! website.

Weird But True! has been around for a long time. NGK staff has been building their database of weird facts for the last 12 years! Here are just a few of the facts your kids will discover if they read the books, download the app, watch the show, or listen to the new radio program:

Disclaimer: I'm a National Geographic Kids Insider which allows me early access to information to share with my readers. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

National Geographic Kids Insider

I'm super excited to share that I've been selected to be one of this year's National Geographic Kids Insiders! This means that as an ambassador for NGK, I'll be learning about new products and opportunities that you can use with your kids to boost their knowledge of this world we live in. From animals to world cultures, I hope you'll check in here at MommyMaestra to read about amazing wildlife, our national parks, outer space trivia, and so much more. 

Some of you long-time readers may remember that I used to be a zookeeper many years ago. In fact, I married another zookeeper, who now oversees an amazing collection of birds at our country's largest bird park. So naturally, our fascination with animals has been passed down to our children who have an intense love of nature, as you can see below, or if you scroll through my IG account.

There just aren't enough visible Latino biologists, naturalists, zoologists, etc. We want to change that and help you nurture your children's love of wildlife! So get ready to learn about some great books, apps, videos, printables, and other resources created just for families like ours.

¡¡Abrazo!!