Beth Herz Uncategorized

And the winner is….!

This week the winners of The STEAM School’s Battle of the Books were announced to cheers from all! There were so many amazing titles to choose from and many of the races were really tight.

In the Picture Book category, the final two contestants were Pete the Cat vs The Pigeon Needs A Bath, and the winner is The Pigeon Needs A Bath!

In the Juvenile Fiction category, the choice came down to Wonder vs Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson in the semi finals had won against both Holes and The Harry Potter series after a tie the previous week against Harry Potter. The final winner is Percy Jackson! Possibly many new fans created after seeing the musical hosted at our local high school earlier this month!

In the Graphic Novel category, the final contest came down to the Wings of Fire graphic novel vs My Hero Academia. There was some minor grumbling when Wings of Fire appeared in two different categories but it is a wild favorite here at STEAM School and was declared the final winner in this category!

Finally, in our Young/Adult Fiction competition, the choice came down to Norse Mythology vs Mortal Engines but STEAM students were split evenly in their voting and we had a tie!

Here are the brand new books purchased for our school library.

Looking forward to next year and hearing about all the wonderful books the kids read between now and then!

Beth Herz Uncategorized

STEAM School Battle of the Books Finals

STEAM School students began the final round of voting this week. Choices have been tough and races have been tight!

On Tuesday mornings, students move slowly through the hall checking each board to see which books have made it to the next round. There’s been a mixture of surprise and excitement for the wins and some disappointment for the losses.

Its definitely been very exciting and fun for the teachers to hear the students talk about their favorite books with their friends and get excited about new books! Winners will be announced next Tuesday and Thursday and the winning books will be purchased for the STEAM School Library.

Beth Herz Activity

STEAM School 2023 Battle of the Books

STEAM School students nominated nearly 100 books for our second annual Battle of the Books! Wow! We narrowed it down to 36 books and beginning this Tuesday we will begin voting on our favorite picture books, juvenile fiction books, graphic novels, and young adult fiction books.

Nominees for the 1st Round of Voting

Picture BooksJuvenile FictionGraphic NovelsYoung/Adult Fic
Cookie’s Week vs
Pigeon Needs a Bath		Fancy Nancy vs WonderDog Man Series vs
Calvin & Hobbes		A Promised Land vs
The Hate U Give
Dragon’s Love Tacos vs The Very Hungry CaterpillarDiary of A Wimpy Kid Series vs Wings of Fire SeriesWings of Fire Graphic Novel vs Animal Crossing SeriesNorse Mythology vs Aurora Rising
There’s a Bear On My Chair vs Pete The CatSisters Ever After vs HolesMy Hero Academia Series vs The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the HorseThe Giver vs Mortal Engines
Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea vs Mr Putter and Tabby Walk the DogHarry Potter Series vs Percy Jackson seriesThe Runaway Princess vs Warrior Cats Graphic NovelReady Player One vs Hunger Games

There were so many wonderful books nominated that didn’t make the cut. Below is the full list of STEAM School students favorite books to read.

STEAM Students Recommended Reading

Picture BooksGraphic NovelsJuvenile FictionYA/AF
Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea by Ben ClantonPower Rangers Graphic Novel Series by Kyle HigginsXander and the Rainbow Barfing Unicorn series by Matthew ManningThe Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
There’s a Bear on my Chair by Ross CollinsWarrior Cats Graphic Novel by Erin HunterAru Shah series by Roshani ChokshiThe Giver by Lois Lowry
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo WillemsWings of Fire Graphic Novel by Tui T SutherlandGreen Ember by SD SmithMortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Fred is that you? By Mavis SmithThe Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie MackeseyWonderstruck by Brian SelznickThe Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Cookie’s Week by Cindy WardThe Runaway Princess by Johann TroianowskiThe Growly series by Erin Ulrich and Phillip UlrichWorld War Z by Max Brooks
Bootsie Barker Bites by Barbara BottnerMy Hero Academia Series by Kohei HorikoshiMinecraft BooksReady Player One by Ernest Cline
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo WillemDog Man series by Dav PilkeyCaptain Underpants by Dave PilkeyThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Let’s Go For A Drive by Mo WillemsFive Worlds by Mark Siegel and Alexis SiegelMinecraft Woodsword Chronicles by Nick EliopulusThe Iliad by Homer
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia RawlinsonZita the Spacegirl by Ben HatkeDragon Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan QuinnA Promised Land by Barack Obama
Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo WillemsCalvin and Hobbes by Bill WattersonWild Kratts booksNorse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Pete the Cat by James Dean and Kimberly DeanFoxtrot by Bill AmendPercy Jackson (series) – The Lightening Thief by Rick RiordanThe Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam RubinCat Kid Comic Club Series by Dav PilkeyBarbie BooksAurora Rising by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Dino Trux by Chris GallAnimal Crossing series by Kokonasu RumbaFancy Nancy by Jane O’ConnerThe Storm Light Archive Series by Brandon Sanderson
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarlePea, Bee & Jay by Brian SmithWings of Fire Series by Tui T SutherlandGregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack KeatsElla and Owen by Jaden KentUltimate Book of Home Plans by Editors of Creative Homeowner
Monster Trucks (Step Into Reading) by Susan E GoodmanZoey and Sassafras series by Asia CitroPools and Spas by Fran J Donegan
If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura NumeroffDragon Masters by Tracy WestHot Tubs, Saunas and Steam Baths by Alan Sanderfoot
Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog by Cynthia RylantMouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly ClearyHunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Perfect Nest by Catherine FriendThe Last Firehawk series by Katrina Charman
Forgotten Fairy Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls (Illustrated Story Collection by Various Authors)Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones
Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Peter Pan by JM Barrie
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Big Nate series by Lincoln Pierce
Warrior Cat Series by Erin Hunter
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Fazbear Frights Series by Scott Cawthon
Junie B Jones by Barbara Park
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Car Science by Richard Hammond
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems
Sisters Ever After seriers by Leah Cypress
Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson

Beth Herz Uncategorized

Bird In The Hand Presentation

STEAM students were treated to a special presentation at school with an incredible visit from Bird In The Hand, a raptor education and rehabilitation program run by Nikki Stamps. She brought with her 4 different owls that live in the area: a Great Horned owl, a Barn owl, a Barred owl and an Eastern Screech owl.

Students learned of the many different adaptations that owls have to help them survive. We learned that they turn their heads 270º because of their immobile cone shaped eyes that take up 70% of the owl’s skull. Their beaks are specialized for gripping and tearing prey and we were shown how their talons are like ratchets that grip and hold onto prey.

The presentation ended with class pictures with the Great Horned Owl and a final presentation of the owl gobbling up and swallowing mice whole. The presentation was very engaging and thoughtful. Students and parents came away with a new perspective on the lives of owls and what amazing birds they are. You can learn more about Bird in the Hand at birdinthehand.net.