the elephant scientist

Title:The Elephant Scientist 

Author: Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson

grades: 3- 6

about the author:Caitlin O'Connell loved to study nature as a child, and her mother helped her appreciate the world by paying attention to details. These early observational skills served her well through the years as she grew up to be a scientist working in the sprawling African scrub desert of the Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa. This book takes you on a journey to the Namibian desert with Caitlin O'Connell, the American scientist who became known as "the mother of all elephants," and follows her research as she witnesses groundbreaking discoveries about one of nature's largest , most complex, and most intelligent mammals living today on this earth- the African elephant.

 http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Elephant_Scientist.html?id=OMQt9HFLIHAC

summary: 

This is the story of Caitlin O’Connell and her study of elephants in their natural habitat in the desert of Etosha National Park in Africa. 

my reaction: I think this is an excellent first look at nonfiction for younger students. The photography jumps off the page and make you feel as if you were in the dessert as well.

lesson ideas: Have students research their favorite animal and find out about their natural habitat. then students will create a diorama of the environment.