There are more than 10 quadrillion ants in the world. The queen African driver ant alone lays fifty million eggs a year. I say we stop teaching these cute penguin units and start focusing on the ants.
Melissa Stewart is certainly doing her part by writing Ants. She has penned a ripping good piece of nonfiction that happens to masquerade as a Level 1 Reader. Ants is packed with amazing facts (Did you know that there were ants that could live underwater? Me neither.), several nonfiction text features, and terrific National Geographic photographs. What more could you ask for?
Ants would be a good book to put into the hands of an upper grade student who needs to learn how to do research, but is not a strong reader. You can also teach nonfiction text features (labels, definitions, diagrams, wow facts). I enjoyed the jokes and learning about the Ant Man.
Check out Melissa's website for more information on teaching science in your classroom.