Mindy Weiss

2 weeks ago | fromthemixedupfiles.com | Jennifer Swanson |Mindy Weiss

What one place on the planet has 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish, 430 mammals and a whopping 2.5 million different insects? The Amazon Rainforest!And I am lucky enough to write about some AWESOME scientists who have dedicated their lives to protecting it. This is my NEW book coming from Charlesbridge Publishing, this fall to a bookstore near you! (October 14, 2025)How did I get the idea for this story?

1 month ago | fromthemixedupfiles.com | Jennifer Swanson |Mindy Weiss

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!Today we’re interviewing Jon Chad, author and illustrator of  The Periodic Table of Elements. Understanding the Building Blocks of Everything published by First Second a division of Macmillan. The graphic novel gives rare insight into the anxiety children experience the night before the test.

1 month ago | fromthemixedupfiles.com | Jennifer Swanson |Mindy Weiss

SummaryArt, music and the Periodic Table. The Periodic Table of Elements is a creative project waiting to happen. I’ve included examples of art and music today. Doing creative projects using the table is both an intellectual challenge and a reward, but good learning comes only after real work anyway. Using the arts makes it fun as well, allows for upper level thinking processes and making connections.

1 month ago | fromthemixedupfiles.com | Laurie Edwards |Mindy Weiss

SummaryWriting prompts for young authors to stretch the imagination and have funEnjoy these prompts. Here are a few tips: Don’t worry about being perfectLet your imagination run wildWrite about things that excite youRead your story out loud to catch fun detailsHave fun with your writing! Imagine…You wake up one morning and discover you can talk to animals. What conversations do you have, and what adventures unfold? You find a magical key that can open any lock in the world.

1 month ago | fromthemixedupfiles.com | Jennifer Swanson |Mindy Weiss

The periodic table is an ordered arrangement of the chemical elements and it explains so much about the world around us. It’s never too early to introduce this concept to children, and these engaging books below do a great job of summarizing the information in kid-friendly ways as well as showing their relevance in everyday life. A Kids’ Guide to the Periodic Table: Everything You Need to Know about the Elements written by Edward P. Zovinka and Rose A.