Hopping Fun Creations
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My Career (So Far)
Paleontologist Jorge Calvo gave me a hands-on tour of his massive dinosaur dig in Patagonia, Argentina. Though I write about a lot of topics, science is a passion. (Photo: Sergio Stinco.)
GROUPS, PEOPLE, AND SITES I LIKE
This will surprise you: I owned a bookstore, with my husband Chris! Located in downtown Ann Arbor when brick and mortar ruled, in the early 1990s, we sold sports books and collectibles here and through our own niche-market direct mail catalogue.
Inanimate Alice
A born-digital story series for tweens and teens. View four episodes online for FREE. Teachers can download educational materials here and on Planet Promethean. Tweens can meet other Alice fans and interact with the characters on Everloop. Transmedia Kids
My friend Cynthia Jabar, a designer and children's book author, compiles resources and information to promote digital literacy for kids. She is "slaying the digital divide"! Check out her Story App Study Hall meetup group. Gameful
Here's a great place for game designers to hang out, talk shop, collaborate, find information. Join my Roll and Shuffle group for board game and card game fans. Board Game Designers Forum (bgdf)
This is my go-to place for learning how to design, prototype, play test, and publish board and card games. The Authors Guild
I urge every author to join. This website was built using the super-easy Authors Guild Sitebuilder. The guild also offers free contract reviews for members. National Association of Science Writers (NASW)
One of my favorite groups has several lively listserv discussion groups and a job board for science writing and editing. The Planetary Society
I interviewed former head Lou Friedman for my Space Rocks book. The Planetary Society backs what I believe is the most important space mission of all—tracking NEOs (near-earth objects) so that we can avoid or mitigate the next big impact. The Mars Society
I've been a space geek since the Apollo years, when I was a kid, and attended one of the Mars Society conferences. In my view, space exploration isn't a luxury or a side venture. It's front and center, a necessity and our ultimate destiny. If we humans don't do it, who will? National Center for Science Education
They're on the frontlines of the battle to keep teaching evolution in science classes. If you join, ask for a clever t-shirt to help spread the word (e.g., 1,000 scientists named Steve who believe in evolution). Washtenaw Literacy
I'm passionate about teaching immigrants English so that they can participate fully in our culture and we can be enriched by theirs. I started tutoring and leading conversation groups with Washtenaw Literacy back in the mid-1990s. Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL)
I presented twice at TESOL conferences, on the topic of using games to teach adult immigrants, and met some amazing international educators. Members can access a treasure of peer-reviewed educational materials, including a few of my contributions. Soaring Stories with Regi Carpenter
I met Regi at the Taos Storytelling Festival and took her uplifting workshop on the spoken word craft. She's mesmerizing live, but you can get a taste of her talent by listening to a few stories on her website. Comics Are Great (Jerzy Drozd)
Tune into weekly podcasts with comic book artists and writers, all archived here along with other sequential art goodies. If you're lucky enough to live in southeast Michigan, sign up for Jerzy's comic book classes. I did! And loved them. Leisa Thompson Photography
Leisa took the professional photos of me here on my website. Her photojournalism work is stunning. Sergio "Saurio" Stinco
Sergio is an engineer, teacher, photographer, opinionated thinker, and all-round fascinating guy. He graciously took me to a dinosaur dig in Patagonia, Argentina, where he lives. The experience was unforgettable. Proyecto Dino (Patagonian Megabeasts)
The site is in Spanish, but the intent is clear—excavate and educate the world about some of the best megabeasts on the planet.  |
Featured Books and GamesChildren's Books
Read the sad, moving tale of a peace-loving leader who lost his land, many of his people, and his life-long fight to keep the peace with settlers and soldiers. (FREEBIE history puzzles.)
Is it possible to fall in love with bones? Try not to, after you read about Diane France's true-life science adventures, searching for and examining skeletons. A 2006 Outstanding Science Trade Book "Selector's Choice" (NSTA/CBC). Starred review in Booklist. 2007 Finalist, SB&F "Young Adult" science books!
How did a young Argentine with an endless imagination make her dream of exploring space come true? Adriana Ocampo found her path to science adventure through space-traveling robots and crashing asteroids and comets! (FREEBIE science quizzes, FREE ebooks.)
Autopsies/The Body as Evidence and Crime Scene Investigation!
Venus and Serena, Peyton Manning, Michelle Kwan, and others for ages 6-9. (FREEBIE sports quizzes.)
Outdoor fun for 6 to 9 year olds.
Tornadoes! and Hurricanes! are my two best-selling books with 1.6 million sold!
Games
Seeking an educational game publisher: It's a must-have card game set for English and language arts teachers and tutors. (FREEBIE English materials.)
This is my top seller for teachers. (Click for "Freebie" puzzles.)
Packed with ready–to-go, lively games and activities about grammar, vocabulary, and dictionary skills. (FREEBIE word puzzles.)
A collection of Great American History Games and 15 Primary Source Activities (plays, scripts, games, readings, and more)
Race from Earth to Mars, an orbiting target, by fixing malfunctions and answering intriguing science questions. Endorsed by astronaut Jack Lousma. |
