Chemistry and Children's Literature: Johnny Castleseed

A trip to a sandy shore at a lake or an ocean can bring joy and excitement to all ages. Each individual might have a special plan for a favorite activity once he arrives. Or, he might look to see what others are doing, which can provide a seed of an idea for something new to try. The children's picture book Johnny Castleseed introduces us to a new planter of such seeds through the sandcastles that a father and son build. This article describes science activities that complement Johnny Castleseed. The activities introduce students to a very different kind of sand, Magic Sand. The first part of the activity compares Magic Sand to ordinary, or beach sand. The second part of the activity investigates the hydrophobic property of Magic Sand. The article also references an additional resource for combining children's literature with science.