STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Light Pollution– Author Interview
July 28, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

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 authors Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno and illustrator Valentina Gottardi, the creators of Who Hid the Stars? How LIght Pollution Changes Our World. Who Hid The Stars? artfully explores the causes and consequences of light pollution all while celebrating the wonders of natural light. The book is part of Eerdmans’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series, was shortlisted for Italy’s Little Galileo Award, and received starred reviews from Booklist and Shelf Awareness. And now, let’s shine a light on this illuminating text! Emily Starr: First of all, this book is stunning. I read it with my two elementary-aged boys, and there was something on every page for us to ooh and ahh over – and to think about about long after the cover was closed. You include information about such wide variety of organisms throughout the book. Since many animals are impacted...
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STEM Tuesday– Light Pollution– Writing Tips and Resources
July 21, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

In November of 2007, we had a terrible ice storm in my small town. Trees and power lines were decimated. We even lost our basketball goal in the driveway when a large oak limb dropped on top of it. We were without power for a week after our house was mistakenly skipped over by the out-of-town power crews on their first pass through our neighborhood, making the wait longer. My family did not appreciate the beanie weenie meal I cooked on the gas grill and ended up spending more time at a friend’s house because they had electricity while I held down the fort through the long, dark, and cold nights. Although this was not a pleasant experience in any way, shape, or form, there was one sliver of a silver lining from the ice storm. It knocked out the streetlight at the intersection in front of our house and...
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STEM Tuesday– Light Pollution– In the Classroom
July 14, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

It’s been a big firefly summer in Minnesota this year, and we’ve been watching their lights flicker each night in our back garden. Summer is always a time to linger outside in the warm and long nights, look up, and see what you can see. Close to the city, the stars are hard to see though. So, we go up north to see the stars, and they are dazzling. Here are some activities to try with your kids now or when school is back in session to illustrate how light pollution not only blocks stars, but can upset the natural balance of our days and nights. I’ve curated this list of activities that could easily go with the books from this mont’s Stem Tuesday list. Read a book, try an activity, and enjoy the summer nights! How Light Pollution Affects Animals Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution...
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STEM Tuesday– Light Pollution– Book List
July 7, 2026 by STEM Tuesday

What Happened to our Starry, Starry Night? If you go outside on a moonless night, what do you see? A planet, maybe a handful of stars if you’re lucky. Unfortunately, for too many of us the city lights diminish the night sky. Streetlights and other artificial lights do more than illuminate our world. They create problems for plants and animals living in and around our cities, including seasonal migrators. Who Hid the Stars? How Light Pollution Changes Our World by Danio Miserocchi & Maciej Michno; illus. by Valentina Gottardi, and translated by Sylvia Notini This well-documented book examines how city lights affect birds and bats, reptiles and insects – even trees and flowers. It also provides hope, sharing things cities and people can do to minimize light pollution. Back matter includes ideas for bringing back the stars (dark skies) and resources. Saving the Night : How Light Pollution is Harming...
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