Silk

INVEST I G A T E M A T E R I A L S

Other titles in the series:

is a dynamic new series to introduce kindergartners to scientific investigations. Each title in the Investigate Materials series takes a close look at an important material. In this book young learners will find out about silk. They will learn where silk comes from and how we use it. Fun photography engages this age group and teaches them to observe, sort, describe, and identify. Even the youngest learner will develop the ability to understand scientific inquiry. $6.95 USA | $7.95 CAN

Guided Reading Level: H Interest Level: K–2 Correlates with FOSS

ISBN: 978-1-936313-94-5

Printed in Hong Kong

INVESTIGATE

MATERIALS

SILK

INVESTIGATE

MATERIALS

Contents What is silk? page 1

Where does silk come from? page 3

How is silk made into fabric? page 7

What does silk look like? page 11

How does silk feel? page 13

Why do we use silk? page 15

What do YOU have that is made from silk? page 17

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK Before reading with your child it will be helpful to look through the book together and talk about the cover, pictures, and new challenge words. This story is called silk. Let’s read the book to find out about silk, where it comes from, and how we use it.

Challenge Words silk: the thread from the cocoons of silkworms used to make silk fabric.

spool: a wood or plastic tube used to wind thread or string.

material: something used to make fabric or other items. fabric: cloth.

weave: to push thread over and under rows of thread to make fabric.

silkworm: a caterpillar that turns into a moth.

dye: to change the color of something.

thread: thin strands twisted together and used to make fabric.

pattern: a shape or design that decorates something.

strand: a single length of thread. cocoon: a shell made by a caterpillar. The caterpillar turns into a moth or butterfly inside the cocoon.

silky: shiny, soft, and smooth. delicate: something that is easily broken.

What is silk?

1

Silk is a material. A material is used to make something. We use silk to make fabric. 2

Where does silk come from?

3

Silkworms make silk. A thread of silk comes out of a hole near the silkworm’s bottom lip. 4

5

The silkworm spins one long strand of silk around and around its body. This makes a cocoon. 6

How is silk made into fabric?

7

First the cocoons get a hot bath. Then the silk is gently pulled off the cocoon to wind onto a spool. The thread from one cocoon could wind around a house eight times! 8

9

A cocoon’s thread is very thin. Lots of strands get twisted together to make silk thread. Then silk thread is ready to weave into fabric. 10

What does silk look like?

11

Silk is shiny. It can be dyed bright colors. Silk fabric can be printed with many different patterns. 12

How does silk feel?

13

Do you have a dog with silky fur you love to pet? Or have you felt corn silk from an ear of corn? That’s how silk feels. Soft and smooth.

14

Why do we use silk?

15

Silk is a beautiful and very special fabric. It is soft and feels good to touch. Even babies cuddle with silk blankets. Silk can look delicate, but it is really strong. Try to break it! 16

What do YOU have that is made from silk?

17

Men wear silk ties to dress up. Sometimes women have a silk scarf. You can dress up in a silk fairy dress or knight’s cape. Or put on a show with brightly colored silk puppets. 18

19

Does anyone in your house sleep in silk pajamas? Can you find a silk shade on a lamp? Or silk curtains on windows? Silk fabric is used to make many things. Look around!

20

Nomad Press A division of Nomad Communications 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Copyright © 2011 by Nomad Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The trademark “Nomad Press” and the Nomad Press logo are trademarks of Nomad Communications, Inc. Printed by Regal Printing Limited in China, June 2011, Job Number 1105034 ISBN: 978-1-936313-94-5 Educational Consultant, Marla Conn Questions regarding the ordering of this book should be addressed to Independent Publishers Group 814 N. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610 www.ipgbook.com Nomad Press 2456 Christian St., White River Junction, VT 05001 www.nomadpress.net

Image Credits ©iStockphoto.com/ art-4-art, cover; Yurkevych Inna, title page; Arlindo71, v; Kim Gunkel, 1; Enviromantic, 2; SergiyN, 3; Esolla, 4; Andrew Manley, 5; Orchidpoet, 6; Arlindo71, 6; Remus Eserblom, 7; Izabela Habur, 7; Alexey Stiop, BigEye Photography, 8; David Hernandez, 9; Marcel Braendli, 13; Suzannah Skelton, 14; Konstantin Gushcha, 14; Amanda Rohde, 15; Philip Plluckrose, Dynamic Dolphin Designs, 16; Chuck Collier Schmidt, 17; Felinda, 18; Pauline S. Mills, 18; Ivan Gulei, 18; Jennifer Sharp,19; Olga Demchishina, Olgysha, 19, 20; Olga Miltsova, 20; Vallarie Enriquez, 20. Gettyimages.com/ Sot, 10; Lane Oatey, 11. Corbisimages.com/ Ocean/Corbis, 12.

INVEST I G A T E M A T E R I A L S

Other titles in the series:

is a dynamic new series to introduce kindergartners to scientific investigations. Each title in the Investigate Materials series takes a close look at an important material. In this book young learners will find out about silk. They will learn where silk comes from and how we use it. Fun photography engages this age group and teaches them to observe, sort, describe, and identify. Even the youngest learner will develop the ability to understand scientific inquiry. $6.95 USA | $7.95 CAN

Guided Reading Level: H Interest Level: K–2 Correlates with FOSS

ISBN: 978-1-936313-94-5

Printed in Hong Kong

INVESTIGATE

MATERIALS