About Dr. Birdley

Dr. Birdley Teaches Science is a series of teacher resource books that feature reproducible comics, lesson guides, and student activities, all aligned with national standards. It was created and developed by Nevin Katz, a web and app developer in the Boston area. who is also an illustrator and former teacher.

Educational specialists have taken note of the series' potential to make tough concepts accessible: The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) has purchased and distributed the Dr. Birdley series to all of their educational programs across the state and incorporated it into the instructional guide for DYS science teachers. It is used in classrooms around the country and also distributed abroad.

Characters

Books

  • Introducing Cells
  • Provides a comprehensive description of cells and their importance in biology. Topics include the following:
    • Hierarchy of Life
    • Types of Cells
    • Characteristics of Living Things
    • Cell Theory
    • Cell Division
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305382
  • IPN: IP170-4
  • Parts of the Cell
  • Illustrates & explains the characteristic parts of animal, plant, and bacterial cells, as well as the structure & function of the membrane, cytoplasm, and DNA. Additional topics include the following:
    • Composition of the Cytoplasm & Glycolysis
    • DNA Structure & function
    • Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Organelles
    • Semipermeability of the Cell Membrane
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305404
  • IPN: IP170-6
  • Classifying Cells
  • Provides an overview of key types of body cells as well as how cells differ according the type of organism. Topics include the following:
    • Cardiac & Striated Muscle Cells
    • Nerve Cells
    • Red Blood Cells
    • The Six Kingdoms
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305390
  • IPN: IP170-5
  • Properties of Matter
  • Provides students the tools for describing and measuring physical and chemical properties of substances in the natural world. Topics include the following:
    • Scientific Method & Common Lab Equipment
    • Physical & Chemical & Changes
    • Phases of Matter & Transitions
    • Mass, Volume, & Density
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305358
  • IPN: IP170-1
  • Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures
  • Details the differences between these three types of substances while comparing the modern periodic table to that of Mendeleev. Topics include the following:
    • Chemistry Nomenclature
    • Molecular Composition of Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
    • Atomic Number & Mass
    • Atomic Structure & Subatomic Particles
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305366
  • IPN: IP170-2
  • Atomic Structure & Chemical Reactions
  • Introduces different models of the atom and gives an in-depth description of atomic bonding. Additional topics include the following:
    • Atomic Orbitals
    • Nomenclature
    • Parts of the Atom
    • Balancing Equations
  • Date Published: 2007-05-15
  • ISBN: 0865305374
  • IPN: IP170-3
  • Forces & Motion
  • Introduces concepts for calculating velocity, acceleration, and force while describing how Newton's laws apply to real life situations. Topics include the following:
    • Speed, Velocity, & Acceleration
    • Newton's Laws of Gravitation
    • Newton's Laws of Motion
    • Calculating the Path of Projectiles
  • Date Published: 2008-3-15
  • ISBN: 9780865305090
  • IPN: IP170-8
  • Constructing the Earth
  • Describes the origin of the universe, the geological development over time that led to the current atmosphere and geological features. Topics include the following:
    • Big Bang and supporting evidence
    • Formation of Elements & the Solar System
    • Earth's Layers, Continental Drift, & Plate Tectonics
    • Early Microbial Life
  • Date Published: 2009-05-15
  • ISBN: 9780865305427
  • IPN: IP170-7
  • Mysteries of the Earth
  • Dr. Birdley and the crew travel to the far-off reaches of the earth and explore geological wonders while identifying the types of rocks and determining the ages of fossils. Topics include:
    • Fossil Record
    • Geologic Time
    • Volcanoes and Undersea Vents
    • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Date Published: 2009-05-15
  • ISBN: 9780865305434
  • IPN: IP170-9

Sample Pages

About the Author

Nevin Katz is a freelance illustrator as well as a web and app developer at Education Development Center who lives in the Boston area. In this role, he develops apps and websites for a diverse range of students, educators, and researchers using Drupal, Drupalgap, Cordova, Javascript, CSS, and HTML5.

Nevin majored in Biology at Swarthmore College and went on to earn his Master's in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He taught science for eight years, during which time he developed the Dr. Birdley series.

Nevin can be reached at nevkatz@gmail.com.