THOMASTON — On June 1  and 2, students from Thomaston Grammar School had an opportunity to work with a Maine children’s science writer Kimberly Ridley. She is a journalist, and editor, and the author of four books for children.

The Secret Pool and The Secret Bay have received honors including Riverby Awards from the John Burroughs Association for “outstanding natural history books for young people.” She also wrote Extreme Survivors: Animals That Time Forgot, a favorite of students in grades 4 and 5. Her newest book, The Secret Stream, was the basis for her work with TGS students this month.

All students at Thomaston Grammar enjoyed an assembly where Mrs. Ridley described how she observes the outdoors and the creatures that live there. She explained how looking at things closely and asking questions about what she sees is the beginning of each of her books.

In workshops with each individual grade level, Mrs. Ridley focused on a single aquatic insect that lives in Maine streams. By observing images of the insects, students brainstormed their observations and then wrote poems in the form of riddles. Mrs. Walsh, Technology Integrator, then compiled the poems into a digital book that she will share with families.

“We were so lucky to have an award-winning Maine author work with our children and inspire them to write about the world around them,” said TGS, in a news release. “Thank you, Georges River Education Foundation, for funding this amazing opportunity.”