SMITHSONIAN: DISCOVER EARTH
is a fun resource from the Smithsonian folks and Dorothea DePreisco.
Filled with fascinating photos and hands on activities it would make a
good addition to classroom or home shelves.
The book is 64 pages long and divided into 3 sections.
Section 1
lists the characteristics of our blue planet, like average temperature,
highest and lowest elevation, etc. The book then goes on to describe
earth's place in the solar system, it's seasons, and natural wonders and
landscapes. Kids will look deep into the earth structure and also
learn that there are 7 continents.
The
hands-on project for this section is a 3-D globe. If you look below
you see some of the assembly instructions. Glue and perhaps some adult
help required.
Section 2 is titled THE BLUE PLANET and is all about everything water.
The earth's oceans, streams, and lakes, as well as tides, what makes
oceans salty, how water cycles, and even how water creates underground
caverns.
The hands-on fun in this section is flash cards. I'll show you a sample page --front and back-- below.
The 3rd section focuses
on weather and natural disasters. The book shares information on the
hottest and coldest places as well as info on volcanic eruptions, tidal
waves, drought and floods. There's a great two sided map included that
is suitable for display.
On
one side of the map you have the United States, while on the opposite
side the entire world. The world side is color coded with biomes and
shows some of the animals that live in those habitats.
The map side which shows the U.S. has the states labelled and indicates what sorts of disasters typically strike those areas. Oklahoma, for example, has a box with a picture of a tornado pointing to it.
The map side which shows the U.S. has the states labelled and indicates what sorts of disasters typically strike those areas. Oklahoma, for example, has a box with a picture of a tornado pointing to it.
 |
| Note the sturdy thick cover |
WHAT I REALLY THINK: It's
odd perhaps to mention sturdiness, but when it comes to materials that
might be used in a classroom it's a feature that comes to my mind. If
you look up at the picture immediately above and below this paragraph
you'll see a sturdy hardback cover and a spiral binder that looks like
it will stand the test of time.
 |
| Note the page binding with multiple spirals |
The globe of the earth is cool
but it's a one time construction project. The flashcards and map
though can be used over and over and I think kids are going to find them
interesting.
Overall
the book is eye candy and it covers so much that I think it's a nice
introduction to a variety of topics... or the book can stand as a
supporting member of Team Science; by which I mean that it will reinforce what children have already been exposed to. A good addition to classroom shelves.
Pam~
SMITHSONIAN: DISCOVER EARTH
Reading Information:
Page Count: 64
no reading information currently available
~ MustReadKidLit received a copy of this book for review purposes.
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