Citizen Scientists: Be a Part Of Scientific Discovery From Your Own Backyard

It does foster development of processes by giving procedures that would be helpful for kids in there everyday lives that want to explore aspects of science. So there is a process that takes place in the book.

Author: Loree Griffin Burns
Illustrator: Photographer: Ellen Harasimowicz
Year Published: 2012
ISBN: 9780805095173

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

1st Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

7th Grade

Summary

This book is fulled with interesting photographs and helpful tips and advice for how to gather data and information in the environment that you are a part of in everyday life. It is basically a 'how to' guide for young scientist to explore their surrounds with a science lens and utilize their resources. It says that going into a field, a park, or the backyard can be options for exploring.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: Medium
Accuracy: Medium
Liteary Artistry: High
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

It does not give students a chance to answer there own questions, but it does give questions that students can answer with mini quizzes in each section.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

It does encourage children to think for themselves by giving open ended questions for them to think about while they are exploring their own backyards.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

If there was a science lesson on utilizing how to make a science lab on the surroundings that you have then it would be a good science topic that needs to be addressed and would be appropriate.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

I think that the book has sound scientific principles such as observation skills and procedures that are content based. They also give good examples of problem posing questions that can be good practice for forming hypothesis.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

This book does not distinguish between fact and fiction specifically, but it does have an aspect of creating things out of little and using imagination and scientific facts to learn more.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

There are many illustrations that are very clear and accurate to real life things. They are actually photographs, so they are to scale and look very good.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

This book is written so that all levels of students can follow along with it and carry out explorations on their own.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

There is no multicultural components in the book specifically. It does not take into consideration that there are children that are live in different areas that might not have the same options and opportunities to explore the sciences as others. But it is free of stereotyping.

Is the book free from gender bias?

This book is free of gender bias, it does not assume anything about the genders and their thoughts on science. There are pictures of both girls and boys doing science exploration in the book.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

No it does not associate closely between science and other disciplines. It is mainly about making science out of the surroundings.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

It is not a positive attitude toward science and technology. It is mainly about using nature and the environment outside to learn about science. There is no aspects of technology incorporation in this book.