Fossil

This book does not really foster the development of processes. It is mostly an introduction to learning about fossils. If anything it oversimplifies the process of discovering and analyzing fossils to find information about the life that it has preserved.

• Author: Bill Thomson
• Illustrator: Bill Thomson
• Year Published: 2013
• ISBN: 1477847006

Science Topics

• Earth Science
• Life Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• 1st Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 3rd Grade

Summary

The book begins by showing a boy and his dog taking a walk outside through a field. Then the book gives some information about fossils. Specifically, how they can hold remains of plants and animals that lived long ago, what forms fossils come in, and how they can teach us about prehistoric life. The book goes back to the boy and his dog as they find a rock. The boy trip and drops the rock. It cracks to reveal a fossil of a plant. The sudden the plant comes to life. This happens again with a dragonfly fossil and a dinosaur fossil. The boy is amazed by his discoveries.

Evaluation

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

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

This book does not really foster the development of processes. It is mostly an introduction to learning about fossils. If anything it oversimplifies the process of discovering and analyzing fossils to find information about the life that it has preserved.

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

I don't think this book provides many opportunities for children to answer their own questions. It more so will help them to draw conclusions about the importance of fossils in studying the history of life on Earth.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

I believe this book encourages children to think for themselves in a way because it does not have words that narrate the story. It simply had facts about fossils and then a series of illustrations that tell the story of discovering fossils.

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

I believe this topic is addressed appropriately because it emphasizes the significance in finding fossils. It also gives a very intriguing and exciting perspective for discovering fossils. This would be a great way to introduce a lesson on fossils that would also get the students excited to studying prehistoric life.

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

I don't believe this book touches much on scientific principles. It does not touch on the process of finding fossils or examining them. It skips from finding fossils to looking at the life that was preserved in the fossil. It is not very accurate because a paleontologist spends much more time finding and studying fossils. One does not simply run into and fossil and then is able to see a visual of the organism fully intact.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The book does not explicitly distinguish fact and fiction. However, there is an obvious visual distinction in the book where on one page, the author takes a moment to spill out some facts about fossils. It looks very separate from the story that is being told by the illustrations.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are clear. They are not accurate in the sense that we do not find fossils and then watch the fossil come to life. There is much examination that goes into studying fossils.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

The book is mostly visual as it only has one page with words. Because of this, it is perfect for primary grades. Younger grades would be able to understand what is going on because of the visuals and older grades would be able to extend on what is happening as well as critique to oversimplification of fossil study.

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

There is not a multicultural component because it is only one white boy and his dog. I don't believe there is any strong stereotyping happening in the book.

Is the book free from gender bias?

I would only say that it might be partly biased because it is a male having an interaction with science and often we see that males dominate STEM fields already.

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

This book does not connect science to any other disciplines because it is simply a child making an unexpected discovery.

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

This book presents a very positive attitude toward science. However, it does not include technology at all. It does give a very enthusiastic and beautiful way of thinking about the window that fossils give us into life on Earth before mankind.