I Fall Down

The book fosters some development of processes. At first, it encourages for children to make connections to their previous experiences with things going "down". It definitely encourages a little bit of experimentation as well by encouraging experiments that can be done with common household objects. Within that experimentation, students have the opportunity to make observations.

• Author: Vicki Cobb
• Illustrator: Julia Gorton
• Year Published: 2004
• ISBN: 0688178421

Science Topics

• Physical Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• Prekindergarten

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 1st Grade

Summary

Why is it that you fall down along with many other things on earth? Vicki Cobb's, "I Fall Down", explains gravity in a way that even children will understand. You can follow along with the gravity testing activities this book has to offer. It is a sure way to make learning about gravity fun and engaging for everyone.

Evaluation

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

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

The book fosters some development of processes. At first, it encourages for children to make connections to their previous experiences with things going "down". It definitely encourages a little bit of experimentation as well by encouraging experiments that can be done with common household objects. Within that experimentation, students have the opportunity to make observations.

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

The book may leave a little room for children to ask questions but for the most part it asks the questions for them. This is mostly because it is an interactive book in that it tells you to try different hypothesis and explains the results. For some students this may not be enough for them, which could guide them to form new questions and explanations.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

This book somewhat encourages children to think for themselves. In my opinion when they get to relate things to prior knowledge, it encourages them to reflect and think for themselves. Overall the book asks a thinking question and then immediately gives an answer so I think that aspect may not leave much room for children to think for themselves.

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

I believe that gravity is addressed in an appropriate way. It allows students the chance to make connections, observe, experiment, and get an explanation. It also works its way up to cover questions about gravity that may be harder to understand. The book has a nice flow in covering gravity for someone without knowledge of it.

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

The content in the book is accurate and informative. It gives the definition of gravity and even goes on to talk about weight as a measurement. It is clear when a definition is given and it is stated in an easy way for all ages to understand.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The book is completely factual and it is easy to tell that. Even thought there is a main character, he is only the experimenter/model. The book merely states facts throughout and gives explanations.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illistrations are clear and accurate. There are even illustrations of objects being dropped and the experiments that it invites the reader to do. They are definitely helpful for someone who also chooses not to do the experiments because they are so clear. It is easy to understand exactly what is being talked about and experimented.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

The book is written at the level of young learners. It is presented in a clear way that would be easy to understand for children with no knowledge of gravity. Even older students may learn a thing or two from it and be left with some things to ponder on.

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

There is not a multicultural component in the book. There is only one character in the book and he is only used as a model for the experiments being discussed.

Is the book free from gender bias?

I think it depends how you choose to look at it. The cover of the book is of a baseball glove and ball and the main character happens to be a young boy. A few scenarios in the book show him playing basketball and standing with a skateboard. Whether this is coincidence or gender bias is unknown.

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

I do not think that the book shows close association between science and other disciplines. It only shows experimentation that relates to science. Perhaps if you developed some sort of documentation for the experiments you could relate it to writing.

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

This book presents a positive attitude toward science and technology. It would be a great book to show a child that science is happening all around us. Most of the time they may not think it applies to them but the examples in the book are relatable to a child in a fun and interactive way.