Solids, Liquids, and Gases

I believe that this book could have done a better job at fostering development of processes. It did not really provide the students with a process, but just gave the students facts to look at. Although, it did not show the processes it would be a great introduction into an activity that did show processes.

Author: Ginger Garrett
Year Published: 2004
ISBN: 0-516-24663-1

Summary

The book "Solids, Liquids, and Gases" by Ginger Garrett is a great expository text for grades below second grade. I found this book at a very decent price on Amazon for $4.95. It has bold text that would be easy for students that are just learning how to read. It goes over what exactly a solid, liquid and gas is, and then asks questions the students could easily answer by using the pictures in the book. The questions are relating solids, liquids, and gases to your body and explain that you have all of them in your body. One of my favorite parts of this book is on the very last page and it is titled “Words You Know”. This last page would be great for students in the second grade and below, because it gives a list, with pictures, of all the new words brought up in the book. It was like a glossary, but instead of definitions it had pictures, which is a great idea to have in a book for students that are just now learning to read. The pictures in this book are all photographs of things the students have probably seen in their life so they can make better connections to everything being stated in the book. Overall, I thought that this book would be a great investment for any teacher in second grade or below, because you can easily use this while teaching a unit on solids, liquids, and gases. It would be a great introduction into the unit, and would be integrating some reading strategies the students could pick up on.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: Medium
Accuracy: High
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?

This book provides questions for the student to answer. After the students answer these questions it may be easier for them to come up with questions on their own. Since this book is made for younger grades they may need some more structure when it comes to providing questions, and that is exactly what this book does.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

This book does encourage the children to think for themselves. With the questions provided and the picture glossary it gives the students the opportunity to take their knowledge and use it outside of the book in their everyday life. I think that the book could use some more questions to get the students thinking, but the teacher could also come up with some more questions for them and ask them while reading the book.

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

This book would be a great book to read as an introduction into solids, liquids, and gases. It provides the students with the knowledge they need to know, and provides them with ways to apply it in the end. After reading the book you could apply it in more ways by doing an experiment.

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

The information in this book is based on sound scientific principles. Since this book is for younger students and provides commonly known facts I can confidentially say that this book has accurate information. I would not be worried about the content or facts given in this book.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The information provided in this expository text does not provide the students with any fiction so it is easy to say that the book distinguishes between fact and fiction. Each page provides the student with facts and wonderings about those facts.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

This illustrations in this book are all photographs provided by Caroline Anderson, the photograph researcher. They are all great depictions of matter. They can all also help provide the students with information they may need at lower levels to answer some of the questions.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

For teachers in second grade and below I would say that this book would be great for your lesson. This book could be very useful to the younger grades. For the older grades I would say that this book has information the students probably already know provided in a way that may be too juvenile for them.

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

There is not really a multicultural component in this book. There is not really any areas that provide stereotyping in the book. The book has pictures of kids doing everyday things that anyone could be doing any day, like playing in the snow or drinking a glass of water.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The photographs in this book show both girls and boys doing things. I did not notice any gender stereotypes like I said above the kids are doing things that anyone could be doing like drinking a glass of water. The photo researcher did a great job at not bringing gender stereotypes or bias into the book.

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

I would say that this book shows the close association between science and other disciplines like providing reading strategies with the photographs and questions throughout the book. The photographs provide the students with the reading strategy of using context clues from the photographs. The questions throughout the book provide the students with a way of questioning their knowledge they have gained throughout the book.

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

This book has a very positive attitude toward science. It does not show or use much technology in the book. Overall, I would say the book will increase the students' engagement toward the subject.

Science Topics

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