The Surprise Garden

The book offers the students chances to develop certain science processes. It shows the experiment along with the results of the surprise garden. Students are able to see what occurs and also predict what is going to grow in the garden based on the seeds.

Author: Zoe Hall
Illustrator: Shari Halpern
Year Published: 1998
ISBN: 0590100750

Summary

The children are trying to determine what all their seeds are, so they are going through an experiment and watching the plants grown into the various types of vegetables.

Evaluation

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

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

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

Students could ask questions about growing plants and what besides the soil and water makes it grow. They could have questions about the different types of seeds that are observed on the first could of pages. I think students will have questions about the different steps that occurred in the books experiment, also the time elapse that would occur (plants don’t grow fast, but are full grown in less than 5 pages).

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

The experiment is set up within the book and a question is given on the first page, but I think this provides the beginning of a conversation for students. Giving them something to discuss in the beginning and as their conversation develops between other students more questions appear allowing students to think for themselves.

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

Starts with a question and ends with an answer at the end of the book. However, other science topics could be addressed with this book other than plants growth, so you would need to determine what lesson you are trying to teach with this book beforehand.

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

Even though the content is very basic, because it would need to be used with early elementary grade levels. The information throughout the book is of sound logic and accurate. The end of the book contains pictures of all the seeds and the plants that correspond allowing students to check their thinking at the end of the book.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Even though this book is a fiction book, the entire plot is about this secret garden and the experiment that ensues. Thus the book does not distinguish between fact and fiction, because through this fiction book it demonstrates clear facts about plants.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Illustrations are clear for the experiment that is going on and the students seem to be separating the different seeds into different locations and marking accordingly. Allowing for clear understanding of controlling the variables with this book.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

It is written for earlier grades, but other than that is an appropriate book to use.

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

There is no multicultural component within this book. All the children that are taking part are white children. As I read through this book I did not notice any stereotyping, but there is only one race within the text. The text also focuses only on the garden and not the interactions between the children and dog.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book has 3 children: one girl and two boys. I wouldn’t consider this book to have a gender bias, because all of the children look at the various types of seeds and plant them. All children are seen picking and eating at the end not focusing on a specific gender.

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

The book does seem to be going towards a science lesson with the children conducting an experiment and classifying the seeds with the vegetables. It does have a repetitive sentence structure for the last couple of pages that could be used in a language arts lesson, but other than that is doesn’t associate with any other disciplines.

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

The book doesn’t deal with any technology and takes place entirely outside in the garden. It does shine a positive attitude toward science, because the students are conducting an experiment with the different types of seeds and are surprised about all the various vegetables that they grow. Allowing them to have a garden party with a delicious salad at the end of the book.

Science Topics

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