Thunder of the Plains

Yes, the book fosters the development of processes. It is a dense book with a lot of facts but also is a story of how the American Buffalo was vital to life. It hits different aspects of the buffalo.

• Author: Ken Robbins
• Year Published: 2001
• ISBN: 9781416995364

Science Topics

• Earth Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• 4th Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 8th Grade

Summary

The book tells the story of the American Buffalo and how it was an important part of American history.

Evaluation

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

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Yes, the book fosters the development of processes. It is a dense book with a lot of facts but also is a story of how the American Buffalo was vital to life. It hits different aspects of the buffalo.

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

There are no spaces for children to answer questions. There are are no questions to answer through the text. It does not engage the reader in a particular way.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

No. The book is dense with facts. It gives a lot of good facts about the buffalos, but isn't encouraging students to think or relate them to themselves.

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

It is a good way to integrate science and social studies. It's more on the teacher's end on how to address this book with a lesson about earth science. The book is not a lesson in itself. It is a book that can be used in a way that is engaging.

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

It is accurate. The book has photographs taken by Ken Robbins and shows the plains and natives homeland. The content is based off of sound information.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

No. The book seems to be all fact with very little fiction in it. The accuracy of the photos of the natives could be questionable, but for the most part, the book itself is accurate.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes. The illustrations are photographs or realistic depictions of Natives lifestyles. The drawings about the Native Americans show how they used the buffalo in many ways.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

The book is written at the level of my students because it has so many aspects to it. It challenges the students but also uses many of words that they are comfortable with. The words they may not know can be taught and learned.

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

There is a multicultural component through the telling of the Native Americans. That's who Ken Robbin starts off with. It seems free from stereotyping the Natives because it speaks about their culture and how they used the buffalo. It also tells of how the Whites destroyed the buffalos and the how tragic it was.

Is the book free from gender bias?

No. The book talks about the men herding and killing the buffalos, which is what the men did. But if we look at it from our perspective now, we have no story of what the women did to help the buffalo.

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

It shows how science and social studies can relate. The buffalo was used for everything for the Native Americans and it can talk about the resources found in animals. It speaks about the different types of buffalos and their functions.

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

They depict how the buffalo was used for many things and how the Natives used that as their "technology." On the other hand, it tells of how the Whites used guns to destroy the buffalo. So I would say no.