What We Find When We Look Under Rocks

Yes, this book fosters development of processes, mainly focusing on observation and inquiry. This book is designed with the intention to stimulate the curiosity and sense of discovery of children, and to develop their investigative skills.

Author: Frances L. Behnke
Illustrator: Jean Zallinger
Year Published: 1971
ISBN: 0070042764

Summary

This book describes the physical characteristics and habits of the various animals living under rocks and in the soil, such as millepedes, sow bugs, slugs, earthworms, ants, and pill bugs.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: High
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?

Yes, throughout the book there are questions presented to the reader and the sentences afterwards provides the answers to those questions. There are several questions that stimulates children to use inquiry skills.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes, the questions that the book presents to the readers requires them to think for themselves. The intention of this book is to stimulate children's curiosities, and that requires self-thinking.

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

Yes, this book talks about habitats and at the end of the book there is an opportunity for the teacher to introduce a lesson about niche. The book is focus on the physical traits and characteristics of the animals living under a rock or in the soil.

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

Yes, the books is written by Dr. Frances Behnke who was awarded a Doctorate in Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. The content is based on scientific facts about the animals and its habitat under the rock.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Yes, this book stays strictly to focusing on the physical traits and skills of the animals. The content of this book can be easily validated by other sources. There is no bias presented in this book, the content is neutral and remains strictly to factual information.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes, the illustrations are mostly in black and white, and some illustrations have labels attached to indicate which animal is which. The illustrations are clean and looks like real life sketches of the animals and its habitat.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, the text is longer but it is broken up to parts that makes it less overwhelming for students to read. The vocabulary is simple and are words that children can easily comprehend. The text size is big enough for students to see easily. This book could be used as a higher advanced book for kids in the younger grade levels, or as an average level book for kids in the upper grade levels.

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

There is not a multicultural component, but it is free from stereotyping. There are illustrations of boys and girls in the book, and there is some diversity as there is a minority boy illustrated on the cover of the book. However, white boys are mostly illustrated in the book.

Is the book free from gender bias?

No, illustrations of a white boy are presented more often than illustrations of a girl or a minority boy.

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

No, it mainly sticks to the topic of animals and habitats and does not diverge away from that topic.

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

Yes, often throughout the story it asks for the readers to perform their own investigations and make discoveries. There are many questions presented in this book that asks readers to think about the animals in the story.

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

Maximum Suggested Grade Level