Down & Dirty: The Secrets of Soil
Reading Level Grade 2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2016
Reviewed
Reading Level Grade 2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2016
ReviewedWe see it in backyard gardens and beneath trees at the park. Farmers grow wheat, potatoes, and many other foods in it. And without it there would be no grassy lawns or fields for playing soccer and other games. What are we talking about? Soil! This Science Slam! series takes a fresh look at the soil beneath our feet. What is soil made of and how do animals help make it? Why do most plants need soil to survive? And is there a difference between soil and dirt? Each of the five books in this series is expertly crafted to meet early elementary and science curriculum standards. Innovative, grade-appropriate activities and experiments, critical-thinking questions, and fascinating fact boxes will keep the pages turning and the pace lively and interactive. These features will also introduce children to two fundamental components of scientific inquiry—making observations and drawing inferences from those observations. And best of all, the activities are fun!
What's Soil Made Of? provides an overview of organic components, rock weathering, animals living in soil, and different types. Animals focuses on excretion and decomposing bodies and mentions how earthworms and larger animals loosen soil. Plants mentions vegetation that grows without soil but concentrates on how most receive nutrients through roots. Is All Soil the Same? notes variations such as clay, volcanic soil, and peat. Dirt or Soil focuses on a distinction in terminology that could be explained in a couple of sentences. Curiously, none of these offerings includes basic terminology such as topsoil or humus. There are many photos here, some of which appear in more than one volume, and the selections all conclude with an activity suggestion.
School Library Journal
