From the series Down & Dirty: The Secrets of Soil
Is All Soil the Same?
Reading Level Grade 2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2016
Reviewed
From the series Down & Dirty: The Secrets of Soil
Reading Level Grade 2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2016
ReviewedSandy, crumbly, muddy, rocky, red, brown, gray—all these words can be used to describe soil. Some soil is soft and black and smells of wet leaves. By contrast, another kind is dry, orange, and as hard as rock. Inside this book, readers will discover that it’s the ingredients that make up soil that give it so many different forms. Why is soil in a desert different from soil in a forest? What is the silvery-gray soil on the slopes of a volcano made of? And which types of soil are best for growing plants? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising, high-interest facts about a material that most of us take for granted, the book makes learning about soil a lively, engaging experience.
Dirty is the perfect name for a series that will have kids wanting to head outside and see some of the interesting points the books make about soil - ”what it is, how it's formed, what it's good for. How Do Animals Help Make Soil? looks at the way creatures, from earthworms to sheep, add nutrients to the soil; the work of decomposers such as dung beetles and microbes is shown as well. The books are neatly laid out, with simple text captioning the many color photographs. A good gambit is used to get kids to turn pages: each spread ends with a question. All of the books end with a sciencelab feature that offers simple experiments for budding scientists. Full of useful information, this series makes the most ordinary of substances fascinating.
Booklist
Part of the series Down & Dirty: The Secrets of Soil, this book focuses the reader on the differences in soils. When young scientists think about soil, they may have a single image of the dark, black soil that they planted a seed in. Examples are used to explore several different soil types, including clay, volcanic, and peat, as well as the make up of the soil type and how it makes the soil look. There is a discussion about the impact of how the soil is formed and how the properties of the different soils are important. For example, the book explains that thesuper tiny size of the rock bits in clay make it feel smooth and allow it to soak up a lot of water. This allows clay to become a material that can be molded and shaped. When it is heated, the clay can then be used as a building material. In the classroom the book creates high interest with clear pictures that illustrate the content. Beginning with a Table of Contents to guide the reader to the information they may be looking for, each section uses text and clearly labeled illustrations to develop key science concepts. Important words are bolded and then defined in the Science Words section using both pictures and text. There is a Science Lab section that suggests investigations that students can complete that focus on the content of the book. An index at the end of the book allows the reader to find specific places in the book where key ideas are presented. As a part of your library, this book can be used as a tool for primary age students to begin doing research for reports or projects. In addition the Science Labs section contains some great ideas for both individual and class investigations. The investigations not only focus on doing, but also on the importance in science of recording and analyzing data.
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