The Kingfisher SCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

3rd Edition

By Charles Taylor and Kingfisher Editors

Kingfisher, 2011

ISBN #978-0753466889

Reference; middle grade nonfiction

Grades 5-9

This title will be released onOctober 25, 2011.

"The ground beneath our feet seems to be the most solid and unchanging thing we know. It forms foundations for our cities and an environment in which we can live. Yet, in reality, the Earth is spinning on it axis and hurtling through hostile space, as it orbits the nuclear furnace of our sun. The Earth is an active, dynamic, living planet."

My sons laughed when I mentioned that I used to read the Britannica encyclopedia when I didn't have a book on hand, but it's true. I had insomnia as a child, and I'd slip downstairs, choose a volume, and browse, reading each entry in turn. If I'd had this book as a child, I'd have been thrilled.

This comprehensive science encyclopedia covers the fundamentals of life science, earth science, physical science, plus materials and technology and conservation. It's colorful and inviting and well-sectioned off into two page spreads on many of the pages, so it's welcoming and readable without being overwhelming. The focus is divided into sections by the branch of science and skimming the table of contents proved easy.

Back matter includes a conversion table, several appendices, and an easy-to-read index. The clear concise nature of this book makes it one that all middle schools should have. It could also be appropriate for upper elementary students, as well as ESL and reluctant readers in high school. This is a valuable resource for all public libraries in their reference section and school libraries, too. It's a wonderful holiday gift book and an excellent reference gift for a special kid. Take a look at this terrific book!

I flipped open the book and looked—I'd landed on information about the elements. It brought to mind a blog post I'd written for NOVA's web program, "The Secret Life of Scientists." That gave me an idea for this activity.

Activity

Browse the science encyclopedia. Choose an interesting subject and read about it. Then write a short science cheer about that subject. Be sure to include important information relating to it. Perform your cheer for your friends or family—or just read it!

If cheering isn't your cup of tea (although cheering for science is always good!), write a poem to express some facts or make an acrostic poem with the word.

Take a look at my cheer for the Periodic Table of Elements.

Here's how to make an acrostic poem.

Check out these examples of acrostics.

National Science Standards: pretty much all of them

Book provided by Kingfisher.