Earth Cycles

by Michael Elsohn Ross

The Earth is round like a ball and it moves in circular motions. It changes in patterns that go round and round like the wheels of a bike. So begins EARTH CYCLES, a book that describes three of the cyclical phenomena created by the movement of Earth. Day to night to day and back again is one cycle, and the cycle of the moon gradually moving from a sliver to a giant disk and back again is another. The seasons' never-ending cycle of spring to summer to fall to winter to spring again is the third. The book offers the scientific reason behind each of the cycles while at the same time providing an overview of the wondrous order of our planet.

Genres: Education

Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

"I am fascinated by children's natural curiosity and innate science exploration skills," says author and Yosemite Association naturalist Michael Elsohn Ross. "For ten years I have worked with my good friend Allison Brown, a teacher, seeking new ways for children to experience open-ended science play."

It was findings from this project that ultimately gave rise to WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM, a book of hands-on mini-experiments that lead to Big Ideas--and promote an ongoing passion for independent discovery. "I decided I wanted to create a fictional classroom where kids were having the kind of grand adventures and discoveries that I'd observed," the author says. "To an adult, dirt is dirt, water is water, and gloop is just some yucky squishy stuff. But to Corrie, Miguel, Pearl, and other intrepid youngsters, great discoveries are just around the corner." The seven science stations in WHAT'S THE MATTER IN MR. WHISKERS' ROOM are designed to encourage students to use all their senses to make observations and draw conclusions, ultimately making science discoveries as simple as child's play. Says KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Hopefully, Ross, a naturalist and author of 40 books for children, has many more Mr. Whiskers adventures planned. Great fun with appealing science."


Michael Elsohn Ross, who is also the author of SANDBOX SCIENTIST, a book for parents and teachers that was named a SMITHSONIAN Notable Book, as well as the children's book SNUG AS A BUG, enjoys visiting schools to present assemblies and workshops students, teachers, and families. He lives on the edge of Yosemite National Park with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Bliss Allen]

Science book, nonfiction, helps students learn about cycles of the Earth, vocabulary words, moving around the world, daylight hours, titled axis, patterns, and rotations of the Earth.

This text is short, but it is very good at illustrating and explaining the phases of the moon and what the different moons are called. I would use this when explaining the different phases of the moon, what they look like, when each happens, and why.

[Chelsea Bucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to read while learning about Planets, Earth, or space. The book discusses the movement of the Earth, day vs. night, as well as the season's never ending cycle. It relates concepts to everyday items such as comparing the Earths circular rotation to the wheels of a bike.