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The Time Book: A Brief History from Lunar Calendars to Atomic Clocks
It’s about time! A fascinating primer explores what it means and how it has been measured, from the waggles of a honeybee to the workings of an atomic clock.
What is time? Why does it fl y when we’re having fun? When did we start keeping track of it — and why do we measure it in such bizarre ways? Explore these and many other timely questions, such as how the first calendars and clocks were invented, why February is such an odd month, and what strange and wonderful things Einstein discovered about the nature of time itself. Martin Jenkins’s clear, conversational narrative on the history of timekeeping combines with Richard Holland’s quirky mixed-media collages for a compelling look at that mysterious thing we call time.
What is time? Why does it fl y when we’re having fun? When did we start keeping track of it — and why do we measure it in such bizarre ways? Explore these and many other timely questions, such as how the first calendars and clocks were invented, why February is such an odd month, and what strange and wonderful things Einstein discovered about the nature of time itself. Martin Jenkins’s clear, conversational narrative on the history of timekeeping combines with Richard Holland’s quirky mixed-media collages for a compelling look at that mysterious thing we call time.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 24, 2016
A superb introduction to the subject of time, pitched at a level that is rewarding for children and adults. Featuring inventive, conceptual illustrations that enliven and clarify the book's ideas.
October 20, 2013
The Time Book A Brief History from Lunar Calendars to Atomic Clocks
Overview: This book details ways in which time has been counted among different cultures and time periods.
W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
RI.4.5 Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
Focus: Compare and Contrast
Step-by-Step:
1. Introduce the text by informing students that keeping track of time has changed over the years. Tell them to pay attention to similarities and differences the author makes in the text.
2. Read p.10-11: Discuss the similarities and differences the author presents for the ways in which people, bees, cicadas, birds, plants, and squirrels seem to keep up with time.
3. Read p. 22, as you read, create a Venn Diagram or a double-T chart in order to generate a list on the ways the moon and sun calendar are the same and different.
4. Read page 32- as you read, have students help create a list (in a Venn Diagram or double-T chart) on the board on the ways in which the Mayans told time.
5. Then read page 34 and add ideas to the graphic organizer on how the Romans told time.
6. Lastly, have students decide how these two cultures can be compared in their approach to telling time. Circle these ideas and rewrite them in the middle of the diagram or draw an arrow pointing these similarities the middle of the graphic organizer.
7. Challenge students to write about a topic in which they can include comparisons and contrasts. Have them share with a partner an idea they may consider for comparing and contrasting. Allow some students to share feedback with the whole class.
Expected Outcomes:
Students should understand when to use compare and contrast and to use it on a topic that they are knowledgeable of, or one that can be researched. Students should be able to plan for a compare and contrast writing using a Venn Diagram or double-T chart.
Overview: This book details ways in which time has been counted among different cultures and time periods.
W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
RI.4.5 Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
Focus: Compare and Contrast
Step-by-Step:
1. Introduce the text by informing students that keeping track of time has changed over the years. Tell them to pay attention to similarities and differences the author makes in the text.
2. Read p.10-11: Discuss the similarities and differences the author presents for the ways in which people, bees, cicadas, birds, plants, and squirrels seem to keep up with time.
3. Read p. 22, as you read, create a Venn Diagram or a double-T chart in order to generate a list on the ways the moon and sun calendar are the same and different.
4. Read page 32- as you read, have students help create a list (in a Venn Diagram or double-T chart) on the board on the ways in which the Mayans told time.
5. Then read page 34 and add ideas to the graphic organizer on how the Romans told time.
6. Lastly, have students decide how these two cultures can be compared in their approach to telling time. Circle these ideas and rewrite them in the middle of the diagram or draw an arrow pointing these similarities the middle of the graphic organizer.
7. Challenge students to write about a topic in which they can include comparisons and contrasts. Have them share with a partner an idea they may consider for comparing and contrasting. Allow some students to share feedback with the whole class.
Expected Outcomes:
Students should understand when to use compare and contrast and to use it on a topic that they are knowledgeable of, or one that can be researched. Students should be able to plan for a compare and contrast writing using a Venn Diagram or double-T chart.
February 18, 2010
The illustrations which combine photos with drawings on differing colored pages draw you to this book on the history of time. Many of the illustrations combine humor like a flying clock, with supporting details for the text on that page. The text also plays along with the illustrations by taking on the shape of a planet or pyramid or copying a shape in the illustration. The text is divided up into 10 chapters, each with a slightly different topic but the chapters are not titled and the topic of the chapter is not always clear in the opening paragraph. Jenkins starts the opening chapter with a brainstorm of questions about time. The following chapters are full of details about time with dates, numbers and groups of people who impacted time as we know it today. He doesn’t use a glossary but will define a term in the sentence where it is used. An example of that is “circadian rhythm (circadian means “about a day” in Latin).” I started out strong reading this book but the amount of information and detail became overwhelming. All the information is in text form, no charts or inserts are included. Jenkins does not use endnotes or footnotes, no acknowledgements or resources are listed. The index is pretty comprehensive. Younger children will be drawn to the illustrations but the detail of the text and the amount of information included in the book is more at the level of the middle school student with an interest in history.
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November 12, 2018The information in this book is excellent. However, I fear the illustrations in this chapter book will not draw a child into it.
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July 24, 2009
Who knew a book on time could be so interesting? a detailed description of how time has been measured over time, which was very clear in the beginning but became muddier as time went on, in spite of the fact that the author claims the measurement of time has become incredibly accurate.
July 11, 2010
I found this book to be fascinating. Time is something that is always on the mind, but not something that I had ever though much about as having a history. It's interesting to discover how time developed through the ages.
December 13, 2011
This is one of those books that I know was fabulous because I keep thinking about it. I'm getting it again from the library so boy #1 can read it. It has a lot of text - set up in chapters, but still a picture book format.
August 13, 2009
I really enjoyed this - very interesting, of course, but I especially love Richard Holland's illustrations (he also did the Museum Book).
December 29, 2009
So it's a pretty brief introduction to time and calendars and time-telling devices throughout history, but it is a very interesting one.
November 10, 2019
Super interesting and nicely formatted for the most part, though some of the creative text placement got a little irritating.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews