Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey Through Time

by Diane Nelson Spickert, Marianne D Wallace (Illustrator)

This intriguing and instructional picture book takes readers on one rock's geological odyssey through time. Gorgeous, full-color illustrations and a detailed timeline of a rock's journey teaches students about earth science and the geologic cycle. Includes glossary of geological terms.

32 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2000

Reviews

[Maggie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey Through Time, I noticed that the front of the book has a timeline of the different time periods of what the earth looked like. These are critical vocabulary words that need to be discussed with our kids and I believe images in the book will be another way for the students to get a visual learning along with other ways of learning. These images are important for the students to see since they had not idea what life was life back in those early time periods. I love how the images show the rock continuing to get smaller and smaller to show the erosion going throughout the book. The images make it clear of how the rock has broken down. It also shows in the text the descriptions to help the readers truly understand what is happening to the rock such as sitting under frozen water that makes it crack. Finally it shows how it was embedded into the rock, which creates a fossil. As an activity, we will use different types of candy such as M&M's and jolly ranchers to show the decomposition. We may also create fossils with out hands and clay to engage and relate what we have learned in the unit.

[Katie Little]

This is a great book for a science class!

[Elijah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great to teach students about a rocks journey throughout time as well as prehistoric knowledge.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very long, and the journey seems somewhat improbable.

[Richard (Rick) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fascinating and beautifully illustrated book describing the life-cycle of a rock, as it is worn down through various means of nature, and conglomerated into other rocks and over and back again. All the kids enjoyed reading it with me, and it appeared to be very scientifically accurate. The wording was sometimes over the top for kids, as I think the story could be told ... with appropriate vocabulary, but still in a clearer way.

[Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book when I was teaching erosion and weathering to my fourth graders. It follows the course of one rock through millions of years, and you get to see how the landscape, flora, and fauna all change during that time.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent geology picture book to share with students! This book follows a rock's journey through time. The illustrations are attractive and age appropriate science vocabulary is used throughout the text.