Biomes: Discover the Earth’s Ecosystems with Science Activities for Kids
by Donna Latham with illustrations by Tom Casteel introduces readers in grades
4-6 to nine environments: Deciduous Forests, Coniferous Forests, Tropical Rainforests, Deserts, Temperate grasslands, Tropical Savannas, Tundra,
Mountains, and Oceans.
An introduction sets up the later
chapters by explaining what a biome is, introducing much of the
environment-related vocabulary that appears throughout and mapping the location
of each biome on a world map. Chapter One provides background via an overview
of our home on Earth and the basic adaptations of plant and animal life to our
unique planet.
Biome-focused chapters define
specific characteristics such as seasons, soils, rainfall, and highlight flora
and fauna – a 5,000- year-old Bristlecone pine in a coniferous forest,
glow-in-the-dark ocean dwellers of the deep sea, the 2-ounce Pygmy Tarsier
found in the mountains of Indonesia – and so on.
Additionally, chapters incorporate
information about broader concepts such as food chains, food webs,
environmental changes, and the multiple ways in which each biome contributes to
creating a sustainable planet. Vocabulary is highlighted in Words To Know
sidebars. Related STEM projects are
listed at the end to check knowledge and offer hands-on reinforcement for concepts.
Each chapter includes a feature called Climate
Change Corner that uses a QR code
Readers are challenged to ask questions and use
critical thinking skills in response to calls to action: Essential Question,
Try This!, and Did You Know? Photographs
and illustrations enhance content and provide visual interest.
The
book is well organized and the content expands on familiar facts and introduces
readers to details that are often overlooked. It is not only educational, but
is also a pleasure to read. The conversational tone and age-appropriate
vocabulary is appealing.
Recommended
for STEM home and school libraries.
