Explore Rocks and Minerals!

April 1, 2011

Gr 3-5-Layers of the Earth and the common minerals that make up rocks are introduced in the first chapters. Each type of rock-igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary-has a dedicated section. How fossils are formed and how to collect rocks conclude the book. "Did U Know," "Wow" facts, "Words 2 Know," and "Just for Laughs" add information and break up the text. Abundant experiments and activities are strewn throughout, as are small black-and-white drawings. Many require the use of food products and adult supervision, but the directions are easy to follow. Making crystals, stalactites, meringue "pumice' cookies, and sedimentary rock will be fun, but also will help kids understand the concepts. The diagram of the rock cycle is more detailed than others. A miner mole can be found in various poses, guiding readers in the exploration of rocks. This book can be a useful resource for teachers and adults, but due to the lack of color pictures and information overload, kids will not find it as appealing as other rock books available.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2010
Grades 3-6 This offering from the Explore Your World series introduces budding geologists to basic information about rocks and minerals. The authors examine the earth; minerals and crystals; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; and fossils. For each topic, they present a brief discussion, define technical terms, offer sidebars with intriguing details (and jokes), and provide several projects that demonstrate key concepts introduced in the text. Activities include creating salt-crystal models, Epsom salt stalactites, and an edible model of the earth and its layers. Stones black-and-white illustrationsespecially the cartoon mole sporting a miners hat who guides readers through the texthelp to clarify technical matters and elucidate steps in the projects. Although the main text sometimes gets lost among the many sidebars, the suggested activities are well chosen, carefully explained, and require easily accessible household items. Appended with the usual back matter, this is similar in scope to Cindy Blobaums Geology Rocks! (1999) and makes a good choice for classroom science units.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)