Key Concepts in Earth Science Set (6 books - Middle School)
Key Concepts in Earth Science Set (6 books - Middle School)(see individual descriptions below)
Each of the six Key Concepts in Earth Science books takes an in-depth look at one “big idea” in Earth science. Topics range from the Earth’s air to plate tectonics. The books invite students to read with lively text and engaging photographs and illustrations. Science concepts are connected to real-world examples and to the lives of women and men from diverse backgrounds doing exciting work in Earth science. Together, the six books build science literacy while fostering student interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Key Concepts in Earth Science Set (6 books - Upper Elementary)
Key Concepts in Earth Science Set (6 books - Upper Elementary)(see individual descriptions below)
Each of the six Key Concepts in Earth Science books takes an in-depth look at one “big idea” in Earth science. Topics range from the rock cycle to Earth’s climate. The books invite students to read with lively text and engaging photographs and illustrations. Science concepts are connected to real-world examples and to the lives of women and men from diverse backgrounds doing exciting work in Earth science. Together, the six books build science literacy while fostering student interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Air
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Air Earth's Air: Layers for Life explores our atmosphere from the bottom up. Students learn how this amazing mixture of gases keeps Earth warm and provides life-giving oxygen. They investigate the characteristics of each atmospheric layer and learn how human activities affect our air. Students also discover how energy from the Sun powers the water cycle and winds. Finally, student read about Belay Demoz, an atmospheric physicist who uses a variety of technologies to investigate Earth’s air.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 850L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Climate
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's ClimateEarth's Climate: Change in a Warming World guides students as they learn what climate is and how Earth's climate is changing. The book explains the difference between weather and climate. Students learn how an increase in greenhouse gases in our air is making Earth’s climate warmer—and how that change may affect us. Finally, Earth’s Climate introduces paleoecologist Jenny McGuire, who studies fossils of small mammals to find out how organisms reacted to past changes in climate.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 870L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Energy
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's EnergyEarth's Energy: Planet Power guides students as they explore the many forms and effects of our planet's energy. Students learn that all actions, big and small, require energy to make them happen. They investigate Earth’s main energy sources and explore how these sources cause changes on, above, and below Earth’s surface. Students take an in-depth look at how the Sun provides most of Earth's energy. Earth’s Energy then introduces John Federspiel, a mechanical engineer who helps design advanced solar-powered cars.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 860L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Natural Resources
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Natural ResourcesEarth's Natural Resources: Nature's Gifts opens students’ eyes to the many natural resources they depend on every day. Students discover that interactions between living and nonliving things in Earth's biosphere provide many of these resources. Students also learn about the importance of using resources wisely. Finally, students read about Francisco Dallmeier, a conservation biologist who helps limit the harmful effects that construction projects have on biodiversity, a key natural resource.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 830L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's Water
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Earth's WaterEarth's Water: Weird, Wonderful Water introduces students to some of water’s unique properties and explains how these properties help make Earth suitable for life. Students learn about the water cycle, tracing a molecule of water as it journeys from continent to continent. Then students find out what they can do to help conserve our limited supply of clean, fresh water. Finally, Earth’s Water profiles Shorna Broussard Allred, a resource conservation expert who works to make America’s rivers and streams cleaner.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 800L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Geologic Time
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Geologic TimeGeologic Time: Earth's Remarkable Past gives students an overview of our planet’s vast history. Students learn that Earth’s past spans 4.6 billion years. They discover how scientists use relative age dating, absolute age dating, and fossils to determine the ages of rock layers. Students are introduced to the Geologic Time Scale, the special calendar that separates Earth's long history into manageable time divisions based on important events, such as mass extinctions. Finally, Geologic Time profiles Karen Chin, a paleoecologist who studies coprolites—rare chunks of fossilized dung—to shed light on dinosaur food webs.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 810L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Plate Tectonics
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics: Our Restless Planet guides students as they explore how plate tectonics constantly reshapes our planet’s surface. Students learn that Earth’s crust is broken up into large plates that move about on the mantle, the layer beneath the crust. They read about how geologists analyzed many clues to confirm the theory of plate tectonics. And students discover how the interactions of tectonic plates produce earthquakes and volcanoes. Finally, Plate Tectonics introduces Lucy Jones, a seismologist who studies earthquakes to help people better prepare for them.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 780L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Space Exploration
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Space Exploration Space Exploration: Journeys of Discovery describes many of the discoveries humans have made while exploring our solar system and beyond. Students learn that all objects in our solar system are held in orbit by the gravitational force of the Sun. The book recounts how humans have developed technologies to explore our solar system and describes milestones in space exploration. Students then read about Maria Zuber, a geophysicist who investigates the internal structures of the planets and moons of our solar system.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 890L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Sun, Earth, and Moon
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Sun, Earth, and MoonSun, Earth, and Moon: Our Star, Our Planet, Our Satelliteintroduces students to the Sun-Earth-Moon system. Students learn that the Sun is the center of the solar system and that it provides Earth and the other planets with light and heat. They find out what causes day and night and the seasons on Earth. Then they read about why the Moon has phases and how it affects tides on Earth. Finally, Sun, Earth, and Moon introduces Carle Pieters, a planetary geologist who uses orbiting instruments to investigate the composition of the Moon’s surface.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 820L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: The Rock Cycle
Key Concepts in Earth Science: The Rock CycleThe Rock Cycle: Minerals on the Move introduces students to an extraordinary world beneath their feet and at their fingertips—the world of rocks. Students find out how to identify minerals based on their properties. Then students explore the processes that form the three main types of rocks—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Students learn that, through the rock cycle, every kind of rock is on its way to becoming another kind of rock. Finally, The Rock Cycle shines the spotlight on Jim Kauahikaua, a scientist who monitors volcanic eruptions in his native Hawaii.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 810L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: The Water Cycle
Key Concepts in Earth Science: The Water CycleThe Water Cycle: Fantastic Feats of H2O highlights the importance of water to life on Earth. Students learn about the unique properties that make water so valuable and important. They explore how water moves around our planet in a continuous cycle of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and absorption. Students then focus on how the water cycle affects conditions in the Pacific Northwest. Finally, students meet Hugo Loaiciga, a hydrologist who studies management of water resources in California.
Grades: 6-8
Lexile level: 840L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Weathering and Erosion
Key Concepts in Earth Science: Weathering and ErosionWeathering and Erosion: Wind, Water, and Wavesintroduces students to the processes of weathering and erosion that shape and reshape Earth's surface. Students learn that these processes work hand-in-hand—once weathering has broken rock down, erosion carries away the sediments. Students also learn that a third major process—deposition—lays down these sediments in new places. Together these processes constantly change the landscape around us. Finally, students meet Abby Sallenger, an oceanographer who studies how storms—including major hurricanes—reshape coastlines.
Grades: 3-5
Lexile level: 750L
32 pages, full color
7 by 9 inches, paperback
Key Concepts in Life, Earth, and Physical Science Set (18 books - Middle School)
Key Concepts in Life, Earth, and Physical Science Set (18 books - Middle School)(see individual descriptions above)
Each of the 18 Key Concepts in Science books takes an in-depth look at one “big idea” in life, Earth, or physical science. The books invite students to read with lively text and engaging photographs and illustrations. Science concepts are connected to real-world examples and to the lives of women and men from diverse backgrounds doing exciting work in life, Earth, and physical science. Together the 18 books provide an integrated approach to building STEM literacy while fostering student interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Key Concepts in Life, Earth, and Physical Science Set (18 books - Upper Elementary)
Key Concepts in Life, Earth, and Physical Science Set (18 books - Upper Elementary)(see individual descriptions above)
Each of the 18 Key Concepts in Science books takes an in-depth look at one “big idea” in life, Earth, or physical science. The books invite students to read with lively text and engaging photographs and illustrations. Science concepts are connected to real-world examples and to the lives of women and men from diverse backgrounds doing exciting work in life, Earth, and physical science. Together the 18 books provide an integrated approach to building STEM literacy while fostering student interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).