Volcanoes

This book is very factual and fosters the development of multiple processes. The book clearly communicates information about volcanoes to its young audience. Students can make inferences through the pictures and apply them to what they think about real life volcanoes. The pictures also allow for students to observe details about volcanoes.

• Author: Franklyn M. Branley
• Illustrator: Marc Simont
• Year Published: 1985
• ISBN: 0060280123

Science Topics

• Earth Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• Kindergarten

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 2nd Grade

Summary

This book teaches children about the science and history of volcanoes. It explains how volcanoes are caused by magma pushing up between moving plates in Earth's crust. There are clear illustrations and maps. The book explores how volcanoes form and erupt, where they are found, and when you can expect them to blow up.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: High
• Authority: High
• Liteary Artistry: High
• Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

This book is very factual and fosters the development of multiple processes. The book clearly communicates information about volcanoes to its young audience. Students can make inferences through the pictures and apply them to what they think about real life volcanoes. The pictures also allow for students to observe details about volcanoes.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

The book does not provide much of an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions because it is very factual and chronological. The only questions I could think children might come up with are wondering where each of the places are that the story talks about because many times volcanoes are named but not said where they are located.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

I think the illustrations encourage children to think for themselves because they can look at the pictures and think of how that might look in real life. The story also has very vivid imagery and creates clear visual images that children can image.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

The science topic of volcanoes is address appropriately. This story includes a science lesson as well as a history lesson. To address the history component the story of volcanoes is told chronologically.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

The content is very factual and accurate. It gives clear definitions of words and concepts regarding earth science.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

It is clear that the book is factual not fictional. It is not written as a story, but rather it is very much an expository text.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are very well done. Although they are illustrations and not pictures they accurately depict images of volcanoes and maps that we would normally find in a science textbook.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

It says the book is written for Kindergarten through 2nd grade. However, the book is a little long and detailed which could make it difficult to keep the attention of such young students. The information is explained simply and easy to understand, there is just a lot of information.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

Yes, there is a multicultural component. The book talks about volcanoes in many different parts of the world. I think it is free from stereotyping because it only talks about the geography and factual evidence about different places in the world.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book could be considered slightly gender biased because only images of male geologists are included. However, considering the publishing date it is most likely that only men were given credit for the science discoveries at the time.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

The book integrates both science and history. It takes the readers through the history of the first volcanic explosion and follows the historical path of volcanoes while it includes scientific evidence and facts.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes, the book presents a positive attitude toward science and the study of volcanoes. The images are clear and engaging for students. Technology is presented positively because the explanations about geologist is interesting and easy to understand.