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Simple Science
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 11:58:06 -0500
Today we begin our discussion of "Simple Science" books for young children.
We wonder, How do authors and artists take complex information about the nature of our world and our universe and make it understandable for the preschool and early elementary audience?
To give us one perspective on that question, we are pleased to welcome author Lisa Westberg Peters to our discussion. We asked Lisa if she would be willing to discuss her experience on writing about sicence and the natural world for young children. Her books in this area include "Water's Way" (Arcade, 1991), about water and precipitation; "This Way Home" (Henry Holt, 1994), about migration; Earthshake; Poems from the Ground Up" (Greenwillow, 2003), about geology; and "Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story" (Harcourt, 2003).
In "Our Family Tree," Lisa's poetic narrative begins with a description of "tiny round cells in the deep, dark sea" and follows the course of human evolution. An effective pattern of contrast and compare highlights differences and similarities of each stage in the evolutionary process to the way humans are today: "On the outside, we still had scales...On the inside, we had lungs to breathe oxygen, like we do now." The poetic text is grounded in science, with more detailed scientific information provided in a two-page section that follows the main narrative.
Lisa, can you discuss how approached the challenge of writing about evolution, and other topics you've covered, in terms of making it understandable for younger children? How do you determine what is essential to include, and to leave out?
While we wait for Lisa's response, we want to hear from you in the CCBC-Net community about books and approaches to writing about science and the natural world for young children that you find particularly effective.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
ph: 608&2?03 fax: 608&2I33 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Tue 05 Jul 2005 11:58:06 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 11:58:06 -0500
Today we begin our discussion of "Simple Science" books for young children.
We wonder, How do authors and artists take complex information about the nature of our world and our universe and make it understandable for the preschool and early elementary audience?
To give us one perspective on that question, we are pleased to welcome author Lisa Westberg Peters to our discussion. We asked Lisa if she would be willing to discuss her experience on writing about sicence and the natural world for young children. Her books in this area include "Water's Way" (Arcade, 1991), about water and precipitation; "This Way Home" (Henry Holt, 1994), about migration; Earthshake; Poems from the Ground Up" (Greenwillow, 2003), about geology; and "Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story" (Harcourt, 2003).
In "Our Family Tree," Lisa's poetic narrative begins with a description of "tiny round cells in the deep, dark sea" and follows the course of human evolution. An effective pattern of contrast and compare highlights differences and similarities of each stage in the evolutionary process to the way humans are today: "On the outside, we still had scales...On the inside, we had lungs to breathe oxygen, like we do now." The poetic text is grounded in science, with more detailed scientific information provided in a two-page section that follows the main narrative.
Lisa, can you discuss how approached the challenge of writing about evolution, and other topics you've covered, in terms of making it understandable for younger children? How do you determine what is essential to include, and to leave out?
While we wait for Lisa's response, we want to hear from you in the CCBC-Net community about books and approaches to writing about science and the natural world for young children that you find particularly effective.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
ph: 608&2?03 fax: 608&2I33 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Tue 05 Jul 2005 11:58:06 AM CDT
