learning to become a little scientist
4.5/5
UNPAID REVIEW
So here it is…my very first book review.
I’m a home educating parent, and as such it can be quite overwhelming to navigate the way through the multitude of resources that are available these days to nurture a young mind. There are many fantastic websites, books and apps out there that don’t only help parents and children on the home education journey, but anyone who’s interested in getting some extra-curricular knowledge under their belt. I, for one, was very happy to have stumbled on these two little gems:
‘Learning to be A Little Geologist’ and ‘Learning to be A Little Astronomer’ by Caitlin Amber Snyman.
Synopsis:
‘Learning to be a Little Geologist’ is the first book in the series and explains the different types of rocks that can be found in the various layers that make up Earth, and how they are formed. We learn about the rock cycle and which processes lead to changes from one rock type to another. We are given interesting facts throughout the book and can test the newly gained knowledge with some quizzes and activities at the end.
In ‘Learning to be a Little Astronomer’ we learn how stars are born and what makes up our galaxy. We learn about constellations and how to find them in the night sky, and about the eight planets in our solar system. We also get an overview of humans in space. At the end, there is again an opportunity to test our knowledge with quizzes and games.
Review:
‘Learning to be a Little Geologist’ has 27 pages of full-page colour illustrations. The various concepts are broken down into short and easy to understand paragraphs, but do contain quite big words, such as lithification, crystallisation and others (see images below). These are explained in more detail and spelled out in syllables to make them easier to read. Depending on the child’s reading proficiency, it might be helpful to initially read them together to avoid discouragement. Overall, it’s a very helpful introduction to Geology. I particularly liked the break-down of the rock cycle, which certainly cleared up a few things in my head. I also like the short quizzes and exercises at the end, though it might have been better to provide the answers on a separate page at the very end.
I personally preferred ‘Learning to be a Little Astronomer’ to the first title, but I generally find the topic more intriguing. There’s a link between the books as some rocks from space make it to Earth at times, which is a nice link between the sciences and also indicates that no science can or should be viewed in isolation.
The approach is the same as above, with 25 pages packed full of information. Hand on heart, would you be able to explain the difference between an asteroid, comet, meteoroid, meteor and meteorite? Below you can see how clearly and simple these terms are explained on one page. There’s a page each for the eight planets of our solar system, including a mnemonic aid to remember their order. But we also get a lot of information about humans in space, what it takes to become an astronaut, the difference between a space station and a satellite and much more.
Again, a very good title to introduce the topic of astronomy and I’ll definitely keep this one handy next time we look at the stars.
There is a lot of information provided in both titles and I have learned a thing or two reading them myself. They are a great resource to introduce these two sciences to children in a way that’s not long winded or overly complicated.
The editor in me noticed a misspelling and inconsistency with regards to spelling words in American English or British English, but that doesn’t diminish the educational merit of these titles.
I have read both titles on mobile devices as they are free with kindle unlimited. To make the most use of it, I would recommend buying the paperback edition though as you otherwise won’t be able to do all the quizzes and colouring in. I also prefer holding a book in my hands, especially if they’re meant for younger readers, but that’s a personal choice.
Both titles are available for the UK market here (please check your amazon page in your home country for alternative links):
Learning to be a Little Geologist, paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PM8BPCL
Learning to be a Little Geologist, ebook (free with kindle unlimited): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PMP3S31
Learning to be a Little Astronomer, paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BS8RZ4TZ
Learning to be a Little Astronomer, ebook (free with kindle unlimited): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BSDLY9N1
About the Author:
Caitlin Amber Snyman is a Biologist who’s undergone home education herself. She’s a teacher and currently works for a tutoring company helping kids learn outside of mainstream education. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, she currently lives in Hungary to further her own education and has taken time out along the way to produce the lovely science series above.
I’ll be keeping an eye open for further titles in this science series!
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