Library Media Connection - Ann Bryan Nelson
Appealing cover illustrations and formats encourage students to learn more about these new science fields. Relevant education is furthered by this series’ goal to illustrate science education’s use in everyday life. Useful for assigned nonfiction reading, these books offer vocabulary and background information for student writers. A list of topics to research adds to their value. The glossary would be improved with pronunciation help. Bibliography. Websites. Index. Recommended—Ann Bryan Nelson, Volunteer Media Specialist and Guest Teacher, Thompson Ranch Elementary School, Dysart Unified School District, Surprise, Arizona <i>Library Media Connection</i> November/December 2009
November 14, 2011NSTA - Rebecca Bell
This series is a great way to teach science because it wraps potentially sterile content into an integrated, meaningful, and engaging context. The text applies difficult concepts to a practical application and draws implications for societal changes. Throughout the text, sidebars supplement the content. "The Science You Learn" explains terms used in the surrounding text, "In the News" reads like today's headlines, and "The Cutting Edge" provides a sneak preview of new technologies that will exploit this area of science. The practical examples explain why students need to know the information and are powerful motivators. This book briefly presents the high school biology topics of asexual and sexual reproduction, genetics, puberty, the menstrual cycle, and the development of the embryo. The text includes the traditional diagrams of male and female reproductive organs. The remainder of the book is somewhat different from what might normally be covered in a high school course. It includes descriptions of what happens during pregnancy and reviews the medical procedures that a mother undergoes to monitor a baby1s development. A great deal of space is devoted to a review of environmental factors that affect both the mother and fetus from drug use (both legal and illegal) to smoking to nutrition. Genetics topics are examined through the lens of genetic disease and mutation. The final chapters covers ethical issues including fertility problems in men and women, in vitro fertilization, the use of reproductive technologies, genetic modification, and multiple births. The strength of these books is that they provide the "So What?" for science instruction, and in this book, a sound treatment of ethical issues. Each book in the Why Science Matters series contains biographies of those who made significant contributions to the field. Students can see how many people in science, technology, public policy, and other fields are involved in moving society forward. A glossary accompanies the text as does a list of further readings and related websites. Recommended-Rebecca Bell, Environmental Education Specialist<i> NSTA</i> 5/26/2009
May 26, 2009
