April 1, 2014
Gr 5-8-This series examines the incredible diversity of life through a variety of disciplines. Many informational sidebars, explanatory diagrams, and stunning full-page photos with captions are integrated into the text and bring the concepts to life. One-page synopses provide several examples of current scientific studies and possible career choices. This series promotes deep thinking and should assist youngsters in making new connections. For instance, "Straight to the Source" provides one-page primary sources of historical importance and then asks readers to engage in learning activities, such as adapting the source for modern audiences, supplying evidence from text, or identifying big questions. Other sections make readers "Stop and Think" by offering additional questions to ponder or by asking them to compare and contrast textual evidence with select web content. A strong set of titles.
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