Warren Knox

I enjoyed the fifth in the series, The Wonderworld of Science. Written for 5th graders, the language and ideas are more sophisticated and delves into various branches of science. The book begins with plants and their foods, then the causes of the change of seasons as well as how time works. This leads to changes in materials and chemistry. The experiements with various compounds are interesting, though some may not be safe to do in the manner that is explained in the book.

The study of air leads to how planes work, followed by a chapter on the solar system and how the planets may have arisen. Straightforward explanations that, while out of date (written in 1940, this edition published in 1952) in many aspects, still holds up as a basic introduction to the planets and space. As in the other books of the series, the book circles back around to our immediate surroundings and humans interaction with our world. After a chapter on the lives of insects and animal which hints at the idea of evolution (changes over long periods of time), there is a chapter on conservation. Dire predictions about man's use of natural resources are truly scary when looked at from 70 years later. Already in the 40s, the writers of this textbook urged us to use our resources carefully and explained some ways in which to protect the land. The last chapter is something that seemed a little strange to have in a science textbook -- the chapter is called "Friends We Like" and it tells the students what makes someone "likable", which means being clean and neat, being friendly and accepting that everyone is different and no one has the same body type, or looks. It speaks about habits and customs and how people from different places have different customs -- these customs are not better or worse than our own, just different. I really liked this, and I wish there was more of this kind of lesson in modern day textbooks.… (mais)

In the fourth grade book of the series, the chapters get more interesting and more hands on. There is a flow to the chapters that begin with the natural world, to the past, to the present, then from the physical properties of our world to beyond Earth (the moon), then back to nature. It finishes with a chapter about the balance of nature and how man 'unbalances' it. Finally, a chapter on human beings and their senses.
The explanations of electricity and how to construct an electrical circuit are comprehensible and useful. There are plenty of demonstrations that the children can do themselves to show how electricity and light works. The drawings and diagrams are straightforward. Of course, it is not at all up to date: no one had attempted a moon flight yet, so not sure how accurate the information about the moon actually is. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this.… (mais)

The third book in the series starts getting specific with facts. It is mainly about the earth: starting with how plants grow, then describing how the earth changes (through water, air, man), the connection between heat and electricity, how machines work, the motions of the earth, coming back to how plants are produced and ending with a short chapter on taking care of one's health. This chapter also introduces the community of people that keep you healthy and safe -- the doctor, dentist, fireman, nurse, garbage men, grocers, policemen, vets, plumbers, electricians.

The pluses in the book are: the sweet illustrations and clear diagrams. I also like the focus on the children - they ask questions to each other and search for answers through evidence without an adult prompting them. It is the beginning of learning the Scientific Method. There are plenty of suggestions for projects and further research that the students can do at home or in the classroom. Given that this book was reprinted in 1952, the projects are not particularly sophisticated, and yet they aren't boring and fairly easy for kids to do on their own.

There are some bloopers - such as stating that exposure to cold can cause one to catch a cold. Overall, in a logical progression, the Wonderworld of Science makes science very accessible and real to a 3rd grader without talking down to them or being too academic. It is all tied together by an underlying idea that this is the world we live in and we are in it together. It is entertaining without bombarding the child with extraneous information as many modern textbooks do.

Contains the following chapters: Foodmakers, The Changing Earth, Heat, Making Work Easier, Motions of the Earth, How Plants are Produced, Useful Plants, Guarding Your Health.… (mais)

Book two of the Wonderworld of Science textbooks continues with the two children, Alice and Jimmy, as they explore animals and the world we live in. The second volume uses more complex language, though still at the level of a first or second grader. Whereas the first volume concentrates on familiar environments (the backyard, the schoolroom, the park) and what a child may already know (types of food they eat, how to be healthy -- eating, washing, resting), this volume expands their world - the ocean, the earth as a planet, animals in other lands.

The chapters cover: Animals and their Food, Getting Ready for Winter, Water and its Forms, Magnets, The Earth, Animals and their Babies, Useful and Harmful Animals.

A lovely expansion of the chapters from the first volume.… (mais)