Composition of the Atmosphere: Print Resources
This is a collection of print resources covering the Earth’s atmosphere. A separate collection of Electronic Resources is also available.
Below are outstanding and recommended titles by the National Science Teachers Association that fit this year’s theme for National Chemistry Week. Descriptions are based on reviews from the NSTA web site.
Key: E = Elementary (K–5), I = Intermediate (6–8), HS = High School (9–12), C = College, G = General Public
- Dr. Art’s Guide to Planet Earth: for Earthlings Ages 12 to 120. Art Sussman. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green, 2000. 128pp. ISBN 1-890132-73-X. (I, HS)
- Dr. Art’s systems-based Earth guide introduces three easy-to-understand principles that explain how our
planet works — Matter Cycles, Energy Flows, and Life Webs. This full-color, engaging guide will help us
better understand Earth’s systems. Dr. Jane Goodall proclaims “[this book] deserves a place not only
in every classroom but also every home.” Includes glossary, index, and a list of web sites.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 2001 - The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet. Meredith Hooper. NY: Viking, 1998. 32pp. ISBN 0-670-87618-6. (I)
- Here is the amazing and ever-changing story of water — where it comes from, how it behaves, why it matters
— and the crucial role it has played throughout life on Earth. The eye-catching illustrations are realistic
and thought-provoking.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1999 - A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder. Walter Wick. NY: Scholastic, 1997. 40pp. ISBN 0-590-22197-3. (I)
- Easy-to-read text and exquisite photographs explain the concepts of evaporation, condensation, capillary attraction,
and surface tension. The camera halts and magnifies the action so all states of water can be observed. A collection of
simple, exceptional experiments offers ways to further investigate the principles of water transformation.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 1998 - Hands-On Science Series: Atmosphere & Weather. Karen Kwitter and Steven Souza. Portland, ME: J. Weston Walch, 1998. 90pp. ISBN 0-8251-3764-0. (I, HS)
- This book of activities features a carefully structured set of 16 to 20 activities requiring one or two class periods,
with unusually complete teacher support. It provides very useful enrichment for a middle school Earth science curriculum
in the form of in-class and out-of-class activities and group projects. Each is supported by suggestions for pre-class
preparation, instructional objectives, National Science Education Standards, required materials, helpful hints, and
adaptations for both high and low achievers. Evaluation plans include quizzes with answers.
Source: NSTA recommends - How Come? Planet Earth. Kathy Wollard. NY: Workman Publishing, 1999. 332pp. ISBN 0-7611- 1239-1. (I)
- This book can provide fascinating leads for teachers who want to enliven a discussion of science. Kids might pull
this book off the shelf for fun reading in the same way that they used to read encyclopedias. This book contains answers
to simple but surprisingly interesting questions, all of which were generated by children around the world through
electronic or snail mail. They cover topics about the Earth, the human body, and animals. In answering questions the
book hits the science head on. The explanations are interesting, accurate, and full of science applications.
Source: NSTA recommends - Materials, Materials, Materials: Water. Chris Oxlade. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Ed. Bks., 2002. 32pp. ISBN 1588105881. (E)
- This book is appropriate for primary students studying water, weather, or pollution. It would also be a great book
for older students who have lower reading abilities. Water has a simplified text; but it is not simple. The text is
large and written in clear, short sentences yet ample information is presented. Key words, such as transparent and
dissolving, can be looked up in the glossary. High-quality photographs feature animals, children, and men and women
from around the world. Students may find the “Fact File” and “Can You Believe It?” sections
fun to read. A table of contents, an index, and a list of other books to read give it the same format as many higher
level texts.
Source: NSTA recommends - Planet Earth. Robin Kerrod. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 0-8225-3902-0. (E, I)
- Written by Robin Kerrod, a prolific author, astronomer, and Fellow of England’s Royal Astronomical Society,
this book provides a level of content that is unique for the elementary level. Ten chapters of accurate text are
enhanced with a glossary, an index, and surface-feature photos. The book’s strongest feature is its
easy-to-read layout. Broad concepts and clear connections to the unique physical features and processes that occur
on the planet are described. The text is free of gender, class, cultural, and racial bias. It is easy to read, and
incorporates language and explanations with analogies appropriate for intermediate-age students. The chapter on
continental drift and weather and climate would be appropriate as an overview or introduction for a unit of either topic.
Source: NSTA recommends - The Story of Oxygen. Karen Fitzgerald. Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts/Grolier, 1996. 64pp. ISBN 0-531-20225-9. (E, I)
- From myth and mystery to discovery and explanation, the author chronicles the experimentation with air and ultimately,
oxygen. The book describes the unique characteristics of oxygen, such as its importance to life, chemical behaviors, and
abundance. Many scientists and their contributions are covered. Includes a bibliography, glossary, and index.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1997
Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society