Sunday, May 11, 2014

National Geographic Kids: Dinosaurs

National Geographic Kids: Dinosaurs

Bibliographic Information
Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner. National Geographic Kids Dinosaurs. Washington: National Geographic Children's Books, 2012. Kindle edition.

Description
What is the best way to talk to a dinosaur? Long distance!!!! This is a great first book of dinosaurs for any kid (jokes included). Beginning with explanations of fossils, paleontologist and museums, kids are introduced to how we learn about dinosaurs. From there the book moves onto types of dinosaurs and the dinosaurs of today!

Quantitative Reading Level
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 2.3
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 93.5
ATOS Level: 5.0

Qualitative Reading Level

Purpose: Low. The purpose is explicitly stated.  

Structure: Low. The organization is simple, there are explicit connections between ideas and conforms to the conventions of the genre. Graphics are simple and mostly unnecessary for the text.

Language: Low. The language used is contemporary and conversational. It is clear and explicit and easy-to-understand. 

Knowledge Demands: Middle Low.  Everyday practical knowledge is largely necessary,  Discipline-specific knowledge is helpful, but not necessary.

Content Area              
Science: Elementary

Subject Area Tag
Science, Pleasure Reading, Picture Book

Content Area Standard
NY State Science, Elementary
STANDARD 1—Analysis, Inquiry, and Design
Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.
STANDARD 2—Information Systems
Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.
STANDARD 6—Interconnectedness: Common Themes
Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology. and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.
STANDARD 7—Interdisciplinary Problem Solving
Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.
PROCESS SKILLS: BASED ON STANDARD 4
Science is an ongoing process. Most often there is a question or problem that initiates an investigation searching for a possible solution or solutions. There is no single prescribed scientific method to govern an investigation. It is important that students practice the skills outlined below. For younger students, the emphasis is on discovery. For older students, the emphasis is on formulating and investigating their own questions.
New York State Content Area Standard (Grades K-5)
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

11. Respond to literature by employing knowledge of literary language, textual features, and forms to read and comprehend, reflect upon, and interpret literary texts from a variety of genres and a wide spectrum of American and world cultures.

Curriculum Suggestions
  • Use as a read-aloud for a dinosaur unit
  • Use as an intro to a bird unit.
  • Have kids make their own dinosaur bones
  • Unit on non-fiction books


Links to Supporting Digital Content
National Geographic Kids

PBS Kids: Dinosaur Train Games

Optional:

I downloaded this onto my Kindle for this project. My kids (5 & 6) LOVE this book. The pictures of the paleontologists with the dinosaur bones amazes them every time we read it. I think we’ve read it about 10 times in the last 2 weeks. 

*photo obtained from Goodreads 

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