Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself

by Kathleen M. Reilly, Farah Rizvi (Illustrator)

Overview

Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself provides an engaging guide to the natural world and encourages children ages 9 and up to get their hands dirty and actively connect with the environment. It then introduces key environmental issues—wind and solar power, pollution, endangered species, global warming, and recycling—and posits potential solutions. Trivia, fun facts, and 25 captivating hands-on projects investigate ecology basics, such as the food chain, oxygen, and animal habitats, as well as ways to lessen the strain on Earth's resources by reducing human consumption and waste. With Planet Earth kids will learn how to respect and protect our unique planet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934670057
Publisher:	Nomad Press
Publication date:	04/01/2008
Series:	Build It Yourself Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	1060L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kathleen Reilly has written several books for Nomad Press, including Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself; The Human Body: 25 Fantastic Projects Illuminate How the Body Works; Explore Weather and Climate! with 25 Projects; and Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth’s Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects. She is an award-winning author of several other science books for kids and is a contributor to dozens of publications, including Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Family Fun, National Geographic Kids, and Parents. Kate lives in Raleigh, NC.

Farah Rizvi is a graphic designer and an illustrator. She moved to the United States in 2000 and received her bachelor's degree in graphic design with a concentration in French from Colby-Sawyer College. Farah lives in White River Junction, VT

Table of Contents

Introduction
Planet Earth: Our Ecosystem     1
Understanding Our World
Earth Our Spot in Space     5
Air, All Around Us     16
Water, Water Everywhere     26
Our Star, The Sun     36
Life on Earth     47
The Problems the Environment Faces
Pollution     57
Global Warming     72
Ozone Depletion     80
Nature at Risk     85
Recycling     99
The Balance of the Environment     109
Glossary
Resources
Index

Editorial Reviews

National Science Teachers Association
"This delightful and informative guide to the natural world is sure to captivate the attention of young readers. Designed for children 9 and older, the first half of the book consists of interesting, age-appropriate explanations of various aspects of the environment (air, weather, water, the Sun, biomes, and food chains). Emphasis is placed on explaining the interdependence among living things and their environment. The second half of the book addresses environmental issues such as pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, endangered species, conservation, recycling, and the need for ecological balance. Child-friendly, practical suggestions for prevention and/or solutions to these problems are included within the reading section. This book would be a motivational resource for readers since key vocabulary words are defined in sidebars throughout the book as well as included in the glossary. Simple black-and-white illustrations also add interest. This book would be useful for leaders of enrichment groups, youth groups, scouts, and budding scientists and their families."

Green Teacher Magazine
". . .a compact book containing simple environmental projects for children nine and up. The projects are organized in topic chapters such air, water, the sun, ozone depletion, the food chain, habitat, and more. Most projects, such as the “solar powered oven,” are simple to assemble, using common household materials, while others, such as the “garbage picker upper,” (which uses PVC piping and a Dremel tool) require harder to find materials and adult assistance. The book is written in a child-friendly tone with bold print and fun typefaces. Each chapter includes background information and definitions of the key scientific concepts involved; the book also includes fun “did you know” and trivia questions. Also included is a helpful glossary and resource list."

Booklist
"Both comprehensive and approachable, this title in the Projects You Can Build Yourself series combines explanations of science concepts and environmental issues with hands-on projects. Extensive further readings and an eye-catching design filled with drawings complete a title that while educating kids about the environment steers them past despair with the reminder that every individual action helps: "Some changes are better than none."

Curriculum Connections: School Library Journal
"Kathleen M. Reilly's Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself presents background material and easy-to-replicate activities that focus on the basic elements of the natural world and environmental issues. "

CLEAR Library Reviews —RECOMMENDED

Calgary Child Magazine
"This award winning book by Author Kathleen Reilly is an engaging guide to the natural world. Could easily serve as a supplemental textbook in science and environmental classes for children...very informative and age appropriate. It encourages children nine and up to get their hands dirty and actively connect with the environment. It is a great introduction to key environmental issues."

Hudson Library & Historical Society
"Kids today are feeling very deeply the stress of the planet - they hear all the talk of Global Warming and see on TV and the internet the effects of devastating storms and earthquakes around the world. It can be scary and overwhelming for them unless we can put it into kid-sized perspective for them. This book does that, and helps them become the solution."

Edward Wilson, President & CEO, Earthwatch Institute
"Fostering an understanding of the interconnectivity and interdependences of all things on earth is a vital component of environmental education. Through this knowledge learners can understand the relationships between human activities and the health of the biosphere. Kathleen Reilly’s Planet Earth effectively illustrates these concepts in a user-friendly approach. This book provides young learners an accessible way to acquire the important environmental insight needed to create a sustainable world."

From the Publisher

Written for kids 9 and up and their grown-ups. Great for home, clubs and school.

Awrungsponge.blogspot.com

Could easily serve as a supplemental textbook in science and environmental classes for children . . . very informative and age appropriate.

CLEAR Reviews

An engaging guide to the natural world. It encourages children nine and up to get their hands dirty and actively connect with the environment. It is a great introduction to key environmental issues.

Calgary Child