Where On Earth: Geography As You Have Never Seen it Before

Where On Earth: Geography As You Have Never Seen It Before     DK  2013

This is an extremely versatile atlas that is divided into six sections

Section 1:    Land, Sea, and Air

In this section, you get all of the standard, expected views that one would expect from the format, plus many exciting features that do not ordinarily appear in atlases.

The panels are distributed on double page spreads that incorporate infographic style elements. For example, the spread on global earthquake distribution has a layout of a world map that shows recorded quakes of the last 100 years and their relative intensity. The 5 strongest and the 5 deadliest earthquakes on record are identified and detailed in information boxes. This visual layout is especially strong in    

highlighting connections and relationships.

The format is uniformly fantastic throughout the section. Other notable parts include…

A Map of the Ocean Floor

A Map of Global Ocean Currents

Major Rivers of the World

Global Climate

Rain & Snowfall

Hurricanes

Time Zones

Section 2:     The Living World

Notable sections include…

Predators,         Dangerous Creatures        Invasive Species    Bird Migration

Biodiversity        Unique Wildlife     Endangered Animals    Extinctions Due to Human Activity

Section 3:     People & Planet

Notable sections include...

Global Population Density    The Median Ages of People Throughout the World

Life Expectancy       Global Poverty    Global Distribution of Billionaires 

Food Production         Food Intake    Literacy     Poolution

Garbage and Waste Production     Fossil Fuel Distribution  Climate Change Impacts

Section 4:     Engineering and Technology

Notable sections include...

Air Traffic     Global Shipping Routes     Armed Forces

A View From Outer Space of the Space Junk Orbiting the Earth

Section 5:   History

Notable sections include...

Fossilized Human Remains     Prehistoric Cultures     

Ancient Wonders (Includes 7 wonders of the ancient world & others that were unknown to the Greeks)

Medieval Wonders        Medieval  Empires       Historic Battles   The Last Empires

Revolutions

Section 6:     Culture

Notable sections include... 

Languages    Religious Sites     Distribution of World’s Religions

Density of TV Ownership Around the World

Simply put, there is a tremendous wealth of information presented in this book that lends itself to a staggering number of potential uses. The format is easily digestible, yet it can illuminate some complex connections and interactions.

Magic School Bus & Climate Change

The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge     Joanna Cole   Scholastic 2010

One notable feature of the older Magic School Bus books is the sheer amount of detailed density that appears on each page. Oftentimes this format would get too busy, and it would take on the characteristics of an Eye Spy book in its busyness. Under such circumstances, it is easy for the reader to get bogged down.

This title is sparser in layout, and I would count that as a strength. It is still chock full of information, yet it is far more accessible. Additionally, it is substantially easier to adapt into a read aloud.

This book retains the examples of Frizzle’s students’ “notes” and “reports”. Not only do they model the research process for the reader, but they also provide information on the topic in a way that does not interrupt the narrative of the story.

When Ms. Frizzle brings an old book about the Earth to the class, they notice that it is out of date. Ms. Frizzle then takes the class on a field trip around the Earth in order to update the information in the book. In short, they are cross checking their sources. Additionally, as the readers take in the “student work” interspersed in the book, they are gathering “additional sources” as well.

As the students journey, they see the impacts of global warming throughout the Earth. They then investigate the causes of climate change. There is also a section that shows how various (both standard and alternative) electric generators work.

The book ends with ideas and suggestions that kids can use to help remedy the situation.