Discovery

Books in Brief

THE WORLD OF SCIENCE, by Peter Lafferty; Hamlyn, 1994; 48pp; $12.95

This is a good general science text, very readable and colourfully presented. Topics include light and sound, forces and movement, atoms and molecules and technology. It would be useful at Levels 3 and 4 of the strand Making Sense of the Nature of Science and its Relationship to Technology, as well as Making Sense of the Physical World, Levels 4 and 5. It would help meet the requirement for students to have had learning experiences with phenomena such as light, sound, motion, magnets and circuits by the end of Years 6 and 8. Unfortunately it contains little in the way of practical activities or exercises measuring investigative skills.

OUR PLANET EARTH, by Steve Parker, is a similarly clear and colourful presentation as the above book from the same series. A very "knowledge" based book but a useful student reference for Making Sense of Planet Earth and Beyond, Level 3, Achievement Objectives 1, 2 and 3.

HOW THINGS WORK, by Ian Graham, is another readable book in the same series. This would be a useful reference book or library book and has direct links to the curriculum through MSNSRT, Level 3, Achievement Objective 3 or for background information for learning contexts relating to Levels 3 and 4 of MSPW.

Greg Walker, NZSM