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Stars & Planets (Super Science Activities)
Mindprint Rating
Tags
Skills
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- Workbook provides interesting activities for parents or teachers to explore natural science.
- Provides enjoyable activities to help make scientific concepts more concrete.
- Activities are appropriate for a relatively broad age range if parents want to work with multiple siblings.
Considerations
- Workbook is targeted for classroom use, so parents may need to purchase materials.
- Parents may need to read and prepare in advance because some activities require deeper understanding and explanation before being introduced to a child.
- Many students will be unable follow the directions without adult support.
Mindprint Expert Review
This workbook is designed primarily for teachers to introduce students to topics relating to the stars and planets of the solar system. Using a series of crafts and activities for different times of day (e.g. afternoon for shadows, night for stars), students observe what is happening in the sky during the day and at night. The activities are all interesting but require tools like protractors or compasses that parents may not have at home. The workbook is appropriate for grades 2-5, but parents should be aware that 5th graders may not want to use a workbook that could be for 2nd graders.
Academic Benefits
Improves academic skills
- Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
- Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
- Presents educational concepts accurately
- Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
- Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
- Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
- Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)
Fun
Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range
- Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
- Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
- Includes reward stickers
- Visually stimulating and appealing (uses student-centered pictures, colors, and themes)
- Graphics and overall feel of the workbook is appropriate for the target age range
- Relative to most workbooks, fun to use from a child's perspective
- Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
- Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option
Easy to Use
Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range
- Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
- Student should be able to use independently after first use
- Specific topics/lessons are easy to find
- Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
- Overall - Easy to use
Cognitive Concerns
May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs
- Fine Motor Skills
Manufacturer Description
2002 Stars & Planets: Super Science Activities Grades 2-5 (P) Written by Ruth M. Young / Illustrated by Howard Chaney & Bruce Hedges ***TCM 3663 ***UPC# 014467036632 ***ISBN-13: 9780743936637 ***48 Pages