Picture books and professional journals can lead children through inquiry and investigation. The natural process of how living things grow, change, have needs, and follow predictable patterns can be u

Picture books and professional journals can lead children through inquiry and investigation. The natural process of how living things grow, change, have needs, and follow predictable patterns can be used to develop children’s background knowledge. For this discussion board assignment:

Original Response

1. Select two picture books appropriate to preschool-aged children that you can use to teach your selected topic. One of your selected books should be fiction and the other book should be non-fiction.

2. Use the Unit 2 optional resources for early childhood book lists, reviews and recommendations, as well as online bookstores to look for picture books.

3. Review the six criteria for evaluating books used by the NSTA and Children’s Book Council (found in Chapter 2 of Royce, C. A., Morgan, E. R., & Ansberry, K. R. (2012). Teaching science through trade books. NSTA Press.). You will apply a selection of these criteria in your written description of each book. 

1. The book has substantial science content.
2. Information is clear, accurate, and up-to-date.
3. Theories and facts are clearly distinguished
4. Facts are not oversimplified so that the information is misleading.
5. Generalizations are supported by facts and significant facts are not omitted.
6. Books are free of gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic bias.

4. Write a description of each book that includes all of the following elements: 

• Topic: List your selected topic (from Unit 1).
• Book Features: Describe the features of each book. Examples: Are there illustrations, or graphic aids, and what kind? Is there text? Are there charts or diagrams? Is there a table of contents or index? Explain specific features of each book that appeal to you for teaching children.
• Book Evaluation: Select three (3) of the six criteria used by the NSTA and Children’s Book Council to evaluate your book selections.
• Selected Topic Connection: Explain why you chose each book for your topic? Provide two specific examples that illustrate the links between the books and your topic (one example for each book)

****My selected topic is Weather****