The Basics of Animal Systems
In this text, readers can attend to the precise details of explanations and descriptions as expressed in the Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects. They learn about animal diversity and investigate feeding differences. Animal locomotion, habitats, methods animals use to defend themselves, reproduction, and animal associations and symbioses (such as mutualisms, commensalism, and parasitisms) are explored in depth. This captivating narrative also provides students with informative sidebars to help clarify concepts, including "Closeup" boxes on key topics, "Try This" boxes that encourage students to test experiments, "What Do You Think?" sidebars that pose questions to examine students' reading comprehension, "Applications" boxes that show how biological facts enhance daily life and technology, "Red Herring" sidebars that describe failed biological theories, and "Genetic Perspective" boxes that outline the latest genetic research. The text also includes a biography on Charles Darwin and a timeline.
* Reviews *
Book review: The
Basics of Animal Systems
"The
presentation is quite different from the typical biology textbook. Each chapter
topic is explored from a variety of angles, with abundant examples showing the
many ways that animals live. ... it presents a great deal of fascinating basic
information, but does not go into excessive detail. It is a sort of rapid-fire
information that can be used to motivate students to do further research on a
topic. There are even suggested activities such as attracting moths by setting
up a light trap ...This 96-page volume, part of the Core Concepts series, is easy
to read, filled with outstanding photography, and packed full of informative
sidebars. ... this book, which is appropriate for middle or high school students,
would make a valuable addition to a classroom or school
library."
-
Richard Lord, NSTA
