A really interesting journey into the history and importance of a rock we all take for granted. The book begins with an explanation of what it is, followed by its impotance to our bodies and how it is used. The book continues with how to make salt the four most common ways. While 'Make" is not an exact term as minerals cannot be made--it does explain how salt is released from water. Political and economic uses are discussed including salt's role in the great Wall of China and it's use in preservation from mummies in Egypt to food products. Words in our language that have developed based on salt are included. Lots of information in child-sized bites with text boxes on every other page.
The format causes some difficulty in reading--black text on dark washes, but the information is top notch and it ties salt in across a variety of subject areas. Great ties to the 4th Grade curriculum. Notables.
Grades 4-6
Monday, February 5, 2007
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Readers can learn a lot of interesting facts from this book about a common (to us) substance and the role it has played in our history. The author takes a simple substance and uses it in effect as a lens to look at history and civilization. I found the format: fact boxes and fascinating illustrations appropriate for readers who will devour this information.
This could really liven up the fourth grade rock unit.
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