The book covers three main topics: Matter, Energy and Forces, and Life. Each section begins with a timeline, showing thousands of years of questioning, experimentation and research, which has led to the scientific discoveries that have shaped the ways in which we view the world.
The visuals really are amazing. Well balanced pages with short fact filled chunks of text, interspersed with clever and intriguing photographs and illustrations.
In the section on matter we explore Greek philosophers, the discovery of gunpowder, early classifications for chemicals and Dalton’s atomic theory. We then come to modern times and the ability to monitor carbon dioxide in the air and inventions of new materials.
You will learn about how particles, atoms and molecules come together to made a variety of substances, as well as how rocks and minerals vary depending on the chemical elements they contain. The book takes you through the periodic table, giving a picture, summary text and atomic structure for each element.
You can explore all the different types of energy, including energy sources, consumption and renewable sources. You can also learn how heat, sound and light travel, how radiation works and how telecommunications use electricity, light and radio to enable us to communicate.
Moving onto forces, this book covers Newton’s three laws of motion, how friction works and vehicles move, how gravity and orbits of planets work, including tides and the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. There is an amazing two page visual spread of the atmospheric and water pressure at different heights and depths. Not to mention the plethora of information about machines, space and earth.
Most kids love to learn about living things and they will not be disappointed with stunning visual representations of animals and plants, including close up photos of microscopic organisms, detailed illustrations of cells and sections of plants and clearly labelled diagrams of processes such as photosynthesis, circulation, breathing and digestion.
There is so much information in this book that I can’t begin to describe it all in this short review. It covers all the key scientific concepts you would expect to be taught in upper primary, but also delves into some more complex concepts for secondary students (or, if I’m honest, also for adults – I found plenty of fascinating information that I didn’t know!). Another fantastic Knowledge Encyclopedia from DK and a valuable addition to the home or school library.
Title: Knowledge Encyclopedia Science!
Publisher: DK, $39.99
Publication Date: 30 July 2018
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9780241317815
For ages: 8+
Type: Non-Fiction
