Lifetimes

By David L. Rice

Book Overview

A book to help readers appreciate nature and consider the fundamentals of life. By learning and thinking about the life cycle of a variety of animals on earth, children begin to see our planet and it's creatures as one and develop a personal connection to it.

Beginning with "A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day," it presents 24 "lifetimes" such as that of an earthworm (about six years), a giant sequoia (about 2,000 years), a bacteria ("well, that depends"), a dinosaur ("never again") and the universe (about 15 to 20 billion years). Each example comes with detailed illustrations and something to ponder, such as, for earthworms, "Worms teach us that our work can be very important, even if it can't be seen." Each plant or animal is practically a lesson plan in itself, with "tell about it," "think about it," and "look it up" challenges. Written by a retired teacher, this is a favorite book for children and teachers alike.

Perfect for anyone looking for books:

to use as homeschool materials.

that make learning fun.

to help discussions of life and death.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1883220599
• ISBN13: 9781883220594
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Dawn Publications (CA)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.9" x 10.7"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Curious children, nature lovers and teachers will love this!

"NO MATTER HOW SHORT, NOW MATTER HOW LONG, NO MATTER HOW BIG, HOW SMART OR HOW STRONG, ALL LIFE HAS A PLACE, A PURPOSE AND WORTH. ALL LIFE IS IMPORTANT ON OUR PLANET EARTH."So begins-and ends-this beautiful story which beautifully speaks the lessons of many of Earth's creatures.This is not a book you can-or will want to-read in one sitting. Each beautifully illustrated page invites the reader to explore further the plant, animal or object featured. Children will beg their parents to take them to the library to learn more about the creature pictured on each page. (I should know. My 4 ½ year old has developed a tremendous fascination with Venus Flytraps after reading this book.)Each page begins with the life expectancy of a new creature (plant or animal) or the age of an object (sun, planet, universe.) The author then shares just enough information about each creature to pique the interest of the reader, follows it with a small reminder of what this creature's life may teach us (Examples: "Army ants show us that if everyone works together, we can do almost anything." "Saguaros teach us how important it is to save -- and to share.") Each page then concludes with a few questions for further exploration (Examples: "Tell about a time when you helped protect an animal or someone who needed help." "Where is the one small area where Venus flytraps grow in the wild?" "If everyone in your class held hands and made a circle, would the circle be big enough to go around the General Sherman tree?")This is not just another book about the environment, (though it certainly encourages us to develop an appreciation) but a rare treasure to be referred to again and again as our children discover their world and realize their very special purpose within it.