Let's Find Out! Earth Science

Landforms is the term used to describe the various features, shapes, and types of land that cover more than a quarter of the Earth's surface. In this fascinating book, readers can find out about the variety of land formations found around the world-including plains, mountains, canyons, and caves. In line with the Common Core Standards for reading skills, key information is highlighted in detailed captions, text boxes, and a glossary, all of which guide readers in connecting ideas about different landforms.

Large bodies of water are all around us: rivers flow through our towns and cities, inland lakes collect pools of fresh water, and the salty ocean covers nearly two-thirds of the Earth's surface. In this volume, readers will learn about the importance of these three natural sources of water, as well as their similarities and differences. Emphasis is also placed on the relationship between humans and these various water sources, both in terms of constructive use of these precious resources and the risks inherent in pollution. Readers will walk away with a better comprehension of the science behind bodies of water and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Even though natural disasters often seem inexplicable, this text takes these destructive events caused by forces of nature and describes the fundamental science behind their occurrences. Captivating diagrams and photographs show what natural disasters such as volcanoes, hurricanes, and avalanches look like, while text boxes encourage readers to compare and contrast the causes and outcomes of these devastating incidents. Information about historic natural disasters, as well as preparedness and rescue methods, benefits any reader who seeks to understand these global happenings.

Although rocks may initially seem like solid, unchanging substances, they are actually made up of minerals that change forms and get recycled through many different stages. This engaging book explores the rock cycle with diagrams and detailed photographs illustrating the movement of rocks through their various states, including magma-formed igneous rock, metamorphic rock such as marble, and layered sedimentary rocks that build up over time. Also covered are the scientific processes that cause rocks to change forms and the ways in which humans have benefitted from rock's surprising and constant transformations.

Water and the natural phases it moves through are fundamental aspects of earth science. The water cycle and each of its stages are presented in a precise and clear manner in this book, which also guides readers through the role that plants, animals, and people play in that cycle. Text boxes defining important terminology and vibrant photographs allow readers to take away exciting new information about the water we need to survive, and to understand how scientific concepts link up with the Common Core reading standards.

This all-inclusive book takes a wide range of meteorological phenomena-including clouds, rain, snow, and fog-and examines their relationship to each other in order to explain how weather works in an easy-to-grasp way. Important scientific concepts such as energy, temperature, and electricity are described in the context of the weather cycle as well as the various climates on Earth, and how we as humans fit into the scheme. Key questions are posed to readers in textboxes to engage critical thinking skills in line with the Core Concept standards, helping connect the concepts included in the book with readers' own observations of the real world.