Let's Find Out! Life Science

Being able to compare the structure and anatomy of different families of animals and detect their differences and similarities is an essential skill in life science studies. This book takes the reader through the basic anatomical features that characterize a broad range of animal families, including crustaceans, fish, and birds. Key science terms are defined, accompanied by labeled photographs that make even the most unfamiliar of animal structures easy to grasp for readers.

Key biological terms are defined in a way that all readers can understand in this book that explains the essential concepts of life processes and how living and nonliving things relate to each other. The basics of feeding, respiration, waste, and reproduction, among other important activities that sustain living things, are explained in clear, simple language, with colorful photographs to illustrate them. Non-living things are defined and described, as well. Each section also includes text boxes that define key terms and reading comprehension activities with thought-provoking questions.

The intricate relationship between living creatures and their habitats is simplified in this clear and detailed guide to the variety of environments that plants and animals inhabit. Tundra, forests, and the ocean are just a few of the many types of biomes discussed in this volume, each with a discussion of the adaptations species living there have undergone to best fit their surroundings. Key terms are defined in textboxes as well as sidebars with critical questions for the reader and compare-and-contrast activities on the various biomes covered.

Each step of the life cycle for a variety of living creatures is covered in this book, guiding readers from the first stages of development for many plants and animals-including flowers, insects, fish, and mammals-through later phases and death. Also addressed are the different environments required for each step in the life cycle and the dangers these species may encounter throughout their lives. Critical thinking activities such as compare-and-contrast boxes help readers grasp general features of the life cycle and its peculiarities with each type of plant or animal.

This book explains the transfer of energy between living things-known as the food chain-in a way that allows any reader to grasp the scientific principles behind food chains and food webs. The diets of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores are explained, as well as other types of diets, and the flow of energy between these groups is made clear with arrowed diagrams and colorful pictures that show where different species derive their energy. Also examined are the effects different habitats have on the food chain, and how food chains in different environmental regions can be contrasted.

As concern for the environmental increases, the role of the plant kingdom in the balance of ecosystems has become key. This book explains how various types of plants absorb water, light, and nutrients to grow. Basic scientific concepts are elaborated in the context of the many different types of plant structures, with illustrative diagrams and sidebars showing the many adaptations distinct species have developed for survival in their surroundings. Furthermore, critical thinking questions help readers discover features common to all plants' anatomy and their purpose in each plant's growth.