Reading Seasons from a Shadow

Reading Seasons from a Shadow

Each day the sun appears to move across the sky from east to west (actually the sun stays in place and the earth spins on its axis). Although the sun may seem to rise and set at the same spot on the horizon each day, the path it takes between those two points varies over the course of the year. To learn how the path of the sun changes over the year, you can indirectly observe its changing arc. The...
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A Different Kind of BattleField

A Different Kind of BattleField

From World War I

In the early years of WWI, army recruiters mined soccer games and rugby matches for recruits. According to historian Adam Hochschild, soccer games “proved the single best venue for recruiters.” Arriving spectators would see recruiters wearing sandwich boards bearing the message, “Your Country Needs You.” The game would start with a patriotic speech. Players often stepped forward to enlist, and fans quickly followed their lead.

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My World

My World

From Global Citizenship

Through the “My World” Survey, people can identify which of the 17 SDGs matter most to them. At www.myworld2030.org, you can take the survey and select six SDG priority areas. You can also view results by country to see what people care about across the globe.

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Make Your Own Gordian Knot

Make Your Own Gordian Knot

From The Silk Road

One legend says Alexander conquered Asia by solving the puzzle of the Gordian Knot. According to a prophecy, whoever untied this endless knot would rule the continent. Alexander took the direct approach—he cut the knot open with his sword. Today, a “Gordian knot” means an unsolvable problem. No one knows exactly what the Gordian Knot looked like. But you can make a knot called a Turk’s Head appear “endless” by joining the ends after it’s...

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Make a Culture Collage

Make a Culture Collage

From The Renaissance Thinkers

We use the term Renaissance to define the years in Europe from the 1300s through the 1600s. Is there one word or phrase that defines the era we live in right now? Let’s make a Culture Collage and see if we can find one.

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Reviews

VOYA Magazine
“With a friendly, relaxed writing style, Formichelli and Martin cover the history of timekeeping beginning with the first humans, who measured time simply by watching the seasons, and ending with the invention of astoundingly precise atomic and optical clocks. The book covers the development of the first calendars, interesting clocks throughout the ages, the world's time zones, and daylight savings time. Intriguing science experiments demonstrate various concepts of time and give the reader instructions to build several timekeeping mechanisms. The authors also include a timeline of major developments in the science of timekeeping and provide lists of websites and famous monuments involving time. To be able to address a topic as complex as that of time in such a concise and interesting manner is truly impressive.”

Booklist
“Versatile and hands-on projects range from very simple exercises that can be completed in moments, such as reading seasons from a shadow, to more sophisticated temporal experiments like making your own incense clock. These projects could be used as a fun diversion on a rainy afternoon at home or as the crux of an elementary science lesson.”

Children's Literature Review
“Do you ever find yourself running out of time? Who was it that set the standard for time anyway?. . . This timekeeping guide takes readers back to the beginning. Fun facts and timekeeping historical timelines can be found here. Readers will also find lots of activities for making their own candle clock, incense clock, hand sundial, and even finding time in the stars. There is a lot of fun information here. Teachers and parents will love making this guide a part of their library.”

Dig Magazine
“Timekeeping Explore the History and Science of Telling Time with 15 Projects takes the reader on a fascinating time-focused journey from past to present. Here’s the “how-to” on making your own hand sundial, finding a needle in a haystack, and testing pendulum power. One you’re sure to enjoy."

Dave White, Publisher, Social Studies for Kids
“Timekeeping: Explore the History and Science of Telling Time is well worth a read—or two or three. The fun illustrations complement the informative text, taking readers on a tour de force of time and timekeeping through the ages. With its combination of solid concepts and fun activities, this book will be a popular addition to the bookshelves of many a student, parent, or teacher.”

Marla Conn, Educational Consultant
"Timekeeping does a fantastic job of teaching the history of time from prehistoric days using simple sundials to present day GPS technology. The content meets the Common Core State Standards in math, science, social studies, and technology, while the activities provide interactive hands-on learning experiences that make learning fun and meaningful!"

Detailed Book Description

Timekeeping: Explore the History and Science of Telling Time travels through the past and into the future to explore how humans have measured the passage of time. From ancient civilization's earliest calendars and shadow clocks to GPS and the atomic clocks of today, in Timekeeping, kids will track the evolution of timekeeping devices, meet the inventors of calendars and clocks, and learn interesting facts and trivia. Hands-on projects and activities include making a shadow clock, using a protractor to create a sundial, measuring time using water, and creating your own calendar. Timekeeping: Explore the History and Science of Telling Time will help kids understand how civilization's vague abilities to track days and months has transformed over the centuries into a sophisticated ability to keep time to the millionth of a second.

Available In:
Hardcover, $10.45
9781619301368
Paperback, $7.45
9781619300330
Includes: Table of Contents | Timeline | Charts | Maps | Glossary | Resources | Index
Specs: 8 x 10 size | black and white interior | 128 pages
Subject: Science
Content Focus: World History

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Timeline

Introduction
Now Is the Time

Chapter 1
The Birth of Time

Chapter 2
Here Come the Hours

Chapter 3
Telling Time After Twilight

Chapter 4
What Is a Clock, Anyway?

Chapter 5
Escaping the Time Traps of Old

Chapter 6
Back and Forth and Back and Forth

Chapter 7
Slicing the World into Time Zones

Chapter 8
Crystal Clear Timekeeping

Chapter 9
Measuring Time Without Moving

Chapter 10
Time on Your Hands

Glossary
Resources
Index