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Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up – A Sparkling Geology Book About Natural Wonders for Kids
"Maybe that plain old rock has gleaming jewels inside.
Maybe Africa and South America used to be best friends.
Maybe a clam that died 300 million years ago is in your backyard."
What secrets is Earth hiding? These twenty-two poems leave no stone unturned in exploring the world’s natural wonders.
Crack this book open and watch geology sparkle.
Maybe Africa and South America used to be best friends.
Maybe a clam that died 300 million years ago is in your backyard."
What secrets is Earth hiding? These twenty-two poems leave no stone unturned in exploring the world’s natural wonders.
Crack this book open and watch geology sparkle.
Hardcover
First published August 5, 2003
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Westberg Peters
28 books10 followersLisa Westberg Peters is a children's author and poet from St. Paul, Minnesota. Her books often have a scientific focus.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 9, 2019
My nine year old grandson read this book and really enjoyed it. I don't think he understood it all, though - we had some discussions about what the poems meant, including one where I pulled up pictures of Mount Rushmore to explain one poem. But I love books that lead to interesting and educational conversations, so that's a plus for me. Just don't hand this to a kid and think it will teach them geology. As a springboard for more research it's great.
The poems themselves seemed uneven, but he liked them a lot and read several out loud to me. At least they didn't all have the same meter and forced rhymes, like lots of kids poetry books do. This could also be great for children who are being forced to write poetry and claim they don't know what to write about. I mean, if you can write a poem about granite, you can write one about anything. Right?
The poems themselves seemed uneven, but he liked them a lot and read several out loud to me. At least they didn't all have the same meter and forced rhymes, like lots of kids poetry books do. This could also be great for children who are being forced to write poetry and claim they don't know what to write about. I mean, if you can write a poem about granite, you can write one about anything. Right?
November 17, 2009
This book is filled with twenty-two delightful poems with a geological theme, including pieces on tectonic plates, lava, strata, and fossils. This silly book is silly but very true, and has selections that will engage ones imagination with its delightful wordplay. The clip-art collages deepen the content, but using a light tone. The large, uncomplicated layout, help promote quality read-alouds. This is a great book to use during earth science, geological/geography, or even math lessons. The book also provides the readers with factual and background details.
If you are looking for a book filled with interesting rocks then this is the book for you or your child! The book is filled with 22 scientifically accurate poems about geology and packed with colorful collages using a variety of materials and techniques. These cut outs and childlike drawings represent natures finest. What I like most about this book is that the poems and illustrations provide child with a clear view of our miraculous earth. Although this book can be intriguing to all ages, it would be excellent in the upper grades for writing exercises or a unit of study. The End Notes provide the reader with scientific information behind each of the poems while still holding the interest of children. This poem book provides wonderful teaching moments introducing geology in a enchanting way.
If you are looking for a book filled with interesting rocks then this is the book for you or your child! The book is filled with 22 scientifically accurate poems about geology and packed with colorful collages using a variety of materials and techniques. These cut outs and childlike drawings represent natures finest. What I like most about this book is that the poems and illustrations provide child with a clear view of our miraculous earth. Although this book can be intriguing to all ages, it would be excellent in the upper grades for writing exercises or a unit of study. The End Notes provide the reader with scientific information behind each of the poems while still holding the interest of children. This poem book provides wonderful teaching moments introducing geology in a enchanting way.
March 15, 2021
Genre: Poetry
Grade: K-3
All of these poems have a direct connection to science and the earth. It was fun to see that the Michigan sand dunes were included as one of the poems. I think it would be a great way to connect poetry and science together. It would also be a way to discuss what the poem means after learning about landforms or types of rocks. Overall, I thought it was a new and interesting choice of a topic for poems but was well done.
Grade: K-3
All of these poems have a direct connection to science and the earth. It was fun to see that the Michigan sand dunes were included as one of the poems. I think it would be a great way to connect poetry and science together. It would also be a way to discuss what the poem means after learning about landforms or types of rocks. Overall, I thought it was a new and interesting choice of a topic for poems but was well done.
November 21, 2017
Genre: Poetry/ Informational
Grade Level: 2nd-3rd grade
This book is full of poems from all around the world. I like how this book has different poems form different landmarks and states. The book starts with a poem about just a rock and travels through the entire North America making stops along the way. This would be a great book to introduce during a poetry lesson.
Grade Level: 2nd-3rd grade
This book is full of poems from all around the world. I like how this book has different poems form different landmarks and states. The book starts with a poem about just a rock and travels through the entire North America making stops along the way. This would be a great book to introduce during a poetry lesson.
April 14, 2021
5 stars. Fabulous poems of different types about all of earth’s features, I love how some poems mention specific places in the United States. The collage artwork perfectly matches each poem. End notes explain the geology for each poem.
January 25, 2022
I really enjoyed my love of geology and poems coming together. At times the double entendres made this book more for adults. However, the simplicity can be enjoyed by all ages.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
June 10, 2017
Poetry, Natural Science
September 20, 2020
This is a good book that showed metaphors for the earth. Definitely a book to be explained while reading!
March 6, 2017
Book I used for my Volcanoes Discoverytime storytime for Preschoolers.
February 23, 2015
Personal reflection - This is an awesome book for the older student. There is so much that can be done with it in the classroom. I loved the shapes, style, and factual information that was creatively depicted in each of these poems. Most all of these poems make a person think deeper about the geological lessons they've been learning. One of my favorites is a poem called, Michigan Sahara. It reminded me of a fascinating lesson I once had on how no mater where we are on the Earth, we can find particles from all over the world (be it in the air, the soil, or the water).
Purpose - 3rd - 5th grade level - Read-to-self or Read Aloud
Curriculum - Great physical geography lessons built into all of these poems. Reading these poems would go hand in hand with science classes and with poetry classes for a variety of reasons in both subjects. This book is full of super fun poems that can teach the art of shape and verse. These poems spark deeper thinking as to where things come from and how our Earth works by way of using similes and metaphors. Teachers and students alike will love the poems and the many uses this book can come in handy, i.e. lesson plans, research, and ideas for inspiring student work that is similarly done.
Purpose - 3rd - 5th grade level - Read-to-self or Read Aloud
Curriculum - Great physical geography lessons built into all of these poems. Reading these poems would go hand in hand with science classes and with poetry classes for a variety of reasons in both subjects. This book is full of super fun poems that can teach the art of shape and verse. These poems spark deeper thinking as to where things come from and how our Earth works by way of using similes and metaphors. Teachers and students alike will love the poems and the many uses this book can come in handy, i.e. lesson plans, research, and ideas for inspiring student work that is similarly done.
February 22, 2016
This poem book was interesting and I found it covering unique topic for a book of poems. The illustrations we nice and pleasurable to look at. I like how the poems traveled the Earth and seemed to map out a route. I would recommend this book to others because it is an interesting way to include poems in a science related form, plus there are a few different styles of poems in this book. I really think boys would love this book and any science lover or rock collector second grader. I also like how the book has a section at the end titled endnotes and it has information on each poem and the actual location that inspired the poem. It gives facts about each of the locations to help add a factual element to the sometimes playful poems. It was my first experience with a poem book that focused on a science topic and I found it in my elementary school's library!
October 11, 2016
Awards: None
Grade Levels: 1st-5th
Summary: Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up has poems that each touch on Science and Social Studies. From the layers of the earth's crust to the north and south pole, the poems span a variety of topics. The poems are each accompanied by an illustration depicting the poem's subject.
Review: I enjoyed this book of poems, though not as much as other poems for children. I see high academic value in these poems as they touch a variety of topics and pull them together. In my opinion they are not kid-friendly or funny enough.
In Class Uses: Class Library, Read Aloud, Connecting Science/Social studies to Poetry and literature.
Grade Levels: 1st-5th
Summary: Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up has poems that each touch on Science and Social Studies. From the layers of the earth's crust to the north and south pole, the poems span a variety of topics. The poems are each accompanied by an illustration depicting the poem's subject.
Review: I enjoyed this book of poems, though not as much as other poems for children. I see high academic value in these poems as they touch a variety of topics and pull them together. In my opinion they are not kid-friendly or funny enough.
In Class Uses: Class Library, Read Aloud, Connecting Science/Social studies to Poetry and literature.
April 20, 2013
Reading this picking out poems to read aloud next Friday at an elementary school. I only picked one, but there were lots of good poems in here. I just don't want to do a geological poetry reading, so I have other books I'm looking at, too.
February 17, 2015
This was the book that I got from class where I analyzed each poem into each different category. This book had a central theme: the world and geology. This could be tied into lessons about the earth or just another poetry lesson. I would put this in my classroom.
March 11, 2008
Nice accompaniment to an earth science class.
May 20, 2010
A fun and very visual poetry book about earth science.
May 5, 2012
As a poetry lover, I really appreciate this book! This is a great way to introduce Earth science/ geology to children WITH POEMS! The illustrations are simple but fun.
July 9, 2015
Recommended for Earth Day
January 18, 2016
This is a collection of poems about geology. That's right, I said geology! You'll delight in the wordplay and colorful pictures that explain how geological forces shape the land.
December 12, 2009
Fun little book of poems and puns that relate to Earth science. The kids enjoyed it.
May 28, 2011
Grades 1-5. Great way to tie in geology with a poetry unit!
November 12, 2017
review: Poetry on different aspects and different things that happen on earth. This book includes poetry on wind, tectonic plates, lava, etc.
setting: the world
grade: K-5
use: You could use this to motivate children to read poetry and would also be great to use in a geological or science classroom.
setting: the world
grade: K-5
use: You could use this to motivate children to read poetry and would also be great to use in a geological or science classroom.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews