Book Detail

Great Unknown, The

Publication Information
Author:  Morrison, Taylor Illustrator:  Morrison, Taylor
Title:  Great Unknown, The Date:  2001
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-395-97494-1 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    nonfiction, biography and autobiography, reference

HSE Descriptor(s):    science| language arts - writing

Summary:
This biography of Charles Wilson Peale, artist and paleontologist, describes how he excavated, assembled, and displayed bones of a prehistoric mastodon in 1801. The author includes a map and a glossary.

Teaching Ideas:
Since the book makes the point that the discovery of the mastodon bones led to the new concept of extinction of species, readers can participate in a then-and-now discussion. What animals alive today might disappear like the mastodon? Readers could construct a timeline of major prehistoric palentology finds. Readers can describe the steps that Peale followed in reconstructing the skeleton and then write a "process" essay. Since Peale was also a well-known artist, students can search museum web sites for more information and views of paintings.

Teaching Strategies:
bullet Matrices or Charts
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/matrices_charts.pdf
bullet Problem and Solution Outline and Text Frame
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/prob_solution.pdf
bullet Strategies to Support Collaboration
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/strategies_collab.pdf

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Geography > locations > U.S. states/regions > New York
bullet History > time period > Prehistory
bullet Science > archaeology
bullet Science > physical/earth science
bullet Science > prehistory
bullet Science > scientific method
bullet Science > scientists/inventors
bullet Science > biology > zoology > endangered species
bullet Work > scientist


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