Real World Science: Rocks and Minerals

A diamond is forever---unless, of course, it's placed under intense pressure and turned into graphite. In this tape, students in grades 3-5 are reminded that the earth itself is always changing and that even good old rocks are not eternal. "Cassie," our narrator, who appears to be about a fourth-grader, does a good job discussing the layers of the earth, minerals, and the three types of rocks, and the program effectively mixes graphics along with colorful video and stills of rock specimens. One notable error: a photo of the Empire State Building is accompanied by the line "Today, some of the tallest buildings in the world are made of rocks." The Empire State Building is made of steel, with a marble veneer. Given the high quality teacher's guide with its activities for before, during and after the video, many schools, as well as public libraries serving homeschoolers will want to consider this for purchase. Recommended. Aud: I, J. (R. Reagan)