Fact Finder
A Treasure Trove of Knowledge for 8-12 year olds
by Helen Lewis
(METZ Press, R195)
Based on the national school curriculum, Helen Lewis’ book is a wealth of interesting subjects, facts and information aimed at enlightening pupils in their intermediate school years.
The book is brimming with interesting anecdotes and facts – from bits of history to bits of body parts!
Young students will enjoy reading about different subject such as science, maths, geography and history. The book brings these sometimes “dry” subjects to life. The maths section has fun with numbers and how to use an abacus – who invented the first mechanical calculator and how Roman numerals work.
The chapter on science brings information of how the earth functions within our solar system. Fun with animals and nature – sea, land and all creatures in between. Find out about the life cycle of a dragon fly, or how a cicada makes its noise. How long ago did the dinosaurs roam the Earth and what made them extinct?
Other subjects such as language, arts and culture, economics, life orientation and technology all make this a comprehensive learning aid for most school pupils.
I dare say parents will also enjoy paging through this book.
South African life – customs, religion, cultural heritage and our people, from Jan Van Riebeeck and slavery to Nelson Mandela and freedom – all the pages are crammed with extra bits of information which makes the reader eager to see what is on the next page. A great deal of effort has been put into this book which will make homework time a lot more interesting and productive.
The world demands that we cram more knowedge into our heads even earlier in our school life and our children need all the extra help they can get from worthwhile sources, such as Lewis’s Fact Finder Book.
To the best of my knowledge, this book is unique and a blessing for parents too. I was brought up with boring log tables and slide rulers. I wish we had books like this when I was at school. – Ed Lemke