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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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I've run across a few of these... last week I was reading a book to my dc that described possums as hanging from their tails in trees, which is pretty much physically impossible for an adult possum.
And this week: "no one knows what makes a fire fly glow"....
I thought these type of bloopers were cute, and even funny- spurring conversation.... until I realized that maybe I am not catching them all and my dc are picking up facts that are untrue 
I can;t really judge if this is a huge problem, since we don't read that many OOP/older science books. But I like the older books and plan to read more.
And then there is always the chance that even a new book will have inaccurate statements.
So- those of you who read older science books, what is your take on this?
Is this a problem you encounter often? what is the funniest blooper you've run across?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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There are a lot of them which will call fungus, algae and even bacteria "plants". I've also come across spiders called insects a few times.
But rather than bloopers, I think of these as little windows into a time before we had the more sophisticated understanding of these things that we have now. Science is a process that builds upon itself and we have the benefit of "standing on the shoulders of giants," so to speak.
I usually tell my daughter when we are reading an older book that we will surely run across things like this and to watch out for them along with me. She has gotten quite good at picking them out.
But it does concern me that folks may be missing things and passing on errors to their children. Which is why I feel that although these older books are lovely, they cannot be our sole source of science knowledge. We have to keep up with advances by reading newer works as well. After all, many of these older authors were passing on cutting edge information for their time and were very enthusiastic about all of the new discoveries. We should learn from their example and always be seeking to find out what's new and exciting in the world of science.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 10:08pm | IP Logged
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I'm with Theresa!
We read a 1950's science encyclopedia about space one time. One article hypothesized about the composition of the moon.
Another old (1800s or early 1900s) resource I once read was arguing whether there could possibly be another planet - a planet X. It had some hypothetical information as the location. It kept talking about 8 planets. I was young and very confused.
Something else caused me to be really confused - thinking there are 10 planets for a time but I couldn't figure it all out.
Later, I read an article about the discovery of Pluto. The pieces fit together. Pluto IS planet X. Or. Was. Sort of. ;) Poor Pluto.
Now even astronomy books 5 years old are dated - BASIC astronomy books!
;)
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 01 2012 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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I wanted to clarify that I do use a lot of older books. In fact I am a big fan! I love their narrative style and charming illustrations. So I am not knocking using them, I am just advocating supplementing them with more recent stuff.
CatholicMommy wrote:
Later, I read an article about the discovery of Pluto. The pieces fit together. Pluto IS planet X. Or. Was. Sort of. ;) Poor Pluto.
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I know!!! I can't accept that Pluto is not a planet. It just seems so unfair!LOL!
CatholicMommy wrote:
Now even astronomy books 5 years old are dated - BASIC astronomy books!
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And have you heard the recent stuff challenging what we think about dark matter or the speed of light? Neat stuff going on!
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Theresa
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 01 2012 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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You have to watch this with nature books too. While leaves are still leaves (I think  ) I do know that how plants are classified and their scientific names have changed.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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Science does change so fast. Even medical books that are ten years old are considered too outdated to be donated to foreign missions. It's crazy.
Is is worth memorizing names of bacteria, etc? They usually change within a few years.
I wish some of the new science books had more charm and less glitz sometimes. Most of them have dazzling pictures but the text can seriously put you to sleep, which is why I do love the older books.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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guitarnan
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My second grade science textbook said, "Some day man may walk on the moon." The year? 1969.
My daughter has found books mentioning the penguins that live in the Arctic Ocean...  ...and a Martha Stewart cupcake photo with (surprise!) a penguin holding a pennant saying "Arctic Ocean."
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
My second grade science textbook said, "Some day man may walk on the moon." The year? 1969.
My daughter has found books mentioning the penguins that live in the Arctic Ocean... ...and a Martha Stewart cupcake photo with (surprise!) a penguin holding a pennant saying "Arctic Ocean." |
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I STILL see "modern" books (as in, published in the last 5 years) with penguins in the Arctic Circle. I guess word hasn't gotten around yet....
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 02 2012 at 10:47pm | IP Logged
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Apparently not, as the Martha Stewart book was a relatively new one...maybe Martha doesn't realize that the next generation of cooks and home designers has a firm grasp on science facts...and that she's already lost one of those potential customers forever with that cupcake fail!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: OOP/old science book bloopers
