FILM STRIP REVIEWS THE SOLAR SYSTEM. Notes by J. Newsome. Wakefield (Educational Produc-

The teacher who wishes to stimulate interest and wonder in a not-very-bright class should find it useful. The coloured drawings are more dramatic and exciting than real celestial photographs, and a few space-rockets here and there pander to the current craze among our juvenile population. As a pictorial foretaste of what a space-tourist may expect to see the youngsters will love it.

It does well to stress at the outset the ihsignificance of the solar system as a part of the universe, but thereafter the information is not always accurate or, what is perhaps worse, no distinction is made between fact and speculation. The serious science teacher of better pupils would be wise to seek his pictorial material elsewherethere are alternatives on the market. E.A.R.

(A) THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. (B) OUR WEATHER.

Notes by J. Newsome. Wakefield (Educational Productions Ltd.), 1961. 27s. 6d. each.

The stated aim of these strips is that they shall be used for General Science teaching in the approximate age group 10 to 13 years. Much has been written for and against General Science but I cannot believe that this is the type of material that its exponents use.

My criticisms are three: (a) The ground covered in each strip is so large that it would be quite impossible

for a child to grasp more than a fraction of what he is shown unless a considerable time were spent on each frame. Indeed, many of the frames, for example those on solar radiation (Strip A, frame 8) and on the rainbow (B15) would require lessons on their own for even the most elementary explanation.

(a) A number of the frames could not be explained adequately by a general science teacher without specialized meteorological knowledge, which, surely, is not to be assumed? As examples of this: the radio-sonde station (AzI) and electrification of clouds (BIo).

(c) Simplification, which of course there must be at this level, can never be an excuse for inaccuracy. If a fact cannot be stated simply but correctly it should be omitted at that level of teaching. To mention a few instan ces of either straight- forward inaccuracy or over-simplification to the point of inaccuracy: Note to A6- The stratosphere is not a region of great calm. Frame Azo-The air-driven switch on the radio-sonde is not an anemometer, the sonde itself does not carry an instrument for measuring wind speed. Note to Bg-Cloud particles, however small, do not $oat in air, though their fall may a t times be halted or reversed by upcurrents. Note to Bg-The combination of nitrogen and oxygen does occur in a lightning flash, but the thunder is not the result of the small reduction in volume that this combina- tion produces!

Meteorology is a science whether taught to graduates or children and attractive coloured pictures are not necessarily the best introduction to it. R.H.A.S.

tions Ltd.), 1961. 31 frames, colour. 27s. 6d. This film strip originated in Italy but is an English version.

As science, however, it is in quite a different class.

21 frames, colour. zg frames, colour.

BOOKS WEATHER AND CLIMATE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. By R. Kay Gresswell.

London (Hulton Educational Publications), 1961. Pp. 142. 12s. 6d. According to the author’s Introduction this book is primarily aimed at the

‘middle and upper forms of grammar schools’. This, therefore, is the standard by which it must be judged. As it assumes virtually no knowledge of physics, it will be of most use to the geographer: a student with even ‘0’ level physics to his credit, let alone ‘A’ level, would find some of the physical explanations unnecessarily long, clear and well illustrated though they be. As a grammar school book its place would seem to be in the lower school library or possibly in the ‘0’ level geography class.

The Introduction also contains the author’s hope that the book will reach a wider public and in this he deserves to be successful. As a first book on the subject for those with little or no background of physics or physical geography it will be useful. Its strong points are its illustrations, both diagrams and photographs (the one entitled ‘Struggling against the Wind’ is a masterpiece), and its generally high standard of production. R.H.A.S.

This Supplement is published by Tnx ROYAL ~ o a o m c t c a ~ Socrr~u, 49 C m m d Road. London, S.W.7. and printed by HXADLXY B R O T ~ R S LTD, log Kingsway, London, W.C.2 and Arhford, Kent Reprints. price 2/6 per dozen post free, may ba obtained on application to the Publishen