by Edward S. Holden
Day 3: Land, Rocks, Gems {Geology}
Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}
Available @ Gateway to the Classics
From Gateway to the Classics:
This introductory astronomy volume, written in a conversational style, inspires a child to make his own observations and then reflect on them. He is first shown how he may deduce that the earth is not flat, and is, in fact, round. Then the reader is encouraged to observe the moon's phases and is shown how to do it, leading him to wonder why the bright part of the moon changes its shape from night to night. Once he is put in a position to solve that problem, he is invited to consider the motion of the stars and learns that the earth turns round once in every day.Chapters
The Earth Is Not Flat [Day 3: Land, Rocks, Gems {Geology}]
The speaker asks a little boy to prove to "even an Eskimo boy" that the world is round. The tone in regards to the "Eskimo boy" is demeaning. The earth is proved round by supposing a captain sails a ship around the world.The Earth Is Round [Day 3: Land, Rocks, Gems {Geology}]
The earth is proved round by watching ships sail away from a beach. If the reader does not have the experience of watching a ship sail away, this chapter is a bit difficult to understand.The Earth Is a Large Globe [Day 3: Land, Rocks, Gems {Geology}]
The Earth in Space [Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}]
The Sun [Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}]
The reader is given instructions on how to smoke a piece of glass to make a glass through which to observe the sun.The Moon [Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}]
Why the Bright Part of the Moon Changes Its Shape [Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}]
The Stars in Their Courses[Day 4: Sun, Moon, Stars {Astronomy}]
