About This Book
This engaging chapter book offers a comprehensive portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, one of history's most influential scientists. It covers his early life, his pivotal discoveries in physics and mathematics, and his later work at the Royal Mint. Parents will appreciate how the book balances Newton's undeniable genius with his complex personality, including his secretive nature, vindictive tendencies, and personal struggles like a nervous breakdown. It also places him within the rich historical context of 17th-century England, a time of plague and revolution, making it an excellent resource for discussing scientific inquiry, historical events, and the multifaceted nature of human achievement with children aged 7-11.
Here is a man with an imagination so large that just “by thinking on it,” he invented calculus and figured out the scientific explanation of gravity. Kathleen Krull presents a portrait of Isaac Newton that will challenge your beliefs about a genius whose amazing discoveries changed the world.
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Character Death
Discussion Prompts
1
What was Isaac Newton's most important discovery and why?
2
How did Newton's personality, both his strengths and weaknesses, influence his work?
3
What does the story of the apple falling from the tree tell us about how scientists make discoveries?
4
How did the historical events of 17th-century England, like the plague, affect Newton's life and work?
5
What does it mean to have a 'scientific method,' and how did Newton contribute to it?
6
Newton was interested in both science and alchemy. What is the difference between these two fields, and why do you think he studied both?
7
How do Newton's laws of motion still impact our lives today?
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