The term “natural science” refers to all branches of science which study natural objects and events; broadly, it can be subdivided into “life sciences” or biology, and “physical science” such as physics and chemistry.  These branches can then be subdivided into numerous fields of study. Originally, natural science was a facet of philosophy, and in fact, the first scientists were called “natural philosophers”. The idea that we should use evidence-based techniques and the “scientific method” to determine laws about how the universe operates was quite revolutionary at the time it was introduced.

While most of us intuitively understand what the word “mathematics” means, it’s actually quite hard to pin down with a formal definition.  Usually, we think of it as a set of symbols and operations representing abstract ideas, but specifically, they are abstract ideas related to the quantity of objects or relationships between them in space or time.  Unlike physicists, mathematicians may never perform experiments to provide evidence for their theories, and instead, use mathematical relations to demonstrate new concepts -- a form called a “proof”.

This book is designed for young children who are just getting started in school and hopes to set up a love for math and science in them from the beginning.  The author shows how math and science are related to each other and, from there, how they are related to other subjects, while laying out basic fundamentals according to myriad educational standards (e.g., Common Core).  The text uses modern ideas about child development and education theory to provide a structure appropriate for early learners.

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