This document discusses the characteristics of a good science textbook. It begins by stating that textbooks play an important role in the teaching and learning process as guides for both teachers and students. It then outlines several key functions of science textbooks, including guiding the syllabus, developing understanding of concepts, fostering scientific attitude, and helping with homework. The document spends several paragraphs detailing characteristics that make for a good science textbook, such as author qualifications, high-quality printing and illustrations, organization of subject matter according to age and aims, inclusion of exercises and readings, and clear language. It concludes by restating that textbooks should be designed to help students learn and outlined criteria for authorship, presentation, and subject coverage in effective science textbooks.

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
SUBMITTED BY
ANJANA A R
NATURAL SCIENCE
REG NO: 13361003

2. TOPIC:
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SCIENCE
TEXT BOOK

3. INDEX
SL NO CONTENSTS PAGE NO
1
2
3
4
INTRODUCTION
CONTENT
a) Functions of text book
b) Characteristics of a good science book
CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
2
3
4-5
5-8
9
9

4. INTRODUCTION
The books are the one important component in the teaching – learning process.
“as is the text book, so is the teaching – learning. It plays an important role in schools.
A good variety of books for supplementary reading, periodicals and weekly
newspapers are exclusively devoted to science. The science text books prove to be
suppliers of facts and also develop the appreciation and understanding of concepts and
principles their utility in daily life.
Printed materials they being an essential part of science curricular play a vital
role in teaching and learning. Text books are the most widely used of all instructional
materials. Nowadays text book has become a course of study; a set of unit plans and a
learning guide as well. A text book is an economical device for teachers and students
as it gives direction and saves time and energy. A text books should really designed
for the pupils rather than the teacher they can help pupils learn how to clean.
Therefore, it is important that text books do not prove to mere supplies of information.
The text books should stimulate reflective thinking and cultivate in students, the
scientific attitude.

5. FUNCTIONS OF SCIENCE BOOK
 Guide: The text books serve as a guide. They become part of the syllabus
while framing it.
 Understanding: A good text book makes the basic concepts and principles
clear by giving suitable examples.
 Scientific attitude: It develops scientific attitude in the students. The students
looking through the book should be fascinated to enquire or search the world
around them
 Develop variety of skills: Science text books provide opportunity to develop a
variety of skills. The learner can handle instrument in the laboratory carefully
after reading precautions of the experiment
 Speedy revision: Text books help the pupils for systematic and speedy
revision of lesson after it has been finished
 Home work: These help the students for doing homework and the preparatory
part of assignments.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SCIENCE BOOK
It is not only the subject matter and flow of language but the mechanical
features lure the paper, the printing etc. also play an important role in the selection of
a text book.
There are certain criteria for a good science text book.
1. Authorship:
Only that person who has a certain amount of experience of teaching
subject should be encouraged to write a book because he can only be the
better judge of teaching - learning process.
2. Mechanical features of the text book
a) The quality of the paper should be fine, the printing should be appealing
and the binding of the text book should be attractive. The size of the
print should be according to the age of the students.

6. b) The book should contain good illustration with sketches, diagrams,
photographs etc. As the Chinese saying goes “One picture is worth a
thousand words.” Diagrams should be carefully drawn accurate and
attractive
3. The subject matter – its nature and organization
a) The subject matter should cover the whole syllabus
b) The subject matter should follow the psychological sequence. It shoul d
be according to the mental age and interests of the students.
c) The text book should be according to the aims and objectives of science
teaching. There should be harmony of the subject matter
d) Each should contain practice exercise at the end of the lesson
conforming to the following,
i. Application of life
ii. Suggested activities
iii. Suggested readings
iv. Experimental work of project
v. Numerical examples where necessary
e) There should be a detected table of content and index
f) The language of the matter should be lucid, simple and precise
g) Historical development of science should ve attempted
h) Headings and sub headings should be in bold type
i) It must be supplemented by a Teacher’s Hand Book
j) Important principles and quotations should be set in Italics
k) Text book should contain a glossary of technical terms used in text book
l) It is better of science is correlated with daily life situations and other
subjects too
m) The book should also mention teaching aids
n) Sociological significance of science should be stressed

7. CONCLUSION
Text books are the most widely used of all instructional materials. A text book
should really designed for the pupils rather than the teacher they can help pupils learn
how to learn. There are certain characteristics for a good science text book. They are
authorship, mechanical features like paper quality, binding, good illustration etc and
subject matter. Science text books serve as a guide and it provide opportunity to
develop variety of skills
REFERENCE
 Science education – Dr. K. Sivaraman
 Teaching of life science – K. Yadav