Synopsis: This picture book covers the life of Eratosthenes of Cyrene, a geographer who estimated the circumference of the Earth in around 200 B.C. Though he was in fact a librarian, he is famous for his scientific accomplishments. Since little is known about his personal life, Lasky describes his early years in general terms.
Brief Summary: Beautifully illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, this book by the prolific, award-winning author Kathryn Lasky, tells the story of incredibly bright and inquisitive Eratosthenes. From his birth over two thousand years ago in northern Africa (modern Libya) to his work as the chief librarian at the great library of Alexandria in ancient.
This The Librarian Who Measured the Earth Lesson Plan is suitable for 2nd - 6th Grade. Students read the Librarian Who Measured the Earth and discuss Ancient Greece. In this Ancient Greece lesson, students create scrolls to simulate those of Ancient Greece. Students use the method of Eratosthenes and calculate the circumference of the Earth.
A fabulous book to help your children understand that it was known information that the world was round at the time of Christopher Columbus is The Librarian Who Measured the Earth. Since the Greek, Eratosthenes, calculated the circumference of the earth approximately 200 years before the birth of Jesus it stands to reason at least some people knew the earth was round.
Each fragment is accompanied by an English translation, a summary, and commentary. Duane W. Roller provides a rich background, including a history of the text and its reception, a biography of Eratosthenes, and a comprehensive account of ancient Greek geographical thought and of Eratosthenes' pioneering contribution to it.