Guidelines in using these reviews
We hope that these reviews will help you choose sources for personal purchase or for purchase by your libraries. Reviews include, where known, publication details about the book, the price, the grade level for which the activities are appropriate, information about the author(s), a brief description of the layout and ease of use, and an analysis of the value of the activities. The books seem to emphasize the elementary level because many of the middle- and high-school books contain full-length experiments. They are really laboratory manuals which provide hands-on experience in a different context over a longer laboratory period rather than activities which can be used in a classroom. Note that books which are designed or advertised for certain grade levels can often be adapted for younger children provided there is close parental or teacher supervision, a must for most science activities anyway. Moreover, many elementary activities can also be adapted for middle or high school students providing the sophistication of questions and discussion is increased. Some of the publishers of these books have booths at the NSTA convention and you can review many of these books firsthand.
Reviews
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Neil Ardley, My Science Book of Hot and Cold, from My Science Book of... Series, Dorling Kindersley, London, England, 1992, 29 pages, $9.95 in hardbound, ISBN 0-86318-686-6; grades K-5.
Neil Ardley has written a number of innovative nonfiction books for children. In addition to being a well-known author in the fields of science, technology, and music, he is an accomplished musician who composes and performs both jazz and electronic music.
This book is one of twelve in the My Science Book of ... Series (Air, Color, Electricity, Energy, Growth, Light, Machines, Magnets, Senses, Sound, and Water). This book uses common materials to carry out very simple and useful experiments. Children construct and use a heat trap, study what materials are good and poor conductors, show how air expands and contracts upon heating and cooling, construct a heat tester, make a water purifier, study how the oxygen supply affects a burning candle, construct a heat sink, and study how various materials freeze and thaw. Practical devices like a greenhouse, a hot-air balloon, a thermometer, and a thermos bottle are mentioned where appropriate. Loosening a lid stuck on a jar, fighting fires, and ice skating are also discussed. Unlike the other Dorling Kindersley books, this one gives almost all of the results. I would have liked it to be more open-ended.
This book has no contents, glossary, or index. It is lavishly illustrated with superb, action-packed, color photographs which are probably a plus for our color television generation. However, these photographs also necessitate a high price for such a short book.
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Ray Broekel, Experiments with Water, from A New True Book Series, Children's Press, Chicago, IL, 1988, 48 pages, $4.95 in paperback, ISBN 0-516-41215-9; grades K-3.
Ray Broekel is well known in the publishing field as a teacher, editor, and author of science materials for young people. He has written almost 200 books over a period of more than 30 years.
This book is one of twelve in A New True Book Series (Animal Observations, Experiments with Air, Experiments with Animal Behavior, Experiments with Electricity, Experiments with Heat, Experiments with Light, Experiments with Magnets, Experiments with Straws and Paper, Science Experiments, Sound Experiments, and Weather Experiments). This series has an advantage for young children, being set in large print. The series is well illustrated with color pictures.
This book is comprised of 14 sections discussing various properties of water. Eleven of these sections have hands-on activities associated with them. These activities demonstrate the properties of water. Each of the experiments lists the equipment needed (all household items), a stepwise procedure, and a brief statement of the results observed. I would have liked it to be more open-ended. Adult assistance is required for a number of the experiments. Everyday examples and applications of the properties of water are interspersed through the book. For example, a plastic milk container expands when water in it freezes. A child should have a good basic understanding of the properties of water after going through this book. This book has a contents, a glossary, and an index.
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Patricia Carratello and John Carratello, Animals, from Hands-On Minds-On Science Series, Teacher Created Materials, Huntington Beach, CA, 1994, 96 pages. ISBN 1-55734-626-7; grades K-3
This book is one of 21 new books this year in the Hands-On Minds-On Series from Teacher Created Materials. It is one of nine books (along with Plants, Endangered Species, Ecology, Space, Rocks and Minerals, Magnetism and Electricity, Simple Machines, and Chemistry) which are produced for the primary level. After describing what science is and what animals are, the book explains the scientific method, science process skills to be used, how to design a science lesson, and structuring student groups and using centers for scientific investigations. Sections called Just the Facts provide background information. Children are expected to observe, communicate, compare, order, categorize, relate, infer, and apply scientific concepts. The book carefully explains the specific format used for each activity. It states that there must be an observation before there can be a question. Nevertheless, each activity begins with a question.
The activities are divided into three sections: (1) what is an animal?, (2) where do animals live?, and (3) what role do animals play in our daily lives?. Each section has seven hands-on activities. Each activity comprises the question, setting the stage, materials needed, procedure, extensions, and closure. Additional hints are given under curriculum connections, station-to-station activities, and management tools. The detailed layout of each activity and numerous illustrations make the book easy for teachers or parents to use. Finally, the book has a contents, a glossary, and a detailed two-page bibliography. Teachers may specifically reproduce these materials for classroom use. This entire series is also available in Spanish.
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Terry Cash, Steve Parker, and Barbara Taylor, 175 More Science Experiments To Amuse and Amaze Your Friends, Random House, New York, NY, 1990, 172 pages, $12.00 in paperback, ISBN 0-679-80390-4; grades 3-9.
Terry Cash, Steve Parker, and Barbara Taylor have written and edited many books on science and technology for children.
This book, like its Random House predecessor by Brenda Walpole, gives clear, step-by-step instructions for fascinating activities which use common household materials and which are designed to help children have fun while learning how things work and why things happen in the world around them. By doing hands-on activities, children explore the basic scientific ideas that play a role in their everyday lives.
The book is divided into sections on sound, electricity, simple chemistry, and weather. Activities in each section are clearly coded as experiments, tricks, or things to make. The book is easy to read and understand. Excellent colored pictures are used both to illustrate procedures and to clarify explanations. The activities are interesting, and the book is fun and easy for children to use. Activities can be utilized as short demonstrations or adapted for extended hands-on lessons. Most of the experiments work very well, but I found the sound cannon on page 15 difficult for elementary students to operate even with parental assistance. Activities include practical "How It Works" and "Hints" sections. This book has a contents, a glossary, and an index.
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David Evans and Claudette Williams, Seasons and Weather, from Let's Explore Science Series, Dorling Kindersley, London, England, 1993, 29 pages, $9.95 in hardbound, ISBN 0-7513-5017-6; grades K-3.
David Evans is an Inspector for Science with Hampshire Local Education Authority. Claudette Williams is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years Science and Child Development at the School of Teaching Studies, Polytechnic of North London, England. Both authors specialize in the teaching of primary school science and help teachers to deliver national curriculum science effectively in the classroom.
This book is one of eight in the Let's Explore Science Series (Make It Balance, Make It Change, Make It Go, Me and My Body, Sound and Music, Water and Floating, and Color and Light). This series attempts to foster children's natural curiosity and encourages them to use their senses to find out about science. This book uses natural changes involving the sun, the moon, rain, and wind. It utilizes an investigative approach to learning by posing lively questions, encouraging children to make their own discoveries, and guiding them in interpreting the discoveries in terms of their own ideas. In most cases answers to questions and results of discoveries are not given. Most of the questions can be answered by observing and recording both daily and seasonal variations in the weather. The book assumes that parents, teachers, or other helpers will assist and guide the children.
This book has a contents, an index, and a guide presenting principles and alternative equipment and activities. The book is lavishly illustrated with superb, action-packed, color photographs which are probably a plus for our color television generation. However, these photographs also necessitate a high price for such a short book.
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Ann Flagg, Weather, from Hands-On Minds-On Science Series, Teacher Created Materials, Huntington Beach, CA, 1994, 96 pages, ISBN 1-55734-611-9; grades Pre-K-2.
This book is one of 21 new books this year in the Hands-On Minds-On Series from Teacher Created Materials. It is one of three books (along with Animals and Magnets) which are produced for the early childhood level. After describing what science is and what weather is, the book explains discovery learning briefly and describes how to set up a guided discovery lesson plan. Sections called Just the Facts provide background information. Children are expected to make observations; communicate using language and symbols; and classify by comparing, ordering, or categorizing. Pages for do-along books are also provided so that children can create concrete images that illustrate the concepts learned through artwork.
This book is divided into three sections: (1) what's the weather like today?, (2) how does water behave?, (3) sunny skies or stormy weather?. Each section has at least five hands-on activities. Each activity lists science concepts covered, related literature, questions to be asked, materials needed for the activity, a description of the discovery experience, additional questions to be asked, what scientists know about the concepts, and real life applications. Additional hints are given under management tools. The detailed layout of each activity and numerous illustrations make the book easy for teachers, and even reluctant parents, to use. This book has a contents, a glossary, and a detailed two-page bibliography. Teachers may specifically reproduce materials for classroom use. This entire series is also available in Spanish.
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Alfred E. Friedl, Teaching Science to Children: An Integrated Approach, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1991, 330 pages, about $34 in paperback, ISBN 0-07-022423-4; grades K-9.
Alfred E. Friedl is Emeritus Professor of Education at Kent State University. Over a long teaching career he has taught in both the elementary school and the university levels. He won a national teaching award for writing and presenting a 13-week television series entitled "Teaching Children about Space Science."
This book has one chapter discussing teaching methods and nineteen chapters covering characteristics of matter; heat energy; static electricity; magnetism; current electricity; sound; light, lenses, and color; air and air pressure; weather and climate; flight through the air; space science; sun, moon, and stars; geology; oceans; plant kingdom; animal kingdom; nutrition and health; fitness; and energy, environment, and pollution. More than 300 activities are described. The breadth of coverage of science topics is incredible.
Three simple methods are utilized for all activities: (1) extensive use of discrepant events in which the outcome is unexpected or surprising: (2) student investigations involving observing, measuring, recording, and comparing; and (3) resolving the discrepancy by interpreting results and generalizing conclusions. These methods have been used by the author with thousands of teachers for more than 20 years. The student investigations are described clearly, and more than 200 drawings and photographs illustrate and clarify the activities. This book has a contents, an extensive glossary, and a detailed index.
Two features of this book stand out. First, most of the activities can be presented as discrepant events, certainly a much higher percentage than most books. This is the strongest factor in sparking student interest in my judgment. Second, Friedl gives detailed explanations which are easily understood by a teacher with minimal science background. Detailed explanations are rarely given in a book designed for the elementary level. If you are a teacher who needs detailed explanations to bolster your confidence in the use of hands-on activities, this book is for you!
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Tik L. Liem, Invitations to Science Inquiry, 2nd ed., Science Inquiry Enterprises, Chino Hills, CA, 1987, 507 pages, $42.00 in paperback. ISBN 1-878106-21-X; grades 3-9.
Tik Liem is of Chinese-Indonesian origin, and Dutch is his native language. He has a B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Science Education. He has taught teachers for more than 25 years. He puts a lot of vigor and enthusiasm into his presentations and makes science truly come alive. He has directed his own publishing company since 1988.
This book contains 411 demonstrations and hands-on activities, enough to occupy your students for the rest of your teaching life. A supplement published in 1991 ($22.50) has 50 more activities. Each activity is on a single page showing materials needed, step-by-step procedures, questions to ask, and a brief explanation. Sketches are provided to illustrate the procedure for many activities. Only simple materials from the home or neighborhood store are required.
The book makes liberal use of discrepant events (providing surprise or unexpected behavior) and encourages a guided-inquiry teaching approach. Main sections and chapters include: Environment (properties of air, what can flowing air do, what factors influence weather, characteristics of matter, and how do chemicals behave); Energy (forms of energy, how does heat affect things, how does magnetism work, static electricity, how is current electricity created, how does light behave, and properties of sound): Forces and Motion (how do forces affect things, what do we learn when dealing with space science, and phenomena about the earth and the moon); and Living Things (variables affecting the growth of plants, and the human body). The book presents an overwhelming number of ideas, and the overall coverage of all science fields is very impressive.
This book also has considerable material discussing the teaching process under the headings characteristics of excellent science teachers, the nature of science and the scientist, maximizing the learning process, and understanding the discrepant event. This book has a contents, a one-page appendix, and an index, as well as further readings that are now somewhat dated.
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Jo Ann Merrell, Force and Motion, from Hands-On Minds-On Science Series, Teacher Created Materials, Huntington Beach, CA, 1994, 96 pages, ISBN 1-55734-647-X; grades 4-6.
This book is one of 21 new books this year in the Hands-On Minds-On Series from Teacher Created Materials. It is one of nine books (along with Plants, Animals, Endangered Species, Environmental Issues, Space, Geology, Magnetism and Electricity, and Easy Chemistry) which are produced for the intermediate level. After describing what science is and what forces are, the book explains the scientific methods, science process skills to be used, how to design a science lesson, and structuring student groups and using centers for scientific investigations. Sections called Just the Facts provide background information. Children are expected to observe, communicate, compare, order, categorize, relate, infer, and apply scientific concepts. This book carefully explains the specific format used for each activity. It states that there must be an observation before there can be a question. Nevertheless, each activity begins with a question.
The activities are divided into five section: (1) what is force?, (2) what is motion?, (3) what causes acceleration?, (4) how do forces interact?, and (5) what is gravity?. Each section has six hands-on activities. Each activity comprises the question, setting the stage, materials needed, procedure, extensions, closure, and an explanation behind the activity. Additional hints are given under culminating activities and management tools. The detailed layout of each activity and numerous illustrations make the book easy for teachers or parents to use. Finally, the book has a contents, a glossary, and a detailed two-page bibliography. Teachers may specifically reproduce these materials for classroom use. This entire series is also available in Spanish.
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Julian Rowe and Molly Perham, Colorful Light, from the First Science Series, Children's Press, Chicago, IL, 1993, 32 pages, $4.95 in paperback, ISBN 0-516-48131-2; grades K-4.
This book is one of six (Feel and Touch, Keeping your Balance, Keep It Afloat, Make It Move, and Making Sounds) in the First Science Series. This series has an advantage for young children, being set in large print. The series is well illustrated with color pictures. Eye-catching photographs and interesting hands-on activities show young readers how science is part of their daily lives.
This book describes in simple terms different aspects of color and light including rainbows, bubbles, warning colors, camouflage, and reflections. The book has thirteen sections. Six of these sections have activities to perform. Overall this book has much good description, but is short on hands-on activities to perform. Adult supervision is required for one of the activities. This book has a contents and an index.
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Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, vol. 1-4; University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1992; 368 pages, 348 pages, 421 pages, 318 pages, all approximately $25 in hardbound; ISBN 0-299-08890-1, ISBN 0-299-10130-4, ISBN 0-299-11950-5, ISBN 0-299-12860-1; grades 6-college.
Bassam Shakhashiri is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin. He has played many roles over the years in that department, with the Division of Chemical Education, with the Institute of Chemical Education, with the National Science Foundation, and others. He is a master in teaching with chemical demonstrations. He shows by his own enthusiasm and by exciting chemical examples that chemistry is fun. He uses chemical demonstrations to communicate his attitudes and convictions and the importance, benefits, potential, hazards, and safe handling of chemicals. Shakhashiri has also utilized an expert corps of coauthors and reviewers for each volume.
This series (future volumes are to come) contains a wealth of demonstrations (282 to date), many of which can be adapted easily for hands-on use. With some changes, I have used them as demonstrations for all ages, as short hands-on activities for a whole elementary school class, and as the basis for a couple-hour college laboratory experiment. Each volume contains a feature article relating to teaching through demonstrations, an introduction describing how to use the demonstrations effectively and safely, and a list of sources both for other demonstrations and for information on hazards and disposal of chemicals. Each volume has a contents as well as contents for earlier volumes at the back of the book. None of the volumes have an index.
General topics covered thus far by demonstrations include thermochemistry, chemiluminescence, polymers, and color and equilibria of metal ion precipitates and complexes in volume 1; physical behavior of gases, chemical behavior of gases, and oscillating chemical reactions in volume 2; acids and bases and liquids, solutions, and colloids in volume 3; and clock reactions and electrochemistry in volume 4. Each experiment is easy to follow and is comprised of a brief introduction, materials needed, detailed procedure including both preparation and presentation, chemical hazards, disposal, a comprehensive discussion or explanation, and references. Additional details for the preparation of stock solutions are provided where necessary. Illustrations and line drawings are provided where appropriate. Some of the equipment and chemicals may be difficult to obtain or store, but can often be procured in the necessary small quantities from a local college.
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Janice Pratt VanCleave, Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Experiments that Really Work, Wiley, New York, NY, 1989, 252 pages, $10.95 in paperback, ISBN 0-471-62085-8; grades 3-8.
Janice VanCleave teaches high school in Waco, TX. She won the Phi Delta Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1982. She is also a well-known presenter at book and science fairs nationwide. She makes science fun and ignites kid's curiosity about the world. She even has a fan club with thousands of members.
This book is aptly named: there really are 101 short, simple, safe, visually appealing experiments. The strongest attribute of the book in my judgment is that these experiments work. My wife, Priscilla, who is a social worker by training, has used several of the activities to get the attention of children so that she can then go about the counseling that was her intended goal. As she says, "If I can do them, anybody can."
The book has six to fifteen experiments covering each of the concepts of matter, forces, gases, chemical changes, phase changes, solutions, heat, and acids or bases. Each experiment is divided into sections: PURPOSE, stating the basic goals of the experiment: MATERIALS, listing all necessary supplies, most of which are readily available around the house: PROCEDURE, giving the steps required to perform the experiment and clear illustrations: RESULTS, stating exactly what is expected to happen: and WHY, providing an easily understandable scientific explanation of why each result is obtained. The first four sections are written in easily readable outline form. The WHY section is written in prose. My only criticism is that some explanations are too brief and simple. I frequently have to study additional materials to satisfy my curiosity and give me a clear comprehension of an experiment. This book has a contents, a glossary, and an index.
I have found 57 experiments in this book that I really like, a rarity with books for me. The experiments demonstrate that chemistry is a vital part of our everyday life. It is well worth the price.
Janice VanCleave has also written books covering astronomy, biology, earth science, and physics. The experiments in each of these books are well tested and can be performed cheaply and easily. Many of the biology experiments necessarily require longer time periods to complete. Each book has the same format as described for chemistry. For example, Physics for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments in Motion, Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound, has four to seventeen experiments covering electricity, magnets, buoyancy, gravity, balance, flight, simple machines, inertia, motion, light, heat, and sound, and broken down into the same sections. These books are newer than the chemistry book and are also published by Wiley.
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Janice Pratt VanCleave, 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird and Fun Experiments, Wiley, New York, NY, 1993, 116 pages, $12.95 in paperback, ISBN 0-471-57921-1: grades K-8.
Janice Pratt VanCleave teaches high school in Waco, TX. She won the Phi Delta Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1982. She is also a well-known presenter at book and science fairs nationwide. She makes science fun and ignites kid's curiosity about the world. She even has a fan club with thousands of members.
This book has short, concise experiments in the same format as the chemistry book. The experiments cover astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, and provide lots of hands-on activities. The experiments are clearly written, carefully tested, provided with drawings that both illustrate and entertain, and easy to perform. They also use common household supplies. Especially given the materials which are produced, safety precautions should have been given for each activity. This book has a contents, a glossary, and an index.
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Brenda Walpole, 175 Science Experiments To Amuse and Amaze Your Friends, Random House, New York, NY, 1988, 172 pages, $12.00 in paperback, ISBN 0-394-89991-1; grades 4-9.
This book gives clear, step-by-step instructions for fascinating activities which use common household items and which are designed to help children have fun while learning how things work and why things happen in the world around them.
The book is divided into sections on water, air, movement, and light. Activities in each section are clearly coded as experiments, tricks, or things to make. They are easy to read and colorfully illustrated. Activities include a practical "How It Works" explanation. The activities are interesting, and the book is fun and easy for children to use. This book has a contents, a glossary, and an index.
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Robert W. Wood, Physics for Kids: 49 Easy Experiments with Electricity and Magnetism, TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 1990, 144 pages, $9.95 in paperback, ISBN 0-8306-3412-6; grades 3-8.
Robert W. Wood is a commercial pilot and former electromechanical technician. His practical experience makes him well qualified to write about activities in physics.
This book is one of five of TAB's Physics for Kids Series (Heat, Light, Mechanics, and Sound). It contains 49 simple experiments and a short chapter on planning and executing a science fair project. In the words of the author, "You'll learn what electricity and magnetism are, where they come from, and some of the ways you can use them." The book utilizes very effectively the last phrase to teach the first two.
Each experiment has the same format. MATERIALS which are needed are highlighted in a box. A one- or two-paragraph PROCEDURE is accompanied by very explicit pictures which allow anyone to complete the activities. Any explanations are integrated within the PROCEDURES and are often brief and sketchy. This would seem to be a shortcoming, but this is really a show how book rather than an explain why book. The experiments describe in simple ways how to make many common devices such as an electroscope, a potato battery, a penny and dime battery, a flashlight, a rheostat, a transformer, a magnet, a compass, a dip indicator, a galvanometer, an electromagnet, an electromagnetic crane, an electromagnetic relay, a simple telegraph, an electric lock, a model railroad signal, and a motor. I didn't know what a couple of these devices were until I did the experiments.
Four symbols are given in the front of the book to highlight safety aspects: adult supervision, caution with a hot surface or open flame, hazardous electricity, and safety goggles. Curiously only two of these are needed and used in this book. This book has a contents and an index.
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