Shar LevineRecensioner

Pretty lame. A lot of these experiments take hours or days, or require odd things from the store. Some steps really ought to be illustrated but aren't. One project tells kids to put something fizzy in their mouth but not swallow any of it--not sure *I* could do that! And the strange-but-true facts often aren't related to the experiments. I had much better experiment books as a kids. Will not be passing this one on.

This book would be useful for a k-3 teacher to find simple experiments for a class or a parent with a child. Short, inexpensive experiments such as researching animal tracks in your backyard, information on slug slime and snail trails, and how to help plants sprout.

Sports science is a book that explores the science behind various sports and the activities they require. This book is a great tool to add to a forces and motion unit. It will be great for engaging students who may be reluctant about science but love sports. There are many experiments in this book that would be great for students to try and would help students improve their athletic ability.

Overview-
This was such a fun book! It talks about safety at home and then asks questions about weather and what you can do to tell certian things. It also has mini experiements after some of the questions that you can do at home or in a classroom! One example is What makes tornadoes go around? It will explain the way they go around and then it has an experiment using two bottles to create a mini tornado.

Personal Reaction- My librarian suggested this book to me and I am so glad she did. I really enjoyed it because it asks simple children questions about weather that are basic yet, some students would not know. This would be a perfect book for a classroom and the experiments are user friendly and fun.

Classroom Extension Ideas-
1. The teacher can use the experiments in this book to teach about new weather lessons.

2. This book can also be placed by a small science activity center by a window and looked at to see more detials about what the weather is doing outside that day.

Levine, S., & Johnstone, L. (2006). Magnet power! New York: Sterling Publishing.
Grades 2 through 4
Magnet power! is a book that seeks to answer children’s basic questions about magnets through experimentation. Even though the activities have been created to be as safe as possible, the book opens with important safety information for parents, teachers, and children so that everyone can enjoy playing with magnets. Each one of the twenty experiments starts from a question. A quick introduction leads to a list of materials followed by step-by-step instructions. After the experiment, children are asked what happened, and a paragraph with the result to the activity answers the question posed in the beginning. Cartoons illustrate the book, showing in one image the most important step(s) to be followed.
Part of the First Science Experiments series, Magnet power! works with basic concepts about magnets to make learning fun. Designed to require minimum adult supervision, the book helps children explore the magic hidden inside of magnets. As kids do so, they are inspired to expand their knowledge, and the authors suggest that parents support this curiosity with visits to a library or the Web. The language is easy to understand, perfect for younger children, and the instructions are easy to follow. The book is organized according to a progression in magnet knowledge—from the most basic idea that opposites attract to more complex concepts such as making a magnet float. Purchasing a magnet may be the most difficult step in the process.

This is a great resource for information on Non-western cultures and their discoveries. At the beginning of each section it gives a brief history about the country and the subject that will be discussed. Each section also has an experiment or two to try, and connects it with the history and/or scientists associated with it. This book would be good for grades 3-5 because while the projects are easy to follow they are more developmentally appropriate for the older grades. I rated this book 5 out of 5 because it has good information to learn about non-western cultures, and links them together with a fun and interesting experiment. It also gives a great variety by covering 10 different countries in the book.

This book is great for having fun. The experiments are divided in to three levels giving users information on which age of children to use what activity for. Bubbles are a favorite of all children, no matter the age; this is a fun way to use science skills with them. The book explores not just bubbles for blowing but all sorts of bubbles that are about, the bubbles in soda or in shampoo. Bubbles are everywhere and it is interesting to look and learn about how they are made. This book is great for all ages.

The cartoon children on the front cover will spark students interest in learning about the human body. Each character is holding a card or poster with a different body part such as an ear, nose, or the heart in front of the correct body part which reflects the content of the book. It just looks fun! There are twenty student learning activities to do with adult assistance. It is multicultural correct and beautifully illustrated.

Ideas for science-themed parties or activities for kids, inexpensive and interesting. Themes like Fossils and Dinos, I Spy, Colour your world, Slime Time, Bubble Blast... A new book, we haven't tried it yet.

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