Play and Find out about Science: Easy Experiments for Young Children

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?An excellent science entry for very young children. Included are more than 50 easy hands-on activities, based on questions kids really ask. Topics covered include air, changes, magnets, forces, light, sound, and electricity. All the items necessary for each project are commonly found in most households, and procedures are clearly explained. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the text. Each activity is followed by suggestions for more things to know and do. Section summaries, a glossary, and index are also helpful.?Marion F. Gallivan, Gannon University, Erie, PACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 2^-4. Well known for her science experiments books for middle-graders and teens, VanCleave turns here to younger children. Included are more than 50 physics-and chemistry-related activities that allow youngsters to test the properties of, among other things, sound, magnets, and electricity ("I wonder why my hair sticks to my comb" ). The presentation is a little awkward, with the introduction written to parents and the directions addressed to children, the youngest of whom will need parental input with both the reading and the doing. But the activities are nicely laid out: a list of required materials prefaces each main project, directions are step-by-step, and a concise "summing up" explains what each activity means in terms of a child's everyday world. Especially nice for budding scientists with an adult mentor nearby. Stephanie Zvirin


Book Description
How do planes fly?

What makes bubbles in a bubble bath?

Why don't eggs break under a chicken?

Come and find out! How? By choosing one of the 50 simple experiments in Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Science. Your child will discover the answers to lots of fun questions as you team up to play together and explore the wonder of our world. Each experiment includes illustrations, a list of easy-to-find materials, and simple, step-by-step instructions.

Coming soon . . .

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Nature

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Math

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about the Human Body

Praise for Janice VanCleave's books:

"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects." —School Library Journal

"[They] not only teach children the basics of science, but also entertain along the way. . . . great for kids." —Parentguide


From the Back Cover
How do planes fly?

What makes bubbles in a bubble bath?

Why don't eggs break under a chicken?

Come and find out! How? By choosing one of the 50 simple experiments in Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Science. Your child will discover the answers to lots of fun questions as you team up to play together and explore the wonder of our world. Each experiment includes illustrations, a list of easy-to-find materials, and simple, step-by-step instructions.

Coming soon . . .

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Nature

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Math

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about the Human Body

Praise for Janice VanCleave's books:

"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects." —School Library Journal

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Bestselling children's author VanCleave presents a book of hands-on experiments that explore physical concepts, such as flight, chemical changes and magnets, within the context of a young child's world. Through experimentation it offers ways that parents can direct their child to discover the answers to questions, inspired by actual kids, such as how do planes fly or why do lemons taste sour? Experiments are designed so that adults receive all the information they need to explain the science to the child and to perform the simple experiment steps. Plenty of large, two-color illustrations and an oversized format make the book both fun to look at and easy to use.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Kristin Harris

This is a great book, full of experiments that can easily be carried out at home, many with little or no adult supervision. However, adults will probably want to get involved. The experiments are organized by category, i.e. air, changes, magnets, forces, light, sound and electricity. The basic questions are ones kids would be likely to ask, and the ingredients are readily available and the instructions are very easy to follow. Each activity is concluded with a "So now we know" section, which is a succinct explanation of the concept explored. The text is accompanied with simple line drawings, making it even easier to follow the instructions. One particularly interesting activity involves making a clay figure and placing it on a car rolling down an incline. As the car hits a pencil secured in place, the figure flies off the car. This basic principle of physics helps kids understand why their parents want them to wear seat belts.

School Library Journal