TIME For Kids Big Book of Science Experiments

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Summary

TIME For Kids Big Book of Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide is full of information for budding young scientists, starting with a look at how scientists work and an overview of the scientific method. This is followed by more than 100 science projects, ending with tips on successful science fair projects and a detailed index. I recommend the book for ages 8-12.

Contents

I was pleased to find a book of science experiments that began with information about what scientists do and the scientific method.

The book’s main sections feature information and experiments in four main categories: Earth Science, Life Science and Physical Science plus Technology and Engineering. The table of contents also includes information on the time each experiments takes, ranging from less than an hour to more than a day.

Illustrated double-page spreads of information serve as an introduction to each experiment. The double-page spread for each experiment includes the title, a brief description of the experiment, the question the experiment will address, a You Will Need list, illustrated step-by-step instructions for doing the experiment, The Science Behind It explanatory section, the Change it Up! section of ways of changing the experiment, plus general information and a science fair tip.

For example, in the Life Science section, there’s a double-page spread titled Plants and Water that provides information, with illustrations, that includes: Plant Cells, A Plant Drinks In Its Environment, Water Pollution and Oil Spills.

The following experiment double-page spread is titled Oil and Water Don’t Mix! The experiment is designed to answer the question: What effect does oil have on plants?

The experiment involves dipping one lettuce leaf in vegetable oil and dipping another lettuce leaf in water and comparing the results every 10 minutes for an hour. The Science Behind It section explains the reason for the differing results. The Change it Up! section suggests doing the experiment again with different liquids and comparing and contrasting how the lettuce leaves react; then, doing the original experiment with vegetable oil but using different kinds of plants.

This is followed by information, illustrated with several photographs, about the difficulty of dealing with oil spills. The science fair tip suggests including three plates with samples as part of the science fair display, one with just a lettuce leaf, one with a waterlogged lettuce leaf, and one with an oil-coated lettuce leaf.

Kids who are going to be participating in their school’s Science Fair will find the last section of the book Science Fair Success Secrets particularly helpful. Students are encouraged to start by asking questions, doing research, stating a hypothesis, planning an experiment to test the hypothesis. Then, they need to do the experiment several times, carefully measuring the results and analyzing the data from the experiments. Then, students will be ready to draw conclusions and create a written report and display explaining the project.

This section also provides information on presenting data through graphs and tables, creating a detailed report, preparing an oral report and developing an effective display. To help kids understand the process, there’s a two-page section on A Sample Science Experiment: From Beginning to End. There’s also a Tips, Tricks and Best Practices page, information on evaluating the project by thinking like a judge and a project checklist.

The Book’s Creators

The book was developed by TIME For Kids and the science experiments by Mad Science, which in the book (page 2) is described as “on a mission to spark the imagination and curiosity of children everywhere. We provide fun, interactive, educational programs that instill a clear understanding of what science is really about and how it affects the world around us.” The step-by-step science experiments illustrations are by Darin Anderson/Shay Design. The many additional images are from a variety of sources.

My Recommendation

I recommend TIME For Kids Big Book of Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide for kids in grades 3-7, whether they are just interested in doing science experiments at home or they are interested in getting some experience and tips in preparation for developing a school science fair project. The introductory information for the experiments sets the context for each experiment and makes it more meaningful. This 192-page hardcover book will provide hours of learning and enjoyment for kids who enjoy hands-on science activities. (Time for Kids, an imprint of Time Home Entertainment Inc., 2011. ISBN: 9781603208932)

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