From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8–Science teachers will find entertaining ways to impress their students with Newton's laws if they're willing to break a few eggs as described in this engaging book. The study of physics becomes appealing when combined with marshmallow catapults, potato popguns, and water-balloon launchers. The authors provide a brief explanation of the physical principles involved and emphasize that cleanup is required on some of the messier projects. The overarching terms are emphasized in boldface in the short What's Going On? section included with each experiment. Humorous cartoon illustrations and sketchy templates supplement the descriptions of how to set up the projects. Typical household ingredients like straws, pop bottles, fruits, and lots of eggs are the materials required, and then the fun begins. While these experiments are more about their wow factor than their hard science, there are lessons to be learned by building fettuccine bridges and flipping water buckets.–Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist
Science experiments books seldom look like fun. This volume is the exception, with 43 great activities accompanied by appealing ink-and-watercolor illustrations. Readers will be hard-pressed to choose between options such as the "Exploding Marshmallows," Skateboard Science," and the "Water Balloon Launcher." Each single- or double-page presentation includes a short list of materials, step-by-step directions for completing the projects, and a discussion of what happened, in scientific terms. Students looking for clues to help in bridge-building or egg-dropping competitions will find those areas discussed as well. Though written and illustrated with considerably more zip than the typical science experiment book, this upbeat volume doesn't neglect safety warnings or explanations of the physics behind the phenomena. The occasional mess is a given, as in "Banana Split," which demonstrates inertia and wedges by having children fling bananas at a knife held blade-outward by an "adult helper" five or six feet away. Offbeat, yes, but fun and scientifically grounded. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
