50 Awesome Experiments That Don't Cost a Thing
December 1, 2021
Easy craft activities teach readers concepts of ecology. Divided into four sections: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," "Animals and Plants," "Water and Land," and "Air," this immersive and imaginative book introduces readers, through simple craft projects, to the scientific principles that affect and explain the ecology of our planet. Using commonly available household supplies--with an emphasis on repurposing plastic bottles and paper--the activities range from making a solar oven from a pizza box and making "plastic" from milk and vinegar to learning how to estimate population sizes through random sampling. "The Science Behind It," an accompanying paragraph at the conclusion of each project, explains the activity's scientific basis and its broader ecological applications. Activities range from those safe for preschoolers to ones that need adult supervision (e.g., use of a microwave or knives) and are clearly specified in the "Science for the Ages" section after each activity; this paragraph is written for adults and gives additional research ideas. With the book's emphasis on positivity and hands-on science, kids are empowered to learn through doing. Who could resist making "Tasty Soil"--layers of cookies, whipped cream, and sprinkles--to learn about the strata of bedrock, subsoil, and topsoil, or using small fish-shaped crackers to understand sustainable fishing techniques? No frills (but clear) black-and-white photographs accompany the step-by-step text and aid in understanding each craft step. Highly recommended for educators, home-schoolers, and any curious kid. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 4-12)
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January 1, 2022
Gr 5 Up-This collection of 50 low-cost, hands-on educational activities covers a broad range of ecological concepts, such as food chains and food webs, landfill design, air and water pollution, and the mechanics of ocean currents. Each activity includes a supply list, step-by-step instructions accompanied by photos, an explanation of the scientific concepts being demonstrated, and a description of how the activity could be modified for students of different ages. The book is divided into four sections: "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" covers solar energy and alternatives to plastic; "Animals and Plants" explores biodiversity, food chains, and pollination; "Water and Land" covers sink holes, melting polar ice caps, acid rain, and wildfires; and "Air" examines smog, carbon capture, and air pollution. Activities range from engineering challenges, like creating a miniature greenhouse from a plastic salad container, to different methods of modeling food chains on paper. One major strength of the book is that it relies on inexpensive and repurposed supplies, like plastic water bottles and paper clips. The activities are informative and filled with kid appeal, such as using goldfish crackers to model ways to design more sustainable fishing practices, or asking students to "mine" the chocolate chips in a muffin to model strip-mining. A glossary is included at the end. VERDICT This clever, hands-on guide to ecological science is an excellent resource for classroom teachers, homeschoolers, and community groups.-Ashley Larsen
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 This Junk Drawer series title offers 50 inexpensive or no-cost experiments that use basic household items (paper, paper clips, markers, scissors) to illustrate how to save energy and reduce trash, air pollution, or plastic consumption, among other things. Kids can learn how to make a solar pizza box oven or a solar still for purifying water, create reusable plastic shapes using milk and vinegar, save plastic by making paper straws, create their own sinkhole or cyclone separator, or simply observe the effects of acid rain using chalk. Some of the experiments effectively use Post-it notes to visually explain complex subjects like carbon dioxide and its effects on climate. Each activity has step-by-step instructions, black-and-white photos, and an indication of what grade ranges it is geared for, along with suggested ways to adapt it for younger or older students. Included, too, is a description of the ecology concept demonstrated or an explanation of how math can be incorporated into many of the experiments. Recommended for schools, after-school organizations, and homeschooled students.
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