FUN-damental Experiments

This collection of activities features physical science concepts that at times are above the indented audience. Each activity uses household times to explore properties of air, with directions provided through step-by-step instructions and photographs. Young experimenters are encouraged to record their findings and provided with good questions that prompt further thinking. Reading list, Glos., ind.

Concepts such as rock composition, formation, and erosion are investigated through a series of activities that, while popular classics, are at time weak analogies for geological concepts. The structure of the activities, however, encourages observation, data collection, and analysis. Color photographs of the models and answers at the end of the book will help children understand the ideas. Reading list, Glos., ind.

With the new emphasis on physical science at the primary level in the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, this collection will be appreciated…. [It] would be an excellent choice for a classroom and school libraries and as a resource for science fair projects. It will also be a source of ideas for teachers who now must expand their primary science curriculum.

Arranged, roughly, in order of complexity, the demonstrations in these volumes are also clearly laid out, with simply phrased directions matched to clear color photos or photorealistic images followed by questions about what young experimenters have observed (e.g., “Which push made the ball travel farthest—a roll, a throw, or a kick?”). Cartoonlike figures help elucidate the steps. Each volume closes with explanations of expected results and suggestions (with more questions) for related activities, plus brief glossaries (that contain pronunciation guides) and an up-to-date resource list. Though there are just seven projects per volume, some—such as Dirt’s leadoff, which asks children to list the ingredients in a shaken jar of soil and water—are more challenging than they seem. By and large, this set offers informative, easy-to-achieve insights into selected principles of physics and chemistry.