Science Fair Resources

100 Award-Winning Science Fair Projects. Glenn Vecchione. (Illus.) NY: Sterling, 2001. 208pp. $21.95. ISBN 0806942614. Index; C.I.P.
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The "Best Science Fair Projects" genre is a great challenge for the best of authors. Glen Vecchione makes an admirable contribution. The introduction to this book is excellent and clearly lays out the scientific method and a wonderful approach to science fair projects: learn about a topic; try one of these projects; ask your own question; then design and conduct an experiment that addresses your original question. Be aware, students may try to use this as a recipe book of ready-made projects, forgoing the time and effort required to maximize their own learning. This potential for user shortcuts does not diminish the value of this reasonably-priced hardback book. A good variety of projects should ensure this book's usefulness for a wide range of student interests.

Bicycle Science Projects: Physics on Wheels. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Science Fair Success Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 112pp. $19.95. ISBN 0-7660-1630-7. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Bicycle Science Projects is a very good book for the middle school student and a good resource book for high school students as well. The introduction includes basic safety rules, science fair information and a metric conversion table. Each of the five chapters are subdivided into sections called experiments; each lists any formulas and conversion charts that will be needed. As an example of the organization of a chapter, the chapter titled "Using Your Bicycle to Measure Distance and Speed" has five subsections. Two of these are "Another Way to Measure Distance with your Bike" and "Measuring your Bicycle's Speed." Each chapter starts with some background information that may be practical, historical, or both. A list of materials is then provided, followed by a list of ideas for science projects. The experiment is then presented, in clear and explicit terms. After its presumed completion, a set of follow-up questions is asked.

Biology Projects for Young Scientists, Revised Edition. Salvatore Tocci. (Illus.; from the Projects for Young Scientists Series.) Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2000. 143pp. $25.00. ISBN 0531117031. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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The first chapter of this book is a breath of fresh air, and the remaining chapters make it a text that every biology teacher should insist be in the school library. The first chapter, "Getting Started," outlines the processes scientists use to accomplish their work. These, according to author Salvatore Tocci, include collecting information, hypothesizing, experimenting, and drawing conclusions. Unlike many authors of materials for this age level, Tocci does not introduce the sacred five- or six-step "Scientific Method" that stultifies science as a lock-step procedure. Yes, science is frequently written about as a lock-step process, but that is just not the way scientists operate. Science begins where the science is. Sometimes it is collecting data, sometimes it is hypothesizing, and sometimes it is experimenting. This jam-packed 144-page book has numerous simple ideas for getting students started doing scientific research. Written by an experienced science teacher who has "been there and done that," the volume, though simply written, may challenge not only the students, but also their science teachers.

Chemistry Science Fair Projects Using French Fries, Gumdrops, Soap, and Other Organic Stuff. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Chemistry! Best Science Projects.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2211-0. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book is a great resource for practical labs. The topics range from performing chromatography with the use of coffee filters to testing different leavening agents. The experiments will be of interest to a gifted middle school student or a general high school student. Most use materials that are readily available, and warnings are given if an activity needs supervision. Happily, questions are posed, but not answered, so that the book refrains from "ruining the surprise."
Although the chemistry that is presented is briefly explained, the student will need to understand the main concepts in order to truly benefit from the book. The illustrations are few and far between. In our society, students tend to need more visual clues when they perform experiments. In this area, the book is lacking. However, the directions for the experiments are clearly written and can be followed easily. All in all, this book is recommend as a great resource for students who are interested in looking at the world through the eyes of a scientist.

Chemistry Science Fair Projects: Using Acids, Bases, Metals, Salts, and Inorganic Stuff. Robert Gardner. (Illus; from the Chemistry! Best Science Fair Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2210-2. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This is an excellent book for students in grades seven through ten to explore chemistry by doing hands-on activities. Students will learn to design experiments, collect necessary resources, utilize scientific processes and, most importantly, understand physical and chemical properties of various substances. The suggested experiments are valuable in helping students to understand separation methods, solubility, melting and boiling point, density, conservation of matter, the role of heat energy, acids, bases and pH. Each of the experiments relate to life experiences. This book is ideal for middle school and high school science teachers and parents.

Chemistry: Experimenting with Science. Atonella Meiani. (Illus.; from the Experimenting with Science Series.) Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2002. 40pp. $23.93. ISBN 0-8225-0087-6. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Beautiful illustrations and appealing layout enhance excellent writing that is easy to comprehend and flows smoothly between discussion and experiments. Basic concepts are clearly conveyed in the introduction of each section, through the experiments that follow, and in prominent boldface summary statements beneath the experiments. The experiments range from the standard (e.g., creating an indicator from red cabbage juice) to the distinctive (e.g., using ice to curl up a plastic bottle), each within the capability of a child to accomplish and fathom with some adult assistance and supervision. Supplementary end materials will guide the insatiable young scientist to new avenues of discovery, including additional books to explore and exceptional Web sites to surf. Perfect for fourth through sixth graders, but easily extended to both younger and older children, this book makes chemistry both accessible and exciting. If this volume is an apt example, Meiani's Experimenting with Science series promises to be a success.

Electricity and Magnetism Science Fair Projects Using Batteries, Balloons, and Other Hair-Raising Stuff. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Physics! Best Science Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2127-0. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book, despite its title, is essentially a compendium of fundamental and by now traditional experiments that will introduce any individual middle school student who has the staying power to the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism. The ideas for related science fair projects are pretty slim, and there is only minimal discussion of how to put together a project and what factors are likely to make it successful. Having been collected by an experienced science teacher, however, the experiments in the book have the great advantage that all of them should work quite well. Descriptions and illustrations of the experiments are clear and easy to follow, and the explanations of the principles involved are also well presented and easy to understand.

Far Out Science Projects with Height and Depth: How High Is Up? How Low Is Down? Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Sensational Science Experiments Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2003. 48pp. $18.95. ISBN 0-7660-2016-9. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Far-Out Science Projects with Height and Depth, by Robert Gardner, is one of six books on measurement from the Sensational Science Experiments series. This book features linear measurement within the context of the height and depth of real life objects and experiences of children. Following a brief introduction to measurement, a review of units, and a list of safety tips, Gardner presents a series of 17 measurement activities for readers. The goal for each two page activity is posed in the form of a question, ideal for an inquiry approach to elementary science. Included in each activity is a brief contextual overview of the question, a list of materials, and step by step directions to complete the activity. Even though specific directions are provided, students must reason critically and apply their knowledge as they answer questions embedded within the activities. At the end of the book, the author includes a list of related books, a limited glossary, and three related Web sites. The colorful illustrations provide additional clarity for the narrative directions.
This book is ideal for middle to upper elementary school students, although the activities could easily be adapted to the middle school level. Math or science instructors who value an inquiry approach to solving problems will find this resource to be helpful, as the activities provide hands-on, mind-on measurement experiences with real-world applications.

Fizz, Bubble & Flash! Element Explorations & Atom Adventures for Hands-On Science Fun! Anita Brandolini. Illus. by Michael Kline; from the Williamson's Kids Can Series.) Charlotte, VT: Williamson Publishing, 2003. 120pp. $12.95. ISBN 1-885593-83-X. Index; C.I.P.
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Fizz, Bubble, & Flash! Element Explorations & Atom Adventures for Hands-On Science Fun! provides an interesting overview of the periodic table of elements, with an emphasis on the history and everyday uses of the elements. The book is reader friendly without jeopardizing the quality of the scientific information. It starts with two chapters that introduce readers to the nature of elements, the periodic table, and the table's organization and ends with a chapter on the constituents and structure of atoms. Each of the other chapters is dedicated to a group of elements. These chapters discuss, in some detail, one or more elements in the group and provide general information about the rest of the elements. Almost every chapter includes ideas for science fair projects that allow the students to conduct research and go beyond the information presented in the book. Moreover, each chapter provides hands-on activities to illustrate ideas discussed in it and interesting essential information about a number of the elements.

Gonzo Gizmos: Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek. Simon Quellen Field. (Illus.) Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2003. 240pp. $16.95. ISBN 1-55652-520-6. Index.
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From the title of this volume, I expected something written by a carnival maintenance man. On the contrary, the text is excellent. Its low, but accurate, scientific level is well suited for high school students and adults. The author "is an information systems specialist, ham radio operator, and tireless tinkerer who collects science experiments for his popular Web site, www.scitoys.com." Hard to get parts for the 30+ projects presented in this volume can be purchased through the author's Web site. As the back cover advertises, "Each project includes material and tool lists, detailed illustrations, and construction diagrams needed to complete the job, and every experiment is followed by an explanation of the physics or chemistry demonstrated."

Heavy-Duty Science Projects with Weight: How Much Does It Weigh? Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Sensational Science Experiments Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2003. 48pp. $18.95. ISBN 0-7660-2013-4. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Heavy-Duty Science Projects With Weight is a book of activities for upper elementary and middle school students. It includes a variety of hands-on activities that use everyday cheap materials to introduce students to many significant physics concepts related to gravity. The activities invite students to investigate important issues related to gravity and design experiments that go beyond the materials presented in the book. In this respect, the authors provide extensions to the activities that are useful for science-fair projects. While challenging, the activities are accessible and interesting to all students, because they guide students to conduct the activities in a manner that maintains the excitement of investigating and discovering new concepts and relationships between concepts. Moreover, the language used in the volume is simple, accurate, and scientific. The book includes many useful features such as an emphasis on safety, guidelines for entering a science fair, tips for converting from English to metric units and vice versa, and links between science and the readers' everyday life experiences. The volume can be used as a supplement to a school's physical science curriculum, as a resource for science-fair projects, or as an interesting resource for independent work by students.

How to Build Your Own Prize-Winning Robot. Ed Sobey. (Illus.: from the Science Fair Success Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2002. 128pp. $20.95. ISBN 0-7660-1627-7. Index; C.I.P.
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Welcome to the world of robots, but don't take the title of this thin hard-cover book too seriously. Although Ed Sobey presents lots of suggestions, a novice will never make it to the glorious, prize-winning end. But help is only an Internet click away. The book lists 21 Web sites (with brief descriptions) of sources for "Robot Kits and Supplies," plus 30 Web sites or e-mail addresses of "Robotics Clubs and Organizations" scattered throughout the United States, plus a list of 16 books, two magazines, and four addresses under "Further Reading and Internet Addresses." And for those who become seriously addicted to this sort of creative work, there is a list (with brief comments) of 16 "Robot Competitions" of national, and some international, annual events. One can conclude that robots are the basis for an exciting scientific discipline. Sobey starts from scratch and breaks up robot-building into distinct phases. The text includes 15 projects. Sobey writes clearly and there are no typographical errors. If they don't expect to build a prize-winning robot overnight, this is an excellent book for 13-year-olds and up.

Light, Sound, and Waves Science Fair Projects: Using Sunglasses, Guitars, CDs, and Other Stuff. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Physics! Best Science Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $20.95. ISBN 0-7660-2126-2. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Light, Sound and Waves Science Fair Projects is an excellent source book for the junior high school student. The book could also be adapted for use in a high school setting. Projects are covered in seven major areas, including, but not limited to, sound waves, light, transverse waves, and polarized light. Each area is then divided into from three to eight projects. The section titled "Straight Light Paths and Images" is a good example of how the projects contained in the book are presented. The section begins with a complete list of materials. What is most impressive was about the presentation is that the first material listed is "an adult"! Following the list of materials is a complete explanation, with drawings, of what must be done in the project. Questions that must be answered are presented as the student completes the different steps. Finally, a section called "Science Project Ideas" gives further thought to the concept. Some of these ideas could actually be used in a student's own science fair project.

More Award-Winning Science Fair Projects. Julianne Blair Bochinski. (Illus. by Judy DiBiase.) NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. 228pp. $14.95. ISBN 0-471-27337-6. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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In this volume, Julianne Bochinski attempts to explain how to produce a successful science fair project and what the intellectual rewards of doing so are. Her advice is based on her own award-winning science project and her continuing interest and involvement in the world of science fairs. After reviewing the scientific method, she dwells on the most important steps: how to find an appealing topic and how to frame the question that will drive the inquiry. Next, she proceeds through all of the other important steps, including planning and conducting experiments, organizing and presenting data, and what to expect at the fair. Then she gives 35 detailed examples of projects and more than 400 other topics to consider. What is especially important about this work is the author's drawing a clear line between assistance given by a mentor and work done by the student. Bochinski makes it clear as to why it is important for the student to do the work, as well as give credit for assistance rendered. She also discusses the consequences of failure in this regard: disqualification. In offering this book, Bochinski has achieved her purpose of producing an easy-to-read and affordable paperback that every student doing a science project, either for a fair or otherwise, should read and reread.

Nature Projects for Young Scientists. Kenneth G. Rainis. (Illus.) Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2002. 192pp. $22.00. ISBN 0-531-11724-3. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book is an excellent resource, especially during the time when students are planning for science fair projects. The research topics presented cover every aspect of nature study, from bacteria and protozoans to large mammals. With the exception of fish and tadpoles, none of the experiments involve vertebrate animals. Even the vertebrate experiments involve only observation of behavior and growth rates. All of the topics are acceptable projects for the science fair or the classroom, and the materials required for each project are all easily available. My only complaint with the text is minor: I wish that this book, which has such a high value for students, were printed in a format that would provide greater ease of use. The text should be bound so that it can be placed flat on a table. Otherwise, this volume is an excellent resource that takes the time to explain the terminology in nature studies and offers some innovative projects for students to try.

Plastics and Polymers Science Fair Projects: Using Hair Gel, Soda Bottles, and Slimy Stuff. Madeline Goodstein. (Illus.; from the Chemistry! Best Science Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $20.95. ISBN 0-7660-2123-8. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Plastics and Polymers Science Fair Projects, written by Madeline Goodstein, is a compilation of 20 hands-on activities having to do with the chemical composition of plastics and common polymers. The book is organized into four chapters; each includes background information needed to complete and understand four to six activities which require the use of basic, inexpensive materials that can easily be found in most hardware stores, supermarkets, and drugstores. The directions for the activities are clear and concise while addressing key safety considerations. Each activity provides ample opportunity for multiple science process skills (e.g., observation, prediction, communication, hypothesis formulation, and the use of models). At the end of each chapter is a nice segue into a suggested list of suitable inquiry-based science fair projects and extended classroom investigations. This resource would greatly benefit interested students in grades six through nine, although the concepts and related activities could easily be adapted to meet the needs of students in upper elementary and lower high school. Because it requires a little knowledge of chemistry to understand the recycling of plastics (a topic in environmental science), the book is an excellent example of cross-disciplinary science. Readers will enjoy actively learning about the roles of plastics and polymers in products, goods, and services that are sure to affect their daily lives.

Prize-Winning Science Fair Projects for Curious Kids. Joe Rhatigan and Rain Newcomb. (Illus.) NY: Sterling, 2004. 112pp. $19.95. ISBN 1-57990-478-5. Index; C.I.P.
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This colorful, eye-catching, and whimsical introduction to science fair projects is sure to capture the attention of the reader. The book begins with discussions of the scientific method, keeping a notebook, planning and scheduling the project, and presenting the project, including tables, graphs, and charts. Step-by-step instructions highlight both the projects in general at the beginning of the book and each of the 50 biology, physical science, or chemistry experiments. Each experiment is organized in the same manner, with sections such as "Problem/Purpose," "What You Need," and "What Else Can You Do." Most supplies can be purchased at grocery or craft stores and there are suggestions of where to obtain others. The vibrant photographs, text that speaks to the reader, and experiments that explore the reader's everyday world will provide a great introduction to science exploration for elementary school kids.

Quick-But-Great Science Fair Projects. Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone. (Illus.) NY: Sterling, 2001. 96pp. $12.95. ISBN 0-8069-5939-8. Index; C.I.P.
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This may be the Holy Grail of science fair books for parents. It covers the whole nine yards and includes hints for parents and kids on, how to find a topic, how to create graphs and charts, how to write a report and even excellent tips on creating a display. The book also provides tips on the oral presentations to judges and what specifically judges are looking for in a good project. Safety issues are also addressed in the book. Following such a good start is a presentation of twenty-six science fair projects your child can do. Projects include topics such as genetics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy. One project looks at examining different shapes of fingerprints while another tries to determine if different aromas evoke different feelings (calm, relax, alert, etc). Another experiment seeks to study how impurities affect the freezing and melting points of temperatures by freezing different samples of water (stream, tap, distilled) and measuring their freezing point and pH. In terms of the layout, each experiment has a defined purpose and hypothesis already written out along with a list of materials, research sources, and step-by-step procedure to perform it. Each experiment also has a results section, display hints, and a section called "Going Further" to expand the experiment into a higher level of difficulty. If you're a teacher you'll like this book too. It includes a good section on the scientific method as well as a section full of hints for teachers. Overall the experiments are imaginative and solid in their scientific concepts and execution. Most experiments are at the upper elementary/junior high level.

Science Fair Projects about the Properties of Matter: Using Marbles, Water, Balloons, and More. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Physics! Best Science Fair Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2004. 128pp. $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2128-9. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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In this volume, Robert Gardner has written a book more about doing experiments to test ideas concerning matter than about doing science fair projects. He begins each section with an explanation of the principle involved and then describes several experiments to investigate that principle and test it. Most of his experiments involve materials found around the house. The rest require some materials acquired from a school science department of a science supply house. All the procedures are outlined in adequate detail for the budding scientist to follow, although some, the author recommends, should be supervised by an adult. Each section ends with a list of science project ideas, but the author admits that the ideas presented are just springboards and that science fair judges want to see creative and imaginative applications of ideas like those listed. He also recommends that students interested in entering a science fair should seek out books which deal more specifically with that topic. This slim volume, filled with about 30 experiments, will keep the interested youngster busy for quite a while.

Science Fair Projects for Elementary Schools: Step by Step. Patricia Hachten Wee. (Illus.) Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1998. 244pp. $26.50. ISBN 0-8108-3543-6. Index; C.I.P.
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Having gone through the process of helping my two sons complete various mandatory science fair projects, I wish that this book had been available to me. Patricia Wee has advised and encouraged students in science fair project work for many years. Although her teaching experience is at the high school level, she had made a nice transition in gearing her material to the elementary-school-aged child. Her format and presentation of the subject matter are highly structured and easy to follow. Her use of the "Curiosity Bug," a drawing of a bug with wide eyes and antennae, as a visual tool and a first-person instructor keeps the young reader focused. Her worksheets, which form a project handbook, help the child stay on task as he or she goes through the various stages of initiating, developing, and completing a project. Sample projects are presented under different categories, such as animals, insects, chemistry, biology, and the environment, so that the child has plenty to choose from. The author also stresses the importance of parental involvement in helping the child stay on task so that the project can come to a successful conclusion. The appendix includes an annotated bibliography, simple time schedules, a list of suppliers of equipment and material, and an index. This book is intended for use by children in grades two through five. I recommend it highly as a resource in elementary schools.

Science Fair Projects: Chemistry. Bob Bonnet and Dan Keen. (Illus. by Frances Zweifel; from the Science Fair Projects Series.) NY: Sterling, 2001. 95pp. $9.95. ISBN 080697799X. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This is a marvelous start-up experience for the young scientist. The text is designed to introduce a question with an overview and a possible hypothesis that is tested following the experiment. The experimenter gives a result and a conclusion, thus teaching the elements of the scientific method. The text stresses safety and having an adult present while experimenting. Required materials are available mostly in the home, with a few extras from the toy store or drugstore. The text contains 47 simple chemistry experiments; however, none would stand alone as an actual science fair project for the middle or high school student. Many could start the student on a project if the experiment were expanded. The text includes a useful glossary of all terms used in the experiments. This book is recommend as a resource for elementary and middle school students in their school and public libraries. As a former science teacher and county science fair judge and director, I believe that Bonnet and Keen's book is an excellent one to start students on the exploration of science.

Science Fair Projects: Helping Your Child Create a Super Science Fair Project. Dana M. Barry. (Illus. by Howard Chaney; from the Creative Kids Series.) Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials, 2000. 160pp. $19.95. ISBN 1576906000. C.I.P.
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This book should prove useful both to students who are trying to develop a project and to teachers who are implementing such activities in their classrooms. Clearly written and attractively laid out, the book is particularly strong in its systematic approach to the topic. It is divided into major sections on the basics of the experimental method, ideas for specific projects, planning, implementing a project, and sample projects that provide useful models for how to proceed. There are also good discussions, with plenty of samples, of techniques for systematically collecting, recording, and displaying data, along with practice sections for data analysis, including the use of ratios and percentages and techniques for drawing various types of graphs and charts. The book's strong organization should also be helpful to teachers in clarifying their own thinking about science fair assignments.

Science Fair Success Using Household Products. Salvatore Tocci. (Illus.; from the Science Fair Success Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2002. 112pp. $20.95. ISBN 0-7660-1626-9. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This interesting little book is designed to give students, primarily in middle school and high school, ideas and techniques for science fair projects, using materials easily found around the house. It will probably be equally useful for teachers who are looking for simple, inexpensive, and meaningful hands-on classroom activities. The emphasis is on testing the claims made about household products and on comparing their performance, an approach that will appeal to a generation of kids who are bombarded in their daily lives both with innumerable products and with advertising about them. In the process, the author has taken care to provide some good lessons in experimental objectivity, controlling variables, collecting and evaluating data, and displaying results. There are sections dealing with products for personal hygiene, personal care, health care, over-the-counter medication, and household cleaning. Most of the experiments have introductory sections presenting interesting background information on the composition and chemical behavior of the products; many also contain ideas for larger projects that extend the basic idea of the experiment. All have the taste of reality about them: the feeling that they've been tested and that they will work, a confidence also inspired by the author's 30 years of experience. The clearly written and nicely produced volume contains a glossary, a short bibliography of both books and Internet addresses, and information on contacting suppliers of scientific materials.

Split-Second Science Project with Speed: How Fast Does It Go? Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Sensational Science Experiments Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2003. 48pp. $18.95. ISBN 0-7660-2017-7. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book is one of a series dealing with science projects, aimed at elementary school students. It works as a stand-alone introduction to speed and velocity by providing introductory explanations and step-by-step instructions on how to set up and conduct different simple experiments to measure speed and one experiment dealing with velocity. The explanations and experiments are discussed using simple language appropriate for students in grades four to six. The experiments, though simple, will help youngsters learn how to follow a series of instructions and practice persistence, as several experiments are done over a period of days, weeks, or months. The experiments also encourage youngsters to keep accurate records. These skills will serve not only budding scientists, but also all readers in general. Perhaps the book's strongest point is its readability. Students should not need help reading it and getting started on the experiments proposed. In addition, the book is nicely illustrated and appealing.

Sure-To-Win Science Fair Projects. Joe Rhatigan and Heather Smith. (Illus.) NY: Sterling, 2001. 128pp. $21.95. ISBN 1-57990-238-3. Index; C.I.P.
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This excellent little book could be of interest to all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school. Whether one is doing a science fair project or just looking for something to lift a class out of the dull and mundane, the book has suggestions that would help. In the words of the author, "This book was written primarily to help get your 'huh' and 'hmmm' working again" (p. 7). An added benefit is that many of the suggested projects are open ended and would lead to further investigation. A potential jumping-off place for the evaluation of advertisements and critical thinking, this book is a "must have" for any school.

Weather Science Fair Projects: Using Sunlight, Rainbows, Ice Cubes, and More. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Earth Science! Best Science Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2005. 128pp. $26.60. ISBN 0-7660-2361-3. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book can be put to good use whether or not one is entering a science fair. In each of the five chapters, background information (such as what dew point is all about), alternates with activities (such as making a hygrometer). Some activities involve making weather instruments such as an anemometer and a rain gauge. Other activities provide investigation into principles behind weather phenomenon, such as air pressure changes, rainbow formation, lightning and surface temperature. One experiment guides the youngster to investigate factors that effect evaporation rates. Each chapter ends with several extensions ideas. The wording is carefully chosen for both clarity and scientific accuracy. An exception is that all activities are call "experiments" whether or not any data is to be collected or variables adjusted. The page layout is pleasant and illustrations are effective. The cover gave the impression that the book is quite elementary, but the graphs, charts, and radiation angles would be quite challenging for most elementary students. Some topics such as coriolis effect and cause of a double rainbow are challenging for middle schoolers as well. It would have been nice if questions posed to the reader to encourage thinking and investigating were answered in the back. But for the quality content with lost of worthwhile activities, this book is highly recommended for use at home or school.