Book Description

Why do newspapers turn yellow?

How does bleach make colors disappear?

Why can't you mix oil and water?

Find out the answers to these and other mysteries of chemistry in this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities that teach the basics of chemistry theory and practice.

Turn steel wool into a glutinous green blob. Separate an egg from its shell without breaking the shell. Make copper pennies turn green. Have fun while you learn simple chemistry from a solution of colored water, and the behavior of gases with the help of a soda bottle. Through these and other activities, you'll explore the structure of matter, the workings of acids, gases, and solutions . . . and much more.

You'll find most of the materials you need around the house or classroom. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or at home.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID.

Reviews (1)

Great!
My mom bought this book for me, and I was always begging to do more experiments. They're so easy and fun to do. This is a must have for kids who are doing science fair projects! ... Read more

Book Description

What's the effect of osmosis on a raisin?

How is water transported through plant stems?

What's the best way to grow penicillin?

How are butterflies different from moths?

Now you can discover answers to these and other fascinating questions about biologythe study of living organisms. In Biology for Every Kid, you'll learn how to talk with fireflies, watch bacteria wage war in a glass of milk, discover how to tell the temperature by counting cricket chirps, and find out how an apple and an onion can taste the same.

Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A little interest boost for elementary school biology
I reviewed this book in The Home School Manual ================

Projects and activities to teach concepts, terminology, and (according to the author, Janice VanCleave) laboratory methods. This book and the others in the series each describe 101 experiments. For biology they are classified under plants, animals, and humans. Each is presented in a two-page spread with an illustration on the right. The order is logical. By working through the book doing some experiments and reading about the others, one would form significant concepts. An explanation is given for each activity. Growing carrots from carrot tops demonstrates that a plant can grow if it has portions of base, stem, and root, and if it receives food and water.

The explanations are oversimplified in some cases (for "finger monocle" for example). Younger students need simpler explanations, but I believe the scientific principles could be stated more accurately. Also, some of the illustrations could be improved, but basically the book is good.

For a total science program I would recommend a textbook or a number of broad topic books. Individual experiments miss some of the overall themes and some concepts are hard to demonstrate.

I have not seen evolutionary concepts in the book. It and others in the series seem best for about grades 3 through 5. Younger kids could profit from most of the activities. The explanations don't bring out the scientific principles clearly enough for older ones.

Part of a series from John Wiley & Sons. ... Read more

Book Description

How are mountains formed?

What makes the air we breathe?

What causes the ocean waves?

Now you can learn the answers to these and other questions about the earth, sea, and air through 101 fun, safe, low-cost experiments and activities that can be performed at home or in the classroom. In Earth Science for Every Kid, you'll use a tennis ball and a marble to demonstrate a solar eclipse. You'll make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to understand sedimentary rock formation. And, with the assistance of a Slinky(r) and a helper, you'll learn about the motion of water waves.

Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• CHEMISTRY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID

Reviews (1)

Great Teacher or Home Experiment Resource
I am never disappointed by a Janice VanCleave Book!

This book lends itself well to experimenting with earth science using the scientific method. It outlines the purpose, materials needed, procedure, results expected, and explanation of results for each experiment. Experiments are included in the areas of space, rocks and minerals, movement of the earth's crust, erosion, atmosphere, weather, and ocean. The best thing is that they use common, easy to obtain materials!

I use these books in my classroom a lot! ... Read more

Book Description

Why do planets spin? How hot is the Sun? What keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth? What are Saturn’s rings made of? What’s a black hole in space? Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about basic astronomy. In Astronomy for Every Kid you’ll learn about the constellations using a shoe box planetarium. You’ll chart the movement of the stars with nothing but a string, a marker, and a nail. And you’ll use a toy magnet to simulate the Earth’s protective force field. Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely Wonderful!
As a mom who home-schools her kids, this book has been invaluable for keeping the fun and interest in teaching Astronomy. Janice VanCleave's book have been a great assest to our library.

Packed with errors.
This book looks like it tried too hard to be about astronomy. It takes reasonable experiments about basic scientific principles and tacks on explanations related to astronomy that ignore other factors (i.e. both reflectivity and distance from the sun are seperately listed as the reason a planet is hotter when Venus is neither the darkest nor the closest), are overly obscure, or just plain wrong (appearance of 'the man in the moon' caused by shadows).

I have worked in an astronomy museum for six years, and this book has me pausing to try and comprehend what the book is trying to do. I am not familiar with the other Janice VanCleave books, but I specifically recommend AGAINST this one. ... Read more

Book Description

What makes the heart beat faster or slower? How do tightrope walkers keep their balance? Why does spinning fast cause dizziness? Explore the mysteries and the workings of the human body through this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities. Have fun while you learn about everything from the body’s basic building blocks to how the brain receives messages from other parts of the body. Make a model of a human cell that you can eat for dessert. Make a working model of a human lung from a soda bottle, a balloon, and a garbage bag. Through these and other activities, you’ll find out how your lungs supply air to your blood and your heart pumps blood throughout your body; how your body sees, hears, feels, smells, and tastes the world around it; how you lose and regain up to five pounds of skin every year; and much more. Most of the materials you need are already part of you; the rest you will easily find around the house or classroom. Every activity has been "child tested" and can be performed safely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or at home. Also available in the series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid Kids, Join the Science for Every Kid Club …See inside for details. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

TRUELY a book for any kid, any age
A great teaching tool. This informative and well illustrated book is a great homeschool tool. We homeschool 4 children ages 5 to 12 and this book is adaptable to all levels of learning. Exercises and activities will keep your kids wanting to move to the next chapter. Each of the major systems of the human body are presented in a clear and understandable way. Janice VanCleave takes you and your child from human cell division all the way to reproduction.(no explicit graphics used). We particularly enjoyed the chapters on the human brain where there are many hands on activities to give the kids a better understanding of how the brain works. If you have kids and your trying to teach them something about human anatomy, THIS IS THE BOOK TO GET. ... Read more

Book Description

How do magnets work? What makes a curve ball curve? What keeps an airplane in the air? How can a pulley make you five times stronger? Now you can learn the answers to these and other questions about basic physics through 101 fun, safe, low-cost experiments and activities that can be performed at home or in the classroom. In Physics for Every Kid, you’ll learn about gravity from funnels that seem to defy nature by rolling up hill. Using a balloon as a power source, you’ll make a fluorescent light bulb glow and learn how electrons are used to produce light. And you’ll levitate a Ping-Pong ball to understand aerodynamics. Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Math for Every Kid ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Physics is Fun
This book is just right for introducing physics concepts to children in the 8-12yrs. age range. My students prefer learning the concepts by "doing" rather than by just reading about them in a science text.

Very disappointing
I was very disappointed by the lack of information. The experiments (this book is entirely experiments - which I disliked) take a long time to set up. Even if they work (which they often don't), they will often only demonstarate a simple concept that could be explained in one paragraph. A complete waste of money. I would recomend "Physics the easy way" by Robert L. Lehrman (Barron's Educational Series, Inc.) over this book any day. ... Read more

Book Description

How does milk help me grow?

Where do vitamins come from?

Do carrots really strengthen my eyesight?

Find out these answers-in Janice VanCleave's Food and Nutrition for Every Kid. To the delight of children, parents, and teachers everywhere, America's favorite science teacher brings a welcome addition to the popular Science for Every Kid series. Through fun, safe, and easy-to-do experiments, Janice VanCleave teaches kids ages eight to twelve all about food and nutrition.

Kids can learn about leavening agents by mixing baking soda with vinegar. They'll explore why different sweeteners vary in sweetness, how to use natural food dyes to dye a T-shirt, and what the food pyramid is-plus much more.

Each experiment is broken down into a purpose, list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and explanations that kids can understand. Every project has been tested and can be performed safely and inexpensively using ordinary household materials. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Resource Tool
We have been using this book with Sonlight Curriculum this year. My children range in age from 6 to 12 years old. The book at times is too difficult for the 6 year old and too easy for the 12 year old, but in general it has been very useful. The chapters are short and difficult concepts are clearly explained. My children are alwys excited to get to the activity section of each chapter, but are disappointed about half the time. The 'activities' usually always work, but they are not always very fun or interesting. ... Read more

Book Description

How can you make a map out of clay? What is a compass rose? How do scientists track hurricanes? How has the world’s population changed? Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about geography. In Geography for Every Kid you’ll learn about legends, scales, grip maps, topographic maps, latitude and longitude, and much more! You’ll create a map of your very own neighborhood park, make an enlarged picture using a grid, and even map a simulated ocean floor using just a string and a washer. Each of the activities is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid ... Read more

Book Description

Why does a cat have a rough tongue? Why is the sky blue? Why does a person snore? How does a submarine rise and submerge? Learn the answers to these and other questions in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and astronomy through 200 fun and wacky, safe and low-cost experiments that can be performed at home or in the classroom. In 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, and Fun Experiments, bestselling author and award-winning science educator Janice VanCleave brings together the best experiments from her popular Science for Every Kid series—plus 40 all-new experiments—to help kids learn about science the fun way. Packed with illustrations, 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, and Fun Experiments uses simple problems, activities, and projects to explain important science principles through hands-on experience. You can learn how biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and astronomy relate to your everyday life by making exciting discoveries that lie right at your fingertips! Children Ages 8–12 ... Read more

Book Description

How long is the world’s longest earthworm? How tall was a brachiosaurus? What’s the average diameter of human hair? What’s the circumference of the earth at the equator? Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about math. Packed with illustrations, Math for Every Kid uses simple problems and activities to teach you about measurements, fractions, graphs, problem solving, and much more! Using activities that relate math to everyday life, this book will help you feel comfortable with math—right from the start. You’ll make a sun clock, create a thermometer from a straw, race a paper boat, grow your own bean plant, and even play a game of ring the bottle. Each of the many problems and activities is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Astronomy for Every Kid Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Six Year Old Loves It
But it's good for 5 to 10-year olds. It appeals to the hands-on kid, but doesn't speak down to them at all. Explains the concepts (fractions, averages, volume, graphs, measurements, etc.) clearly and quickly, then gives exercises and fun things for the kid to try. Mostly needs parent to be helping, though most are simple. We loved making a color spinner and folding paper (doubling). We charted doubling to show her what a parabola looked like. It has plenty of clear effective line sketches to illustrate. I found this at the library and decided to buy it. ... Read more

Book Description

• Why does a water drop magnify?
• How do crystals form?
• What does the inside of a seed look like?

Janice VanCleave's Microscopes and Magnifying Lenses includes 20 simple and fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to these and many other questions, plus dozens of suggestions on how to develop your own science fair projects.

Grow penicillium mold in apple cider, compare your own and your friend's fingerprints, and investigate the lives of microscopic water fleas, all with either a microscope or simple magnifying lens. All experiments use inexpensive materials and involve a minimum of preparation and clean up.

Children ages 8-12

Also available in the

Spectacular Science Projects Series:

• Janice VanCleave's Animals
• Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes
• Janice VanCleave's Electricity
• Janice VanCleave's Gravity
• Janice VanCleave's Machines
• Janice VanCleave's Magnets
• Janice VanCleave's Molecules
• Janice VanCleave's Volcanoes
• Janice VanCleave's Weather

Book Description

Come and find out! How? By choosing one of the 50 simple experiments in Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Nature. Your child will discover the answers to lots of fun questions as you team up to play together and explore the wonder of our world. Each experiment includes illustrations, a list of easy-to-find materials, and simple, step-by-step instructions.

Praise for Janice VanCleave's books:

"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects." —School Library Journal

"[They] not only teach children the basics of science, but also entertain along the way. . . . great for kids." —Parentguide ... Read more

Book Description

How do honeybees find their way home? Why is Venus so hot? How can you measure the speed of the wind? What makes a sound loud or soft? Discover the awesome answers to these and other fascinating mysteries in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and astronomy. Just try these 201 fun, safe, low-cost experiments at home or in the classroom. You’ll look through a drop of water to find out how a magnifying lens works. Using a Styrofoam ball, a pencil, and a lamp, you’ll learn why the Moon appears and disappears. With just a jar and some ice cubes, you can demonstrate how rain is formed. Each experiment includes an illustration and easy to follow step-by-step instructions. This companion volume to the enormously popular 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, and Fun Experiments brings together magical projects from Janice VanCleave’s Science for Every Kid and Spectacular Science Projects series—plus 40 all-new experiments that make science come to life. Children Ages 8–12 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple science experiments to add to your collection.
Looking for simple experiments which are always successful? Janice VanCleave's books provide just that approach. And 201 Awesome, Magical, Bizarre and Incredible Experiments adds to her large collection of published experiments. The title is misleading as the experiments are not very unusual. But the experiments are simple and most use readily-available materials. Good scientific explanations accompany each experiment. The book would benefit by some emphasis on the inquiry-approach to science and encouraging (rather than discouraging) changing variables during the experiments...The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter. ... Read more

Book Description

Why is the ocean salty?

How do whales stay warm?

What causes tides to rise and fall?

How do oil spills affect ocean animals?

Now you can discover the answers to these and many other fascinating questions about the ocean—the earth's last frontier. Janice VanCleave's Oceans for Every Kid makes learning about the ocean and its inhabitants an intriguing adventure. Use a bottle, pennies, a straw, and clay to demonstrate how submarines rise. Make your own wave holder with index cards and a plastic folder. Through these and other activities you'll find out how fish move up and down in water, how pollutants move into the ocean, how to navigate without a compass, how to map the surface of the ocean floor, and much more.

Each of the activities begins with a statement of purpose followed by a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy- to-understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively at home or in the classroom.

Also available in the series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• CHEMISTRY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• ECOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID

Amazon.com

Whether your favorite middle or high-school student is interested in thedemonstrating the greenhouse effect (with shoeboxes, soil, and plasticfood wrap), sympathetic vibration (with a couple of soda bottles), orthe breathing rate of goldfish, former science teacher Janice VanCleaveprovides helpful advice for designing experiments to impress judges atthe science fair. In the first section, the author explains theimportance of understanding the scientific method, selecting a topic,identifying its category, research, overview, experimental data, projectsummaries, the display, and presentation and evaluation. The second partof the book offers project ideas for 35 science fair topics within thecategories of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics,stressing that "The point is not to copy the projects in this book butto use them as exploratory experiments...." Each experiment is clearlypresented with a brief introduction, a statement of purpose, a list ofneeded materials, a step-by-step procedure, a description andexplanation of the results, and ideas for taking the experiment indifferent directions. Nine appendices provide additional information onrandom error of measurement, percentage error, sources of scientificsupplies, and more, and a glossary and index conclude the book.VanCleave comes through again with this inspiring, no-nonsense resourcefor science fair participants. (Ages 11 and older) ... Read more

Book Description

Where can you find Leo the lion?

How can you bring a constellation into your room?

What are the oldest stars?

How did the Milky Way Galaxy get its name?

Now you can explore the answers to these and other questions in Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid. Find the constellations Draco, Libra, Hydra, Hercules, and many more from your own backyard. Make a star disk that can track star movements. Find out what a balloon can tell us about stars. With activities like making an astronomer's flashlight and a shoebox planetarium, Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid will have you reaching for the stars.

Each of the activities begins with a statement of purpose, followed by a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy-to-understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively at home or in the classroom.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• CHEMISTRY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• ECOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• OCEANS FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID

Reviews (3)

useful but limited
Janice VanCleave's "Constellations For Every Kid" is one of the books I used to teach an astronomy unit to the boys I help homeschool. It is quite limited in its scope -- containing only the northern constellations and no complete star maps -- but is very useful for basic constellation identification. I used it mostly as a source of seasonal star maps for the boys to copy. It also helpfully identifies some key stars in various constellations, and provides tips for finding various constellations once the positions of others are known.

However, this is about all the book is good for. The explanations of various phenomena are extremely limited, VanCleave provides none of the legends behind the constellations, and her suggested questions and activities are often impractical or pointless. (She also turned Saggitarius into some unholy thing she dubbed 'The Teapot.' Sheesh.) The book wavers between being a teacher's handbook and a student's textbook -- and fills neither purpose very well.

In other words, don't buy it. Skim through it and take any useful activities and explanations, but don't be too disappointed if you come away with only a few ideas.

Not what I hoped
This book is almost entirely about finding specific constellations in the sky. If that's what you want, then it's for you. It is not about constellations in general, nor does it have star stories. It only has a few "activities." I bought it to use in my classroom, but haven't touched it. I have to wonder why I bought it, because I have the same opinion of Janice VanCleave's books....they look good, but there isn't all that much substance. I just had a weak moment! This one is worse than usual.

Great book
My 7 year old daughter and I have had a great time with Constellations For Every Kid. Each chapter provides a "bite size" chunk of information, a stargazing opportunity, questions to reinforce what was taught, and an astronomy-related activity. Other strong points include simple but quality illustrations and helpful pronunciation guides. The book covers topics like the general motion of the sky, precession, ecliptic, variable stars, spectral types, folklore, as well as the names of the stars and consteallations clearly, with enough depth to be interesting but not so much detail as to be overwhelming. In short, My daughter may not remember all the specifics but she's getting the basic ideas and we're having fun in the process. ... Read more

Book Description

How do you fold a sheet of paper into the shape of a whale? How do you measure the area of a pizza pie? How can you draw a circle within a circle without lifting your pencil from the paper?

Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about elementary geometry—the study of shapes. Packed with illustrations, Geometry for Every Kid uses simple problems and activities to teach about acute and obtuse angles, parallel and perpendicular lines, plane and space figures, and much more! By arranging the pieces of an intriguing Chinese puzzle called a tangram, you'll explore all the different shapes you can form. You'll also learn how to create a colorful 3-D drawing that seems to rise right off the page! And, by building a geoboard, you'll discover a quick, fun way to compare the area of different geometric figures.

Each of the activities is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every project has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• CHEMISTRY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID

Reviews (2)

Great fun with my eight year old!
I bought this for my son who loves math and building things. We've only gone through four chapters so far, but we've had great fun identifying how many right angles there are in his room and folding a oragami whale. This book was a real treat for him. Parents of gifted children should dive into this whole series with their kids, and I think they're great for teaching any kid that math is fun!

Janice VanCleave has done a great job as usual !!!!!
Her books teaches geometry using hand-on activities for all grade levels which children love. It teaches form the basics of geometry to the advancements. Teachers and students will both find this book interesting ... Read more

Book Description

How can I catch a flying insect?

Play and find out! How? By choosing one of the 50 simple experiments in Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Bugs. Your child will discover the answers to lots of fun questions as you team up to play together and explore the wonder of our world. Each experiment includes illustrations, a list of easy-to-find materials, and simple, step-by-step instructions.

Praise for

Janice VanCleave's books:

"Stunningly clear, direct, and informative projects." —School Library Journal

"[They] not only teach children the basics of science, but also entertain along the way. . . . great for kids." —Parentguide ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for Homeschooling Preschoolers or Just Bug Fans!
I got this book (and the others in the play and find out about series by Janice Vancleave) when I decided to start homeschooling my daughter. The 'experiments' in the book are very easy - generally you really do have the materials in your house (except for maybe the pipe cleaners). We have used it as a supplement to our Usborne books on Butterflies and Creepy Crawlies - just pick the section that has experiments related to the topic you are discussing. Great! Would be a great addition to the Sonlight Curriculum. And best of all the experiments are typically fun! The section on camouflaging was great - we played a hide-and-seek game with bugs we made from pipe cleaners (a bit hard for a 4 yr old though) and had Dad try to find them. It really made the concept understandable to her. It is a game she wants to play often now!

Play and Find Out about Bugs
This is a wonderful book for anyone who is homeschooling or teaching using the thematic unit approach. The experiments are simple but effective. When the book says it is fun, it is not just a catchy phrase to sell books! I found it at my local library and am thrilled to have been introduced to Janice VanCleave's special approach to teaching. ... Read more

Book Description