Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself [Paperback]

Cynthia Light Brown (Author), Blair Shedd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Kids will learn how to shoot candy and soda 10 feet up in the air or create a crystal collage with the key chemistry concepts and exciting yet educational projects in this handbook. With more than two dozen fascinating projects illustrating major chemistry themes—including atoms and molecules; the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases; chemical reactions; acids and bases; and the properties of water—children learn the theory behind each project and then see the principles in action. A combination of wacky experiments, yummy cooking projects, and unusual creations, the activities can all be completed using common household materials and include walking on “goop,” making taffy, viewing the world from inside a giant bubble, and many more sure to keep kids investigating how the world works.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This tidy kid-friendly book is crammed with activities and information on chemistry. . . . Lots of science information is mixed with the how-to of the projects and there is hardly a blank space on a page anywhere in the book. . . .  A very nicely done and reasonably priced collection."  —Children’s Literature

"When young people actually put their hands on scientific projects, they realize how much fun science really is. Amazing Kitchen Chemistry is a source of amazing information and great fun."  —Peter Agre, MD, winner of  the 2003 Nobel Prize in chemistry

"Chemistry experiments in the kitchen! From mysterious oobleck to soda rockets, this book is the greatest fun. I can't wait to try some of these experiments. The grandchildren? They will have to wait."  —Roald Hoffmann, Nobel laureate in chemistry

"A good resource to make available to older students doing independent work or to use with younger students in group demonstrations or experiments." —Connect Magazine (April 2011)

About the Author

Cynthia Light Brown is a founding partner and vice president of Clover Leaf Environmental Solutions. She has 18 years of experience as an environmental consultant specializing in pollution prevention, toxicology, and risk assessment. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Nomad Press (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979226821
• ISBN-13: 978-0979226823
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Chemistry

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chemistry in the Kitchen--Easy!, July 23, 2008

By 

Gwynne C. Spencer (Mancos, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself (Paperback)

This tidy kid-friendly book has 122 pages crammed with activities and information on chemistry as well as support material in each chapter focused onWords to Know, Did You Know? and What's Happening? as well as a brief list of Supplies and boldly numbered steps of how to do each project. Featured projects (they do not call them experiments) include Make Your Own Buckyball; Make a Model of a Water Molecule; Separate Leaves and Dirt; Make a Chroma-Color Bookmark; Extract Iron from Cold Cereal; Make an AlkaSeltzer Rocket; Make Rusty Shapes; Clean Your Pennies; Make a Foamy Volcano; Make Eggs Lose Their Shells; Make Invisible Messages; Make Your Own Crystals; Make Rock Candy; Make a Candy-Glass House; Make a Wave Tank; Layering Liquids; Make an Octopus Diver; Put an Egg in a Bottle; Exploding Mentos; Swimming Raisins; Stretchy Taffy; Prove that Hot Water Freezes Faster Than Cold Water; Make Vanilla Ice Cream; Make Oobleck and Silly Putty. Lots of science information is mixed with the how-to of the projects and there is hardly a blank space on a page anywhere in the book. Lots of sidebars on related topics, small factoids that tie to the subject fill each chapter to the tippy top. There are 10 chapters: Atoms, Mixtures, Reactions, Acids/Bases, Solids, Liquids, Gases, Change of State, Polymers, Water as well as a glossary, index, extensive list of websites, and book resources. Most projects are safe enough for kids to do without too much adult supervision, and there is a great deal of information packed into this volume. The illustrations don't have kids in them, so it could even be used with adults. A very nicely done and reasonably priced collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great home science book, June 2, 2009

By 

Nancy B. Kennedy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself (Paperback)

Kitchen Chemistry is a terrific book of science activities. (Shhh! Don't call them "experiments"! That's a scary word.) I did most of them myself, as well as others, while I researched my own science activity books. Some books of science activities promise simple projects and realiable reactions, but this one really does deliver. And, as with all of Nomad Press's books, the text is well written, enlived with factual stories, and appropriate for the age group.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Learning--Pulled together in an excellent book!, November 9, 2008

By 

Gail Ulrich (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself (Paperback)

I purchased this book for my son Neal, who, I must admit, is not the biggest science fan. But when he got his hands on this book crammed with fun ideas and activities, his love for science blossomed!!!

Every day he tried another project and not only did he have a blast (no explosions were involved), he learned so much!

His favorite project was making ice cream--he made the whole family try it when we got together for the holidays and everyone loved it! He was so proud! I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to learn or explore science, young or old, and even if science may not be your cup of tea, try it anyways! There is bound to be something everyone can enjoy from the Exploding Mentos project to Rock Candy.

Cynthia puts it all together--the supplies you need, interesting and insightful information about each project, and helpful illustrations!