Don't Try This at Home!: Science Fun for Kids on the Go [Hardcover]

Vicki Cobb (Author), True Kelley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

With Don''t try This At Home. inquisitive you ngsters will discover secret messages on license plates, fin d meteorites at the beach, walk on water without wetting the ir shoes, whisper in their own ear, and more. '

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A collection of over 60 easy-to-do activities and demonstrations to perform in schools, parks, restaurants, or while traveling. They include curling a dandelion stem, observing the strobe effect on a computer screen, and detecting stress points in plastic. The principle behind each activity is carefully explained. Some of the experiments, such as the "law abiding balloon" (the movement of a balloon in a moving automobile), appear in more than one of the author's previous books. Although some of the observations could be used as a starting point for science projects, the value of the book lies in helping children become more observant, to question what is really happening, and to learn the scientific principle(s) behind the observation. Although some of activities presented can be found elsewhere, many are interesting adaptations, such as skipping a stone on sand or using a rhododendron to tell the temperature. Frequent black-and-white cartoons break up the text and add a light touch to the presentation. The concept of looking for scientific principles anyplace one might be is well presented here.
Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. Stating that many books emphasize science experiments designed to be carried out at home, this volume explores ideas that can best be carried out elsewhere. Cobb and Darling suggest activities to try in the yard, at the beach, at neighborhood parks, at amusement parks, in public buildings, in airplanes, in moving cars, in elevators, and so on. Given the book's energetic style and many fresh ideas, readers will be eager to carry out at least some of the activities: ask an adult to throw a cup of very hot water outside on a very cold night and watch it fall as snow; collapse soda cans with a tiny tap from an eraser; observe the sway of a skyscraper, not by looking out the windows on the observation deck but by watching the water tilt in the toilets on the top floor. Good ideas and good presentation combine for an appealing book of hands-on science. Illustrations not seen. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688148565
• ISBN-13: 978-0688148560
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,642,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Science!, April 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Don't Try This at Home!: Science Fun for Kids on the Go (Hardcover)

Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling do a great job of involving kids in science experiments and theories. Usually science is thought of as a boring and dull subject but the authors of this book turn that stereotype around in no time at all! Kids are trying out experiments, enjoying themselves, having fun...all while they are learning true, scientific facts. The experiements are lots of fun and allow the children to become involved in something other than television or video games in this day and age. Travel around your neighborhood with this book and you will be sure to have a great time while learning interesting science facts.