Exploring Energy with Toys: Complete Lessons for Grades 4-8 [Paperback]

Beverley A. P. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Teaching Science with TOYS

Make the concept of energy come alive with a variety of fun and exciting toys. In 21 fun-filled activities, your students will discover potential energy with a homemade roller coaster and learn how an Explorer Gun "RM" stores and releases energy. They will explore how energy and work are related by building simple machines with LEGOs "RM" and learn how gears transfer energy in the wacky Grape Escape "TM" game. Each activity clearly addresses the National Science Education Standards. Appropriate for grades 4 -- 8.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Classroom-tested projects using toys make learning about energy fun! This book of lively experiments for grades 4-8 doesn't just tell students about different forms of energy--it shows them! The use of toys to illustrate basic concepts of physical science means there'll be no more yawns when teachers students it's time for a science lesson. Topics include the energy of motion, stored energy, energy conservation, and more. Based on the successful Teaching Science with TOYS projects-funded by the National Science Foundation and Miami Unversity of Ohio--these energy activities got top marks during classroom testing students and teachers alike. Energy concepts are illustrated by activities like the following: Rubber Band Airplane--This easy-to-construct wingless aircraft demonstrates the relationships between the amount of stored energy and the distance the toy is able to travel. Homemade Roller Coaster--Kids can explore gravitational potential energy with a classroom-built loop-the-loop track. The Operation Game--As students play this computer game, they observe the light and sound energy produced from the chemical energy of batteries. Each activity contains a list of the key science topics covered and process skills used, estimated completion time, a materials list, safety and disposal procedures, step-by-step instructions, suggestions for varying the activity, explanation of the science concept, and reproducible student handsout. All activities are clearly referenced to the National Science Education Standards.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007064747X
• ISBN-13: 978-0070647473
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource for Teachers of Science, August 8, 2000

By 

AJD (Chatham, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Exploring Energy with Toys: Complete Lessons for Grades 4-8 (Paperback)

Like the other books in the "TOYS" series from Terrific Science Press, this book is an excellent resource. Although the cover indicates an intended audience of grades 4-8, I think the most of the 21 activities could be used with high school students as well.

The book includes a 10-page section on pedagogical strategies that is specific to the content of the activities and that also includes a sample assessment rubric. There is also a 13-page content review that I found to be both clear and useful.

Each activity is clearly laid out with the following sections: time required, key science topics, student background (if required), national science education standards, additional process skills (for some activities), materials - for getting ready - for introducing the activity - for the procedure - for the extensions, safety and disposal, getting ready, introducing the activity, procedure, variations and extensions, explanation, assessment suggestions (for some activities), cross-curricular integration, suggestions for further reading, and handout masters for some of the activities.

Although I like this book, I found myself a bit frustrated as I tried to find the toys needed for some of the activities. I found some, but not others. Some items are easy; we can all find LEGO's. Other items are more difficult. I bought out the toy store's end of summer clearance stock on the Explorer Gun a few years back. This year, it took me a few nights searching the web to find a distributor. I gave the book 4-stars because of this problem; it might mean that not all of the activities will be useable. I put an asterisk after those activities requiring items I found difficult to locate. You may be luckier.

Activities: (1) What Makes It Go? (2) The Toy That Returns (3) How Much Energy (4) Exploring Energy with an Explorer Gun®* (5) Pop Can Speedster (6) Ladybug, Ladybug, Roll Away (7) Rubber Band Airplane (8) Slingshot Physics* (requires a Sling Thing™) (9) The Catapult Gun* (requires the Insect Gun®) (10) Loop-the-Loop Challenge* (requires a Darda® car) (11) Homemade Roller Coaster (12) Bounceability (13) The Energy Transformation Game* (requires the Guess Who® game) (14) Drop 'n' Popper (15) Apply Your Energy Knowledge (16) Doc Shock* (requires the Operation® game) (17) Make Your Own Motor (18) Chemical Energy Transformations (19) Simple Machines with LEGO® (20) Get it in Gear with a LEGO® Vehicle (21) Squish 'em, Squash 'em, Squoosh 'em* (requires the Grape Escape® game)