How to Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method [Hardcover]

Stephen P. Kramer (Author), Felicia Bond (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Every day you answer questions-dozens, even hundreds of them. How do you find the answers to questions? How can you be sure your answers are correct?

Scientists use questions to learn about things. Scientists have developed a way of helping make sure they answer questions correctly. It is called the scientific method. The scientific method can help you find answers to many of the questions you are curious about.

What kind of food does your dog like best? Is your sister more likely to help you with your homework if you say please? Can throwing a dead snake over a tree branch make it rain? The scientific method can help you answer these questions and many others.

Stephen Kramer's invitation to think like a scientist, illustrated by Felicia Bond's humorous and appealing pictures, will receive enthusiastic response from young readers, scientist and nonscientist alike.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5 After three examples of how you can get the wrong answer to a question by not using all the available information, depending too much on other people's answers, or wanting a certain result, Kramer presents the scientific method as a way of getting correct answers more often and explains how to set up an experiment using a control group. He bases his book on situations that children are likely to run into in their daily lives. This is a pleasant book with an open format; an amusing half-tone cartoon on almost every page illustrates the child-oriented experiments and supports the light tone of the book. The book explains the scientific method in greater depth than most encyclopedia articles, and suggests more everyday applications than books (generally for older readers) that are specifically intended to help with science fair projects, such as How Fast Do Your Oysters Grow? (Messner, 1982) by Norman Smith. Margaret L. Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Lib . , N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Stephen P. Kramer has had a lifelong interest in natural history. After receiving degrees in biology from Pacific Lutheran University and Northern Arizona University, he taught junior high school science for four years on the Navajo Reservation. He spends his time now as a househusband and writer. His first book for children was Getting Oxygen: What do you do if you're cell twenty-two? Mr. Kramer lives with his wife and two sons in Vancouver, Washington.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 27, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0690045654
• ISBN-13: 978-0690045659
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to scientific thinking for young kids!, September 12, 2005

By 

Lee Say Keng "KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURER/TECHNOLOGY... (Ho Chi Minh City/Singapore) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method (Hardcover)

I often buy bulk copies of this wonderful book to give away to young kids who attend my 5-Day hands-on learning camp, aptly entitled 'Science & The Art of Discovery.' My principal objective is to teach young kids how to think scientifically, inventively & productively.

The two authors have done a great job in producing this excellent piece of work. Although it has only 44 pages, the contents are comprehensively rich. It is also very well-illustrated with a simple story format & systematically organised as follows:

How do you answer questions?
Using the scientific method
What do you want to know?
What do you think?

If you want to get your young kids to understand & appreciate the scientific method or simply 'how to think like a scientist', go for this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the pink cover turn you off this book!, August 14, 2007

By 

Malea Baer "Malea" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method (Hardcover)

While the bubble gum pink cover of Stephen Kramer's "How To Think Like A Scientist" may inspire you to reach for something else, pick up anyway! Between the cotton candy covers, lies a charming book which uses humor to express thought provoking ideas and to teach your child to think about science in a systematic manner.

One of the best ways to get the attention of a child is by telling a story and Kramer capitalizes on this idea. My son and I were both engaged by the stories and the lessons which flowed naturally from them.

Your child will not only learn the scientific method -- the process for exploring scientific ideas -- but also will learn the language of experimentation on which to base a lifetime of scientific study.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, informative book, March 13, 2008

By 

D. Maniloff - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method (Hardcover)

I was very excited to find this book in my local library when I was starting out a "science week" with my kids during their spring break. It is simply wonderful! It explains the scientific method in such simple, logical terms and it was not at all difficult for my six year old to understand. It was entertaining as well as helpful in teaching my kids how to think like a scientist. The last chapter includes some ideas for children to apply the scientific method, in order to answer questions they are curious about. It is a nice ending to this book. Needless to say, I was discouraged when I saw the publication date, thinking this book would be out of print (I really wanted my own copy). I was delighted to find it here on Amazon. I am buying a copy as soon as I'm done with this review!