Customer Reviews

Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series)

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I really enjoy the 21 Activities series by Chicago Review Press. I've read and recommended many of them, including Archeology for Kids, Civil War for Kids, and World War II for Kids. Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids is another in the series.

What I like about them is the easy-to-read text and the activities included that help kids put what they read into perspective. This particular book has kids building waterwheels, testing pendulum swings, and investigating Newton's three laws of motion. Lots of fun activities!

What I didn't like in this particular book is that, although it was written for grades 4-7, the text (especially in the last half of the book) was more appropriate for grades 7-12. The information provided about Newton includes his battles with depression and the possibility that Newton hid a homosexual relationship. I don't think many 4th graders are going to be very interested in these topics.

However, I still recommend the book as a family read aloud with discussion. All ages will enjoy the activity suggestions.

Kerrie Logan Hollihan has written an amazing book about a fascinating and complex man. She brings Newton to life and makes his ideas accessible to young readers. Excellent visuals and fun activities add to this already rich work, making the book a great resource for teachers, parents, and home-schoolers!

Who do you think is the greatest scientist of all time? Various people will likely have different opinions in answer to that question, but certainly everyone should be able to agree that one of them is Sir Isaac Newton. Born in 1642, Newton is perhaps best remembered for the story, which may or may not be true, of how he developed the law of gravity after watching an apple fall to the ground. However, Newton was truly a phenomenal figure in the history of science who contributed to the study of optics, calculus, astronomy, and chemistry in addition to the study of physics. Additionally, he served his country both as a Member of Parliament and first Warden and then Master of the Mint.

Author Kerrie Logan Hollihan not only chronicles the history of Newton's life and work but also introduces students to the methods of scientific discovery, including rational questioning, systematic experimentation, and rigorous exploration, by including 21 activities with step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations to help stimulate interest in science. Some of the activities include building a sextant, conducting a series of tests with a pendulum, and mixing up a batch of homemade ink. There is also information about many of Newton's Enlightenment contemporaries and friends, such as mathematician Galileo Galilei and architect Christopher Wren. Newton was certainly not a "perfect" human being, and this book does not gloss over his faults.

Two things stand out about Newton: First, "he firmly believed that God was the creator of all things" (p. 70). Also, in spite of what some revisionist historians have concluded, "Newton's reputation as a great man of science stands firm" (p. 120). [...] Otherwise, Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids is a fascinating look at a great scientist who, despite his personal weaknesses and failings, contributed much to our understanding of the physical universe.

Hollihan's story of Isaac Newton is as brillant as the man himself. Placed within the context of 17th and 18th century England, the story is fascinating and honest - presenting all sides of Newton's personality in a way that children and young adults will understand and want to read more. The pictures, many from England, represent the depth of Hollihan's research in preparing this manuscript. The complex scientific principles that Newton discovered are made easy to understand by the various activities included within the book. I highly recommend Isaac Newton and Physics For Kids.