Customer Reviews

Janice VanCleave's Biology For Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work (Science for Every Kid Series)

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I reviewed this book in The Home School Manual ================

Projects and activities to teach concepts, terminology, and (according to the author, Janice VanCleave) laboratory methods. This book and the others in the series each describe 101 experiments. For biology they are classified under plants, animals, and humans. Each is presented in a two-page spread with an illustration on the right. The order is logical. By working through the book doing some experiments and reading about the others, one would form significant concepts. An explanation is given for each activity. Growing carrots from carrot tops demonstrates that a plant can grow if it has portions of base, stem, and root, and if it receives food and water.

The explanations are oversimplified in some cases (for "finger monocle" for example). Younger students need simpler explanations, but I believe the scientific principles could be stated more accurately. Also, some of the illustrations could be improved, but basically the book is good.

For a total science program I would recommend a textbook or a number of broad topic books. Individual experiments miss some of the overall themes and some concepts are hard to demonstrate.

I have not seen evolutionary concepts in the book. It and others in the series seem best for about grades 3 through 5. Younger kids could profit from most of the activities. The explanations don't bring out the scientific principles clearly enough for older ones.

Part of a series from John Wiley & Sons.

You will not be disappointed with this book! Janice VanCleave's Biology For Every Kid is divided into these categories: plants, zoology, and the human body with tons of simple hands-on experiments that you can do for each. I use these experiments all the time in my 7th grade classroom and the kids love them. Learning is so much better when it's hands-on! I would highly recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school science teachers.

As an experienced public-school science teacher, I find this book invaluable. Its contents range from simple, few-second demonstrations all the way to many-week experiments. Some of the experiments, such as the study of osmosis through use of salty water-soaked potato or cucumber slices, are commonly found in science books. Others, such as the spray painting and study of spider webs, and the counting of rings on fish scales to determine the age of the fish, are quite unique to this book.

Students can learn the parts of the bean seed, and how to grow yeast and bacteria. The book is profusely indexed. All experiments are each concisely listed on two facing pages. This makes it very convenient to photocopy and hand out to students--as when making suggestions for science projects.

I have been using this book to teach a science class in a co-op this year. Many of the experiments are interesting and simple, but I had trouble getting several of the experiments to work. I definitely think you could find some useful experiments, but make sure you try them before they are presented, or you could be disappointed. Just a little hint- youtube has some wonderful science videos with amazing experiments to do, and it's free if you have the internet!

We love all of Janice VanCleave's books. While they aren't very exciting inside (b/w text and drawings), they are perfect for my 6 yr old to read and, with my help, do the experiments!