Customer Reviews

Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out about Nature: Easy Experiments for Young Children

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a science teacher and I absolutely adore the Janice VanCleave science series.
It is HIGHLY appropriate for the early childhood set.
Every topic starts out with a question: i.e. I wonder why hair is curly and straight... And then it leads you through a very age appropriate/simple experiment and a few enrichment activities...
Each topic then ends in a very short explanation... The book has illustrations and each question is maybe 3 pages long total, before it goes on to another question.
I HIGHLY reccomend it as the BEST science series that I know of for young children. Experiences are the best science learning tools for this age.. more than reading non-fiction and such, although that has benefits as well..
Buy these books!!

Don't buy this book if you have the "Big Book" because most of this book is IN that book. My other problem with this book is that it is acting as though these experiments prove something when most of the time, at best, it may get the children thinking more about the topic and then you, yourself can explain the "why". ie: Why do lightening bugs light up? they tell you how to build a cute model of a lightening bug using a light stick. Building this model proves nothing, but there is a connection in that lightening bugs use a chemical reaction to create their light, as does the light stick. The exercise doesn't illustrate this connection in any way. Still, they are fun and easy, and will get the kids thinking, but you'll have to do a lot of follow-up or combine other media to help the kids find any of the answers this book is supposed to be offering.

I bought this book to get ideas for my kindergardener's science fair project. The various projects/experiments were easy for my 5-year old to understand.
Looks like fun, and will be used as my 2-year old grows up as well!
It can definitely be used as an easy way to teach every-day science/nature.

I love the Janice VanCleave's Play & Find out series & this book is no exception. It is written for 4-7 year olds. It has great, simple enough activities to do with your kids to make science & nature come alive. It has great information and is VERY user friendly. Make today's play day a day they will not only enjoy, but will remember and learn from!