Science in Seconds at the Beach: Exciting Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less [Paperback]

Jean Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 1998 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Do fish close their eyes?

Can you hold your breath longer than a whale?

How is sand made?

Why do we hear the ocean in empty seashells?

Surf's up for fantastic science fun with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each in just ten minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from how seaweed can forecast the weather to why waves break as they reach the shore. You will find most of the required materials already in your toy chest, home, backyard, or around your neighborhood.

The nearly 100 activities in this book investigate the many mysteries of animals, plants, sand, shells, sun, and water. You'll discover why there usually are more clouds over water than over land and why the sand on top of the beach is warm but cool underneath. Use a piece of hard candy to find out why beach and river rocks become smooth or learn how to clean water with sand --all with the help of a leading educator.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Science in Seconds at the Beach teaches children dozens of activities that investigate the mysteries of animals, plants, sand, shells, sun and water. Easy step-by-step instructions and illustrations are provided for each activity."--Asbury Park Press

From the Publisher

Surf's up for science fun with these quick and easy activities. This book offers over 150 quick and easy experiments that will help children investigate the mysteries of animals, plants, sand, shells, sun, and water. Each activity takes ten minutes or less to complete, and answers a provocative question like: Do fish close their eyes? Can you hold your breath longer than a whale? How is sand made? How can seaweed forecast the weather? Do all snail shells coil in the same direction? And why do we seem to hear the ocean in empty sea shells?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 122 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (May 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471178993
• ISBN-13: 978-0471178996
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Oceans & Seas

More About the Author

Jean Potter is an experience early childhood consultant and the award-winning author of ten activity books that focus on art and science. Jean believes in making learning fun! Her career includes:
- classroom teacher
- director of West Virginia state ECE program
- Deputy Assistant & Acting Assistant Secretary of Education for the US Dept. of Education, Washington DC.

Jean Potter is a published author of children's activity books. Some of the published credits of Jean Potter include Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less, Nature in a Nutshell for Kids: Over 100 Activities You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less, Science Arts: Discovering Science Through Art Experiences (Bright Ring Publishing) with MaryAnn F. Kohl, and Snacktivities!: 50 Edible Activities for Parents and Children (Robins Lane Press) with MaryAnn F. Kohl, Storybook Art (Bright Ring Publishing) with MaryAnn F. Kohl, Global Art (Gryphon House) with MaryAnn F. Kohl, and Cooking Art (Gryphon House, Inc.) with MaryAnn F. Kohl.

Jean lives in Charleston, WV with her husband and their triplets. She enjoys gardening, skiing, and playing at the beach.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars POOR SCIENCE ?????, September 15, 2005

By 

homeschooler (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science in Seconds at the Beach: Exciting Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less (Paperback)

I really hate to say it since I have a couple of this series of books, but I have to wonder from where the scientific information was derived for Science in Seconds at the Beach. I was looking through the book searching for an activity to do at our next beach outing and came upon the "Young Rays" activity (p.25). It asserts that rays lay leathery egg cases that you may be lucky enough to view in spring attached to seaweed. It also says to see the drawing...but the drawing just shows a stingray swimming over seaweed with no egg case to be found. So...being curious, I thought I'd look up what it would like on the internet. I was disappointed to know that from what I can tell the book is just wrong. I found several references to sharks and other types of skate fish laying these "mermaid purses" but stingrays actually give birth to the baby rays. The reproduction cycle is very interesting and unusual...worth looking into actually, but the book is, to put it mildly...inaccurate. So...if you are lucky enough to see a mermaid's purse, it's not from a stingray!

This makes me very leery of the rest of the information in this and other books by Jean Potter. I still gave it two stars, because many of the other activities, while none are profound, would still be enjoyable for a child. But I guess I won't be purchasing any more of this series, and will now feel compelled to do my own research before presenting most of it to my children (which will also transfer to some of my other science books, particularly those without references/sources listed). You can still give your child a learning experience by having him or her research whether Mrs. Potter's info is accurate!

Fairly disappointing.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST FOR THE BEACH, March 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Science in Seconds at the Beach: Exciting Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less (Paperback)

When we pack for the beach, this book is the first thing we put in the suitcases. Our children have used this book for two summers and they never tire of it. In fact, my husband and I LOVE the b ook as well. We have learned so much about the beach. It is a great book for at home experiments with water as well, but we save it for the beach!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FUN AT THE BEACH, June 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Science in Seconds at the Beach: Exciting Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less (Paperback)

We bought this book at the beach and could not believe how much more fun the beach was. We learned things that were new and VERY interesting about the ocean and the life that surrounds it. We take this book to the pool and also do experiments. This book is great to teach children easy science theories with water and in places where children play in water. We use it at home and on vacation. Love it!